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When No One Retires (hbr.org)

More and more Americans want to work longer -- or have to, given that many aren't saving adequately for retirement. From a report: Before our eyes, the world is undergoing a massive demographic transformation. In many countries, the population is getting old. Very old. Globally, the number of people age 60 and over is projected to double to more than 2 billion by 2050 and those 60 and over will outnumber children under the age of 5. In the United States, about 10,000 people turn 65 each day, and one in five Americans will be 65 or older by 2030. By 2035, Americans of retirement age will eclipse the number of people aged 18 and under for the first time in U.S. history.

[...] Soon, the workforce will include people from as many as five generations ranging in age from teenagers to 80-somethings. Are companies prepared? The short answer is "no." Aging will affect every aspect of business operations -- whether it's talent recruitment, the structure of compensation and benefits, the development of products and services, how innovation is unlocked, how offices and factories are designed, and even how work is structured -- but for some reason, the message just hasn't gotten through. In general, corporate leaders have yet to invest the time and resources necessary to fully grasp the unprecedented ways that aging will change the rules of the game.

What's more, those who do think about the impacts of an aging population typically see a looming crisis -- not an opportunity. They fail to appreciate the potential that older adults present as workers and consumers. The reality, however, is that increasing longevity contributes to global economic growth. Today's older adults are generally healthier and more active than those of generations past, and they are changing the nature of retirement as they continue to learn, work, and contribute. In the workplace, they provide emotional stability, complex problem-solving skills, nuanced thinking, and institutional know-how. Their talents complement those of younger workers, and their guidance and support enhance performance and intergenerational collaboration. In encore careers, volunteering, and civic and social settings, their experience and problem-solving abilities contribute to society's well-being.

3 of 414 comments (clear)

  1. Putting a stop on the promotion path. by jellomizer · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Really the biggest problem I see, is how Gen X and Millennials are getting blocked out of their advancement tracks. When people in their 60+ are not retiring, that is creating a workforce where it is difficult to for the younger folks to advance in, because these promotion jobs are already covered by people with more experience.

    Plus the next set of problem, is these older people are not planning on retiring, so this means, they are not taking promising young people under their wing, mentoring them the tricks of the trade, to be ready to step up and continue on the work. Now these people are working to their death, without a transition plan in effect.

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  2. Re:Fuck that by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I am retiring the instant I meet my relevant financial goals for doing so.

    I got laid off in June 2017, but am debt-free (including having my mortgage paid off) and financially independent for my current and foreseeable situation, according to my spreadsheets where I track everything -- think FIRE, though not that young. My wife died in 2006 ( Remember Sue... ) so it's a little quiet.

    As it turns out, I've been contacted by a number of employers and recruiters recently and had one in-person interview and several phone interviews that all look like they'll progress further. I've got 30 years experience and been a system/application programmer and system administrator on just about every version of Unix, several versions of Linux and Windows and am big into automation and am getting inquires to do DevOps work. I'm thinking of going back to work. Some extra coin in the piggy bank wouldn't hurt and I'll get benefits and, eventually, 18 months of COBRA -- which was *way* less expensive than plans on the ACA marketplace, because I have too much passive/investment income to get subsidies.

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  3. Actually... by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Slaves cannot quit and choose a different employer. You can.

    Actually, there are plenty of people who cannot withstand a disruption in employment. This is a problem that UBI seeks to fix.

    Slaves cannot choose where they live. You can.

    Actually, some people do not have enough money to move. This is a problem that UBI seeks to fix.

    You like having things, like clothing, food, electricity? Well, somebody has got to produce all of that for you.

    Actually, automation has gotten to the point where the efforts of a dozen people can feed thousands of people. It won't be long until it's down to just one person. Clothing is almost entirely made by machines. Electricity? Well damn dude, that shit is provided by the Sun.

    You think THEY want to work for free?

    You do know that some people do things just for the betterment of the world right? I write code and give it away so that other people don't have to.

    No, you MUST give something back for all the effort they have put forth on your account.

    Who said people didn't want to give back? If you provide people with that which they need to survive then they can make better decisions about their future.

    Yes, we have a problem wherein too much wealth and power are concentrated among too few people.

    And what is your solution to this problem? Should we just hope the wealthy have a change of heart? We tried labor unions and look what happened to those. You are standing in the way of progress. Be careful because it may run you over and drag you with it.

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