Bold leap into retirement

handful

Smudgeismydog said:

Hello everyone 

My partner put in a request last month to move to 4 days from the end of June, to tie in with my early retirement. He was asked to complete a business case to do this (?), and after chasing, his manager told him she has ‘pencilled’ in a meeting with him to discuss this at the end of next month. He’s not happy.

The usual shambolic diary management, and lack of care shown to him and fellow employees has now left him thinking he would also like to be able to step away. We have gone over and over the figures and it would be feasible. 

I am a little surprised that he is seriously considering fully retiring, as there are still many aspects of his job he likes. Honestly, I think they have just ground him down, and he is exhausted by it all.

This was what made me make the decision to retire. In October last year I requested going to 4 days from April this year. My boss (who I get on well with) said he would give it some thought. I left it until Christmas and then in January approached him again. He said he didn't think it would be good for the business to allow it because he was worried more requests would come in from other colleagues of a similar age, so declined. I had warned him in October that "no" was basically going to mean I would leave. So at that point I gave him my 3 month's notice and I am finishing at Easter. I, like your partner, enjoy aspects of my job and the people and would have been happy to do another year or maybe two but I now can't wait, 9 more days to go!!

Sorry about your family cancer diagnoses   

bluenose1

Congratulations to all those who have put their notice in. 

I retired January this year after providing the mandatory 3 months notice, think I was just tired of working and a new toxic colleague sent me over the edge. The notice period did go very slowly and I had worries for that 3 months was I doing the right thing financially etc etc.
However now I have actually retired those worries have totally gone, strange but think my mind must think the decision is made so no point being concerned.

Have not regretted retiring for one iota, a real feeling of contentment with life and so great not to be answerable to “work”
 I have said I am spending first 3 months decompressing after working for 40 years, so not leaping into any new commitments / groups etc.
I meditate every day (which I am amazed how peaceful it makes me) walk every morning with the dog for over an hour, then either potter around tidying up etc or go the gym. We go for coffees and lunch out once or twice a week and I meet up with family and friends.
Sounds really boring but I am absolutely loving it.
I am a list person and on my list to think about doing more of is - learning a new language online, more holidays, baking, gardening, reading, decorating and knitting. Though even without doing all that I cannot believe how quick the days go by.
If I had known how much better I feel I would have gone sooner and been willing to live on less. Been offered 2 jobs and have turned both down as feel my time is so precious to me. 

Sarahspangles

Rich1976 said:

Sarahspangles said:

Rich1976 said:

It does seem unfair that an employer should expect an employee to put together a business case as to why they want to reduce their hours. We have exactly the same written into our contracts and explains that before they would consider it the business case should include things like the tasks that the employee does and how it would impact their department if they did reduce their hours.

surely that is the problem for the department manager/company to sort out and shouldn’t be on the head of the employee. 

Actually it’s a statutory requirement, and I see some of the process is about to change.

https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working/applying-for-flexible-working

It still puts it back on the employee though to justify how it will impact the business. The fact that people on here talk about wanting to do reduce their hours in the rundown to full retirement doesn’t seem to be justified from an employer point of view as that person still needs to consider how the workload will be impacted.
at my place for example I doubt anyone would be granted part time hours especially in my department as we struggle as it is when someone is on holiday for a week or two, let alone potentially having some of their work redistributed to the rest of us permanently .

I see that, but I’m pretty sure that ACAS and unions lobbied for the process, because otherwise how does the employee get to state their case? Previously every employer could just say no (and I’m sure some still do)

And it’s pretty short sighted of employers not to seriously consider requests, particularly where several in a team are in the same position, because it gives them a chance to retain experience but employ someone who can learn the role ready for when those older staff have retired.

Rich1976

Sarahspangles said:

Rich1976 said:

Sarahspangles said:

Rich1976 said:

It does seem unfair that an employer should expect an employee to put together a business case as to why they want to reduce their hours. We have exactly the same written into our contracts and explains that before they would consider it the business case should include things like the tasks that the employee does and how it would impact their department if they did reduce their hours.

surely that is the problem for the department manager/company to sort out and shouldn’t be on the head of the employee. 

Actually it’s a statutory requirement, and I see some of the process is about to change.

https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working/applying-for-flexible-working

It still puts it back on the employee though to justify how it will impact the business. The fact that people on here talk about wanting to do reduce their hours in the rundown to full retirement doesn’t seem to be justified from an employer point of view as that person still needs to consider how the workload will be impacted.
at my place for example I doubt anyone would be granted part time hours especially in my department as we struggle as it is when someone is on holiday for a week or two, let alone potentially having some of their work redistributed to the rest of us permanently .

I see that, but I’m pretty sure that ACAS and unions lobbied for the process, because otherwise how does the employee get to state their case? Previously every employer could just say no (and I’m sure some still do)

And it’s pretty short sighted of employers not to seriously consider requests, particularly where several in a team are in the same position, because it gives them a chance to retain experience but employ someone who can learn the role ready for when those older staff have retired.

All an employee should have to do is put in a request that they want to reduce their hours for x reason and for the employer to go away and consider it.
The employee should not be made to consider the impact on the rest of the team mates or the needs of the business because frankly that is outside of their pay scale surely? It is for the managers to consider all of that before agreeing on a decision. 

If I ever get to a position of wanting to reduce my hours, the last thing on my mind would be how others would feel about it or how I would propose the work still being achieved. Just seems a bit unfair.

i can however see the employers point of view especially if a job role is supposed to be full time and if there is a freeze on recruitment if someone leaves or if there is already too much work in the team as it is .

LHW99

We have not ruled out ever returning to paid work again, but definitely do not need 5am starts, completely unrealistic work demands and toxic office politics.

And this is exactly what needs to change if the Government seriously wants to encourage people to remain at work and not take early retirement. It might also encourage a few of those struggling with long term sickness not to give up entirely if there was a lot more flexibility on hours / days at work and a good working environment when they were there.

barnstar2077

Anyone considering dropping down in days should put their request in writing!  Otherwise your employer will just delay telling you the outcome.

If I was going to retire if they said I couldn't reduce my hours, and then they didn't bother to tell me after a couple of months that my request was denied and I had to ask them again about it, I would just walk, no notice given.

Respect goes both ways. 

Florafauna

After a couple of hideous days at work which have made me feel quite ill I am now considering just giving four weeks notice instead of staying until July. I am going to take a couple of weeks to reflect 

Smudgeismydog

Many thanks for all your comments 

@barnstar2077, he put his request in writing (along with the required business case), at the end of Feb, as per the employer’s request. It’s been a poor experience.

I completely agree @Rich1976, he works in a technical capacity, often working on his own, he is not a manager, or even office based so it is completely outside his comfort zone and remit to understand and analyse the impact of his reduced hours on the wider business.

He has made the decision to go to the meeting on 22nd April and see what his manager has to say about his request. However, he is going into that meeting with his resignation effectively in his back pocket. This sounds very much like your experience @handful.

The loss of knowledge and experience in the workplace is something that concerns me @LHW99, but it doesn’t seem to bother his employer, as they do act as if they have the upper hand, and perhaps don’t feel employees will actually leave.

@bluenose1, your retirement experience sounds idyllic, and something we are very much looking forward to.

Albermarle

Rich1976 said:

Sarahspangles said:

Rich1976 said:

Sarahspangles said:

Rich1976 said:

It does seem unfair that an employer should expect an employee to put together a business case as to why they want to reduce their hours. We have exactly the same written into our contracts and explains that before they would consider it the business case should include things like the tasks that the employee does and how it would impact their department if they did reduce their hours.

surely that is the problem for the department manager/company to sort out and shouldn’t be on the head of the employee. 

Actually it’s a statutory requirement, and I see some of the process is about to change.

https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working/applying-for-flexible-working

It still puts it back on the employee though to justify how it will impact the business. The fact that people on here talk about wanting to do reduce their hours in the rundown to full retirement doesn’t seem to be justified from an employer point of view as that person still needs to consider how the workload will be impacted.
at my place for example I doubt anyone would be granted part time hours especially in my department as we struggle as it is when someone is on holiday for a week or two, let alone potentially having some of their work redistributed to the rest of us permanently .

I see that, but I’m pretty sure that ACAS and unions lobbied for the process, because otherwise how does the employee get to state their case? Previously every employer could just say no (and I’m sure some still do)

And it’s pretty short sighted of employers not to seriously consider requests, particularly where several in a team are in the same position, because it gives them a chance to retain experience but employ someone who can learn the role ready for when those older staff have retired.

All an employee should have to do is put in a request that they want to reduce their hours for x reason and for the employer to go away and consider it.
The employee should not be made to consider the impact on the rest of the team mates or the needs of the business because frankly that is outside of their pay scale surely? It is for the managers to consider all of that before agreeing on a decision. 

If I ever get to a position of wanting to reduce my hours, the last thing on my mind would be how others would feel about it or how I would propose the work still being achieved. Just seems a bit unfair.

i can however see the employers point of view especially if a job role is supposed to be full time and if there is a freeze on recruitment if someone leaves or if there is already too much work in the team as it is .

Every situation is different. For example the employee in question may have some managerial responsibilities themselves. Most companies are not made up just of the workers and the bosses.
Or the employee maybe an integral part of a team/process, and would naturally consider the effect of them working less hours on close colleagues, longstanding realtionships etc.
So an employee presenting a case/plan as to how they could transition to working less hours, without affecting the rest of the workplace activity, seems sensible and responsible.

Daffodil1234

This is a great thread, thank you all !  Lots to consider.

I'm now at the stage where I've handed in my formal notice and am working until an agreed date when I'll finish with my employer.  I aim to take some time with no specific plans at all (perhaps 3 months at least) to boost up health, wellbeing etc.   I may in future take a job (perhaps part time) but I suspect I may also spend some time volunteering.

While I do still have moments of "Am I doing the right thing...."   overall I do really believe that taking the focus onto health, wellbeing, contentment and so on is the priority for me at this stage in life.

The stories from other people in the thread about friends / connections who die earlier than might have been expected, with dementia etc, are very useful reminders for us all that nothing is guaranteed.