topic Re: Retirement - How Much Notice? in Among Friends

Retirement - How Much Notice?

BunSnoop — Tue, 17 May 2022 18:53:34 GMT

Not this June, but next June I'll be 65 and hope to retire then once eligible for Medicare. How much notice do I give my employer?

Currently there are 3 of us in our dept. One has been doing the same job as me for over 40 years, the other is just beginning to learn. I would estimate it takes about 1 year to train someone that has no prior experience. If they hire someone from the outside that has done similar work, I would estimate about 3 months for them to get comfortable with our procedures, etc.

The employee that has been with the company for 40 years, gets paid approximately $14,000 a year more than me, but has LESS responsibilities than myself. (She was a supervisor and when they eliminated the position she kept her supervisor salary).

When I leave they will still have "her", and the person that this year has just started learning.

My supervisor is nice, but I'm not a real happy camper that the other employee gets paid more than me, and anything that is more difficult, he assigns to me. I don't know how to put it, but she was at one time super intelligent, but the last 3 years - definitely not so much! I believe she is on warning due to errors/production issues.

I was thinking of giving 3-4 months notice. What do you think - too much, not enough, etc?

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

Kachina624 — Tue, 17 May 2022 19:01:24 GMT

Give your notice at your convenience and not that of the company, look out for #1. If you announce it too early they may invite you to leave immediately. They'll survive without you. I'd say about one month before your intended final day and no sooner.

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

CANDLEQUEEN — Tue, 17 May 2022 19:05:03 GMT

I work for a Fortune 500 company and while there is no time limit of giving your retirement notice, they would appreciate 3 months....You don't have to, and some do and some don't.....I don't think I would give more than a 3 month notice for sure!

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

nyc1 — Tue, 17 May 2022 19:07:41 GMT

@BunSnoop How long have you been with the company? What level are you in the company? How happy are you with the company and how have they treated you? Are you with a company who will let you go as soon as you give notice based on security reasons or just policy? There are so many factors.

People say you need to give at least 2 weeks notice, but if you have a lot of responsibility and are at a higher level, I believe it should be more. You are being very generous and your company should be very appreciative.

I gave 6 mos notice to my prior employer for some of the reasons you mention and I trusted them not to let me go, even though they typically had a history of doing so. In my case I spoke directly to the President and owner of the company. I was moving out of state and not retiring.

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

PickyPicky3 — Tue, 17 May 2022 19:06:28 GMT

I strongly agree with @Kachina624 . Once you give your notice, your nice, comfy work world changes.

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

PA Mom-mom — Tue, 17 May 2022 19:17:39 GMT

@BunSnoop Reflecting on what other posters have said, it does depend on how long you have been there and the uniqueness of your responsibilities. Also, do you care about the company and the employees who remain? Before Covid, perhaps 3 or 4 months would have been plenty of time for most positions, but these days new applicants are few and far between. I retired just before Covid hit. I was the office coordinator and personal assistant to the CEO and gave them 9 months notice. It wasn't a surprise, because I was at retirement age. It took them two years to find a suitable replacement. That doesn't say as much about me as it does about the lack of qualified applicants. I would give them as much time as you can.

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

kaydee50 — Tue, 17 May 2022 19:19:21 GMT

At the most, a month. 2 weeks notices is the standard for leaving a job, isn't it?? IMO, a month is more than enough, certainly not 3 or 4 and I would make no mention of my intention to retire,

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

Othereeeen — Tue, 17 May 2022 19:26:58 GMT

What have others donein your company at retirement time?

Today, with the tight job martket, you MIGHT have a little more assurance that they won't let you go immediately, which is thier right of course.

Only give notice if you are fully prepared if they say "OK We'll help you clean out your desk and locker ...and we'll escort you to your car....."

ANother way to think of it is...How much "notice' would they give YOU if they wanted to let you go?

Unless you have a contract that says otherwise, and, if you work in an "At will" state where they CAN let you go for any reason, the ball is in thier court.

Whatever you do, do NOT delude yourself into thinking they will miss you, they need you, the place will collapse without you. WILL NOT HAPPEN....hasn't happened yet ( right?)

Just think....when others have left in your company, how many people said, "Wish Bill was still here....the company would run so much better with him!!!!"

Unfortunately, reality says they will forget you as soon as your seat is cold. Not mean, just realistic. Work life goes on for those who still work there.....

So make sure YOU are ready.

With luck, they will let you stay for three months, a year, whatever.

But don't count on it!!!

If you get an annual raise , make sure you work long enough to qualify for it.

Also, fully fund your 401K or IRA before you leave because once you don't have earned income, you cannot add to those retirement accounts.

Get your covered dental and medical stuff done too before you leave.

Good Luck!

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

Sooner — Tue, 17 May 2022 19:30:46 GMT

The minute you give notice you are basically gone at that point. So consider that and if it will be a problem, give 3 weeks and leave.

I managed to avoid the dreaded retirement party!

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

chrystaltree — Tue, 17 May 2022 19:38:01 GMT

If you aren't in management, if you aren't a supervisor, 3 months is too much time. If you have a company pension or retirement plan, ask your Human Relations department how much time they need to process your benefits. If you don't have a retirement plan to consider, I think 4 weeks is sufficient. I retired a couple of months ago, I managed a staff of 20 and no one else was trained to do some of what I did. HR suggested I give 6 weeks notice, I gave 8 because I wanted to give my department time for a smooth transition. They did nothing for 6 weeks and went into panic mode for my last two weeks. When you announce plans all that "stuff" you talked about should not be a factor. It's all irrevant.

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

BunSnoop — Tue, 17 May 2022 19:47:01 GMT

As always, I can depend on you to bring up things I never would of thought of. Thank you all for the great suggestions and comments.

@Othereeeen, you really got me thinking when you said - how much notice would they give me??? Gosh our company had probably about 1,000 employees about 20 years ago (I've been with the company 26 years). And they have let sooooo many go - to cut the budget, and I would say there may be now about 400 employees left.

I was actually one of them that they were to let go and I got "saved" a couple of days before they were to let me go. I think I had about a 1 month notice. However, since then so many employees were given no notice - they told them, usually on a Friday, that was their last day - no notice at all!

One girl actually worked in our department. She was there for part of the day, then she was gone. We were told on Monday, they had to let her go. Often they would let go of 30-40 employees at a time - no notices!!!

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

SeaMaiden — Tue, 17 May 2022 19:59:02 GMT

I left my job of almost 30 years after I had double knee replacement. My knee replacement was in June...I told them about my surgery four months prior(in February).... and asked for June, July and August off....Summer is a slower time of the year there, so that worked out great. I had NEVER taken any extra time off in 30 years other than a week twice a year.

After I had the surgery, I realized I never wanted to return....so one month after my surgery....I told them I was not coming back to work.

I felt it was not leaving them short as they had hired a person when I left...

best thing I ever did as the working environment was TOXIC...and I was really unhappy there.

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

QVCkitty1 — Tue, 17 May 2022 20:02:22 GMT

@BunSnoop wrote:
Not this June, but next June I'll be 65 and hope to retire then once eligible for Medicare. How much notice do I give my employer?

Currently there are 3 of us in our dept. One has been doing the same job as me for over 40 years, the other is just beginning to learn. I would estimate it takes about 1 year to train someone that has no prior experience. If they hire someone from the outside that has done similar work, I would estimate about 3 months for them to get comfortable with our procedures, etc.

The employee that has been with the company for 40 years, gets paid approximately $14,000 a year more than me, but has LESS responsibilities than myself. (She was a supervisor and when they eliminated the position she kept her supervisor salary).

When I leave they will still have "her", and the person that this year has just started learning.

My supervisor is nice, but I'm not a real happy camper that the other employee gets paid more than me, and anything that is more difficult, he assigns to me. I don't know how to put it, but she was at one time super intelligent, but the last 3 years - definitely not so much! I believe she is on warning due to errors/production issues.

I was thinking of giving 3-4 months notice. What do you think - too much, not enough, etc?

@BunSnoop , I gave a months notice, and my weasel of a boss talked me into staying until they hired my replacement. I agreed because I liked my co- workers and in our situation being one person down makes it really hard for those left behind. If he were my only consideration I'd have given 2 weeks and never looked back. As it turned out I worked per diem for 4 more years, my choice.

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

cindyNC — Tue, 17 May 2022 20:02:44 GMT

I worked for an international company. It took my company MONTHS to hire replacement people and the applicants had to go through 1-3 interviews depending on if they were considered for the position. All of the computer programs were proprietary and there was a learning curve for that also. They didn't even start advertising until after the emplyee had left the company.

As I was retiring with nary a thought of ever being employed again, I gave my supervisor 1 week notice. As I don't believe in burning bridges, I sent my supervisor a very nice letter thanking her for everything etc...... Coworkers in other US branches were permanently assigned to cover work in other US branches when a coworker left/vacation/medical leave etc. so coverage for the work wasn't an issue.

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

millieshops — Tue, 17 May 2022 20:20:38 GMT

As long as there is no company policy, you have to protect yourself.

I understand the concept of loyalty, but don't be so loyal that the company and your co-workers won't return that loyalty.

I know 2 men who worked highly responsible positions in their companies, but each returned from lunch one day only to have been locked out of their own offices. One of them had watched so many be let go from his department that when they were down to 5 he made the error of assuming he was safe.

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

Chessa35 — Tue, 17 May 2022 20:26:39 GMT

Now a days , the thinking is ; out with the old and in with the new ! Sad , but true .

They know you are around retirement age , so it won’t be a shock . (You may be helping them out .) Sad ,but true !

Give them two or three weeks .

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

Catty2 — Tue, 17 May 2022 20:32:29 GMT

I gave my employer a month's notice. I typed a letter with the information and my last work date and took it to my manager. Such a great feeling after working for so many years.

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

hckynutjohn — Tue, 17 May 2022 20:37:16 GMT

@BunSnoop

My employer of 33 years was offering buyouts, and I could not wait to hit the road. I turned in ak the pertinent paperwork, signed my my immediate boss. Did not hear a thing for close to 3 weeks.

At the time I was working day hours of 8am-4pm. My boss came over to me at 3:00pm and told me I got the buyout and I had to turn in my ID and not to come back after my 4 o'clock shift ended. I said "what the beep", and I am suppose to get all my own tools and equipment of 33 years, grounded up and out the door in 1 hour.

Fortunately this boss was a fellow I car pooled with back in the 1960's, when he was a flunky hourly worker like myself. He was able to finagle another day for me to go into 2 different large factory plants to round up my personal equipment.

In essence I was given 1 hour notice to vacate after 33 years of service.That is how I was treated, but for my friend, who just happened to be my boss at the time. Bosses rotated every 3 months, and had it been the other guy?

Even worse. There were those who came into start their night shift at 4pm! They were told they got their buyout and to turn in their ID and "out the door", never to return. Many of these workers had over 25 years with this company.

Not what you were asking, but this is what AT&T thought of its long term employees. Just a number to them. 😡

hckynut 🇺🇸

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

BExplorer — Tue, 17 May 2022 21:01:34 GMT

As an employer, I appreciate when people give me plenty of notice to hire and train their replacement. I have had two employees retire: one management, and one not. Both gave me two years' notice! I realize that is very unusual and I certainly don't expect anyone to do that. No, they were not walked to the door when they gave me notice. I utilized their skills and experience up until their last day 🙂.

Re: Retirement - How Much Notice?

Enufstuff — Tue, 17 May 2022 21:21:31 GMT

@hckynutjohn That is so outragious, to be treated that way, after

working for a company for so many years.

For several years now, I have been hearing about people being let go for "downsizing" or "restructuring" or "going in a new direction".

Companies expect employee loyalty, but that doesn't seem to work in the other direction. There is no consideration, empathy, or even appreciation of employees who have given their all to a company.

People are locked out of their computers and escorted out

by security as if they are criminals. You are right, so many employees are only a number.

Fortunately, I worked for the city for 32 years in a civil service position. I had to work out pension and health insurance along with Social Security and Medicare three months before retirement.

I did not inform my immediate boss, but he heard about it

and asked me about it , the month before I left. I had not told him before, since he was not very nice to me and my co- worker. He had his favorites and we were not it.

Only a couple of people knew that I was leaving. I wanted to avoid a retirement party. Well, on my last day, they did have a cake for me and another lady who was retiring the same day.

A collection had been taken and we were given flowers and a cash gift. ( It was not the bosses doing, but other co-workers).

That was February 2019, just before everything was shut down from Covid. I don't miss it at all. It was a very stressful job and an unpleasant boss made it worse. He was the 5th boss

in our department. The first three were very nice to work for.

I think that people in management over the past 15 or 20

years are trained to be cold and unfriendly to employees. They are just dispensible bodies .