Community Chat

[QVCkitty1]

Many of us here have retired,and all of the Mary Beth talk got me to thinking what your last day or retirement party was like. I actually had 2 parties, one was a pot luck and what seemed like an all day goodbye from my co- workers in the OR. People were incredibly kind and I got A Sony Smart TV, this was 2011 and a big deal. Then a smaller group had a restaurant celebration. A month later I started working  per diem on and off for 3 years. When I retired for good , I had another pot luck, ( we loved to celebrate)  How did you leave ? Was it quiet or a big to do. It's a big change and Ihope Mary Beth enjoys her retirement.

[Ainhisg]

I was blessed to be able to retire at 47.  I didn't want any kind of a party or send-off and told the main office that. That's just not my style.  As soon as I could leave that last day, I did without saying anything to anyone.  I was the first out the door.  lol  I had several friends at work, and we socialized outside of it. I knew I would still see them after I retired, so it was no big deal.  

[ThinkingOutLoud]

I'm not the type to want a big to-do. I know someone, though, who I really felt badly for because they should've gotten a big send off but didn't. They put in many long hours for many years but they left during the pandemic and people weren't back at the office yet. They really should've been acknowledged but instead it was like they were never even there.

[jlkz]

Interesting ways to celebrate leaving a group or organization... I think I have done them all !

A group luncheon at a restaurant to celebrate contributions before taking on new responsibilities in another corporate division: much laughter and an engraved small silver bowl.

Slipping out the door at year's end with a hard-earned financial " package " as the whole corporation had been ordered to break up by the Justice Department.  Pension survived and the " package " helped me start my consulting career.

Most meaningful: Two high level executives from my home company who had finally gotten up to the parent company where I was took me to lunch at a French restaurant.  It seemed they felt uncomfortable because they were aware of the many situations I was subjected to by the Accounting, Programming and Financial divisions in the home company.  Promoted into HR at a level where there were very few women at the time and then up to the parent company HR.

I put them at ease and smiled and said that there are so many corporations I can consult to that I wouldn't be knocking on their door.  I thanked them for giving me the opportunity to develop many skills that would make me an welcome asset to a wide variety of companies.

I compared all my experiences to being in a family: mostly great and some not so great but even they helped shaped me.  " So guys, can we let all that go and just enjoy the moments we can share now ... "

Yes...they did want me to come back because " women like me were moving up...."but I had clients, was an adjunct professor at my college, and partnered with a national outplacement firm counseling folks as they sought new careers.

[LindaSal]

I'm also lucky to have been able to retire young (51) after giving 30 years to our own professional office.  When we sold our business DH retired, also young (59) and told me I didn't have to work anymore and after building something so great and putting all of yourself into it, also bringing up kids, taking care of the home..........it was time.  Even though at first we had mixed emotions about it we adjusted rather well.  We handed over the keys , walked out the door and never looked back.

And yes, we did it quietly as we preferred it that way.  IMO, the overdone hoopla is a bit much for my taste.

[deeva]

I retired at 52. I'm not one who likes a lot of parties and celebrations, I went out to lunch with some coworkers and my boss, that was enough for me. 

[Meowingkitty]

I didn't have a retirement party because I was being laid off and decided not to look for another job. I was so happy to be getting out of there I made sure I was the first one to fill out my paperwork that day so I could just hand it in and grab my purse and leave. I would not have wanted all the hoopla. Just let me go and be done with it.

[CalminHeart]

I danced for joy when I left on my last day. I'd been with a huge international corporation for nearly 40 years and saw the downfall of humane treatment in the corporate workplace firsthand.

My VP insisted on having a retirement party. I repeatedly asked him not to because I just wanted to walk away. He did it anyway and I made the best of it. 

I took a lot of heat for treating people in my departments with respect and like adults.

I got raked over the coals for not writing up more people.

Other officers yelled and said nasty things to employees but I refused to do that.

My VP made ageist comments to me and others. 

My departments always had higher productivity than others and part of that was due to treating them well.

Everyone at my level was forced to take an 8% pay cut in 2008 with the promise of getting it back after the recession was over. Do you think they actually followed through on that?  Nope.

The year after I retired, the new officer of my deparatments fired everyone over age 60. Countless people transferred out of his depts.

In the almost 9 years since I retired, my company let over 6,000 people go. Many were replaced with young, inexperienced people who were paid very little.

My company ended almost all benefits for employees and retirees soon after I retired.

My company used to send emails to officers and above encouraging them to vote a certain way. 

Sometimes people ask why I don't say good things about huge corporations.  What I've said is the tip of the iceberg.

I adjusted to retirement the minute I walked out the door  and never looked back.

[QVCkitty1]

@CalminHeart , Even though I worked in a hospital, it was becoming more and more corporate and believe me I was not a bit sorry to leave . I did miss the people , and the only reason I agreed to work per diem ( aside from the extra money ) was Icould turndown assignments and no longer had to work call.  My send off was nice , but the day to day was becoming intolerable and my temper was getting short. When you control your work life , it is easier. 

[cindyNC]

I was thrilled to retire.  Had been with the company for 16 years but they closed our Charlotte office and for the last year I was working from home for our Atlanta office. I hated it.  Was always out of the loop with everything that was going on.  I gave a weeks notice, got many emails wishing me luck and that was it. 

My BF, on the other hand, just retired from his CNC job in Sept.  He did prototype work and was a problem solver.  His boss thru a mini get together at work, got food for 40 peiople and 140 showed up to wish him farewell.  He got a giant card signed by many co-workers, two plaques and a lunch bucket full of jolly rancher candies (his favorite).  He was thrilled and it was well deserved.