Easing into retirement: How employers can help employees make a smooth transition

Everyone wants employees who are happy to stick with one employer forever. Unfortunately, that’s not the case anymore. According to Apollo Technical, people will have an average of 12 jobs in their lifetime. One of the aftereffects of COVID was “The Great Resignation” as people re-evaluated their priorities. Here’s an interesting fact:  According to census.gov, COVID only had a modest effect on most American’s retirement plans.

Your employees might feel you have a vested interest in keeping them around forever. On the other hand, if senior management never retires, middle managers cannot move up. They need to leave the firm to move up the next rung on the career ladder.

Suppose one of your employees asked: “When should I retire?”  How might you advise them?

1. Keep working as long as you like what you are doing. This is the obvious choice. We all know doctors who continue practicing way past the normal retirement age. Professionals in the music business keep performing as long as an audience is willing to pay to attend concerts. This can be the same in a conventional job. You might be an executive assistant who has developed routines for getting things done or an operations manager who has seen everything and knows how to react in a crisis.
2. Consider retirement when you are eligible to retire. Certain jobs can be stressful. Working in a hospital emergency room is a good example. Others, like law enforcement and the fire services, can be dangerous. These jobs are often unionized and have defined benefit pension plans. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 86% of municipal employees have defined benefit pension plans. If you choose to retire at the earliest opportunity, you probably will not get the same benefits as the person who works until age 65.
3. Think about retiring when your partner retires. Many couples postpone “having fun” and “living life” until they retire. Couples rarely both reach the date for optimal retirement benefits at the same time. It makes sense to fund your retirement savings as much as possible, so you are in a position to choose to stop working at the same time as your partner.
4. Consider early retirement packages if they are offered. There are many reasons companies offer early retirement. Some small business owners might find one of those reasons works for them. These packages come in different sizes and shapes. One might offer full pension benefits. The company’s reasons for offering the package might align with your plans for the future.
5. When are you able to afford to retire? None of the above scenarios makes any sense if you cannot afford to retire. Employees should want to get to the point when work becomes a choice, not an obligation. They should start maximizing their contributions to their retirement plan as early as possible. They should also take advantage of other savings vehicles provided in the firm’s benefits package.

Related: Americans have high anxiety about their retirement: How employers can lend support

It has often been said people spend more time planning a single vacation than they do planning their own retirement. This is an important task and they should seek retirement planning advice from a qualified professional.

Bryce Sanders is president of Perceptive Business Solutions Inc. He provides HNW client acquisition training for the financial services industry. His book, “Captivating the Wealthy Investor” is available on Amazon.