Nervous about retirement plans

[macp]

Well im almost 59 and having just thoroughly enjoyed two long relaxing weeks of leave it has got me thinking again about my retirement. And im planning to start by dropping a day. So only working Monday to Thursday. But im sitting here dreading the submission of this request. Partly because we are a small team in the UK. And about a third of the staff are nearing retirement. And nobody coming through to replace them. The last time I broached this subject my MD sat on the edge of the desk. Making sure it was only he and I in the office and said "your just the wrong sex". Meaning that it was expected of the female staff but not the male staff. So im feeling mega anxious about sending in the email this week to notify of my intentions. Im expecting a robust push back. Although we have a part timer (female). Another staff member (female) requested to work four days a week and it was granted. And lastly another full time staff member (male) changed his hours to suit getting his daughter to school.

So why am I posting this. Well Im freaking out a little as I dont deal well with confrontation. And I guess im just hoping for some moral support.

[Mr Squarekins]

Well you're going to retire one day, so offering to go slowly via a four day week is a considerate thing to do. Explain it to your boss in those terms. It will give them time to adjust, transfer knowledge etc.

[Babber101]

Surely you offering to gradually wind down your hours over a period of time is more sensible and sustainable for your MD than you just stopping entirely by resigning.

I would position it as a phased exit allowing you to support others to take your place.

Seems very sensible for both sides

Ultimately you’ve got to do what’s best for you and your family. Just keep focused on that

Good luck with it

[Grande Pedro]

Obviously they're linked, but to me this seems less like a 'nervous about retirement' issue and more one of 'nervous about telling my boss I want to reduce hours' workplace here and now issue. Of course you can ask to change your hours, and it would seem to make sense to couch it in terms of allowing them to prepare for your eventual departure, but I think I'd be focusing on a change of T&Cs in line with other colleagues who have made similar requests.

[Boringvolvodriver]

Mr Squarekins said:

Well you're going to retire one day, so offering to go slowly via a four day week is a considerate thing to do. Explain it to your boss in those terms. It will give them time to adjust, transfer knowledge etc.

I would also go along with this approach. Rather than an email request, would it be better face to face so that you can explain your rationale fully?

A question for you to think about - can you afford to retire now and would there be any downsides in doing so?

If the answer is yes and no then you hold all the cards since should your boss not be amenable to your request, then your ultimate fall back position is to just say that you will work your notice and then be gone. At that juncture, your boss would hopefully see sense and a staged plan could be negotiated.

If, however, that is not the case, trying to get a mutual agreement might be a bit trickier although knowing what, in your mind, are your options will help.

A private face to face meeting will be the best way to discuss the situation and although I am not up to speed with all the relevant legislation, there would appear to be some precedents with reduced hours working within your company which might work in your favour.

[macp]

Grande Pedro said:

Obviously they're linked, but to me this seems less like a 'nervous about retirement' issue and more one of 'nervous about telling my boss I want to reduce hours' workplace here and now issue. Of course you can ask to change your hours, and it would seem to make sense to couch it in terms of allowing them to prepare for your eventual departure, but I think I'd be focusing on a change of T&Cs in line with other colleagues who have made similar requests.

I think you are right here. I dont trust him and struggle to believe he would look out for my interests. As he was transitioning to MD. I reported him years back to the then retiring MD for sending private emails between colleagues about me.

[macp]

Boringvolvodriver said:

I would also go along with this approach. Rather than an email request, would it be better face to face so that you can explain your rationale fully?

A question for you to think about - can you afford to retire now and would there be any downsides in doing so?

If the answer is yes and no then you hold all the cards since should your boss not be amenable to your request, then your ultimate fall back position is to just say that you will work your notice and then be gone. At that juncture, your boss would hopefully see sense and a staged plan could be negotiated.

If, however, that is not the case, trying to get a mutual agreement might be a bit trickier although knowing what, in your mind, are your options will help.

A private face to face meeting will be the best way to discuss the situation and although I am not up to speed with all the relevant legislation, there would appear to be some precedents with reduced hours working within your company which might work in your favour.

No im not quite yet ready to fully retire. But I feel he is on shaky ground to refuse me.

[Boringvolvodriver]

macp said:

Grande Pedro said:

Obviously they're linked, but to me this seems less like a 'nervous about retirement' issue and more one of 'nervous about telling my boss I want to reduce hours' workplace here and now issue. Of course you can ask to change your hours, and it would seem to make sense to couch it in terms of allowing them to prepare for your eventual departure, but I think I'd be focusing on a change of T&Cs in line with other colleagues who have made similar requests.

I think you are right here. I dont trust him and struggle to believe he would look out for my interests. As he was transitioning to MD. I reported him years back to the then retiring MD for sending private emails between colleagues about me.

Would it be possible to go above his head for the request or maybe to HR?

[macp]

Boringvolvodriver said:

Would it be possible to go above his head for the request or maybe to HR?

I suspect he will take it to our HR dept who are unfortunately not in this country. As he is petrified of the CEO. Frankly I hope he does. I have met the HR manager and he seemed like a decent & reasonable guy.

[Boringvolvodriver]

macp said:

Boringvolvodriver said:

Would it be possible to go above his head for the request or maybe to HR?

I suspect he will take it to our HR dept who are unfortunately not in this country. As he is petrified of the CEO. Frankly I hope he does. I have met the HR manager and he seemed like a decent & reasonable guy.

Who actually has the ultimate power to approve your request? Maybe worth an “off the record” chat with HR to clarify the position before having the discussion

[Cheese on Toast with Worcestershire Sauce]

Boringvolvodriver said:

macp said:

Boringvolvodriver said:

Would it be possible to go above his head for the request or maybe to HR?

I suspect he will take it to our HR dept who are unfortunately not in this country. As he is petrified of the CEO. Frankly I hope he does. I have met the HR manager and he seemed like a decent & reasonable guy.

Who actually has the ultimate power to approve your request? Maybe worth an “off the record” chat with HR to clarify the position before having the discussion

"Off the record" chat with HR? Lol!

[dave123456]

I’m not sure the right perspective is being taken here.

Firstly I would say that in a different context I have a similar problem, I’m trying to step away from my current position running a business and one colleague in particular seems to be resentful of this, almost suggesting I shouldn’t be able to. I’ve positioned it, quite clearly, as providing a progressive succession plan, if I bugger off tomorrow he could be left with the shareholders bringing in a completely new boss, and that would unlikely give him the opportunity he wants. You can’t have your cake and eat it.

Secondly, it sounds like you work in a fairly large company, I think you now have the right to ask for reasonable amendments to your working hours, and they have to be clear why this is not acceptable.

I would have the conversation face to face and then follow up with an email, copy HR in.

[LemonTart]

I did this last summer but have a great work relationship with my MD.

I have a 3 month notice period so said can I drop to a 4 day week on 1st Oct just over 3 months from that initial conversation and it was a 3 minute conversation he quickly got to the point if you do 4 days you might for 5 years if I say no well I will just leave at a date earlier than that. If he wanted me to start at a later date I would of.

Since I have made the move to 4 days it’s rebalanced things because I do help my aging mother quite a bit and that plus balancing my home role and work role was getting exhausting.

I think my team have benefited too as they have to think a bit more, they know I would call them back if they sent me a text really needing to talk tome but none have yet.

Some key things do pop in the diary on Fridays but I am open to being available if I can and I just take a different day when it suits me.

Have up your sleeve the potential benefits for him, perhaps shorter weeks for longer, saves him some cost short term and gives him time to sort out the succession planning he should be doing anyway.

At the end of the day nothing ventured nothing gained.

[edc]

If the question is how can I reduce my working hours, take a look at .gov.uk and your own internal policies on requesting flexible working.

[macp]

Just to update I have put on my big girl pants and submitted my request. And the MD has confirmed receipt. And advised that he will have a meeting with my sales manager to discuss the positives & negatives of my 'idea'. As he put it.

[dave123456]

macp said:

Just to update I have put on my big girl pants and submitted my request. And the MD has confirmed receipt. And advised that he will have a meeting with my sales manager to discuss the positives & negatives of my 'idea'. As he put it.

Copy HR and he will just agree.

[TownIdiot]

macp said:

Just to update I have put on my big girl pants and submitted my request. And the MD has confirmed receipt. And advised that he will have a meeting with my sales manager to discuss the positives & negatives of my 'idea'. As he put it.

Well done
That's the first step

Sounds like it's quite a stressful place to work. Could you take a less stressful job and still hit your retirement date plans?

[macp]

TownIdiot said:

Well done
That's the first step

Sounds like it's quite a stressful place to work. Could you take a less stressful job and still hit your retirement date plans?

Thankyou I was genuinely anxious. It is a stressful place to work. Although its of the MD & sales managers doing. Their is a secret motto which is that if there is anything that can be done simply, we dont do it. And they are both petrified of upsetting or losing customers which I get. But the lengths they will go to in order to not upset them is ridiculous. It used to be a great place to work under my old boss.

[Boringvolvodriver]

macp said:

Just to update I have put on my big girl pants and submitted my request. And the MD has confirmed receipt. And advised that he will have a meeting with my sales manager to discuss the positives & negatives of my 'idea'. As he put it.

Well done - just sit back and see what happens now!