retirement decision
Just Decide Already
Or “they” will choose for you
“When are you going to retire?”
“Not retired yet?”
“What’s wrong with you?”
These are the questions I’m asked most often these days. My answer changes every hour of every day.
But if I don’t decide, it will be decided for me
Several studies have found that 40% of the aged labor pool is forced into retirement involuntarily. Layoffs, job terminations, and health issues are the reasons stated most often. Not entirely a new trick, in 1986 my mother was forced out of her job at 65. I have witnessed friends and colleagues forced out of their jobs in the last two decades.
I am afraid it will happen to me.
Admittedly it is a little harder to get rid of aged professors, in most cases your entire department has to be eliminated before you can be forced out. Yikes, that is happening in institutions all around the county. Closer to home, the Dean has suggested eliminating my department several times.
