Baby Boomers are you still working?

Question

Many older workers are the first to go when a company downsizes and jobs are cut. It's tough to find a comparible position with adequate pay and benefits. A friend of mine went from being a company executive to a job in the sporting goods section at Wal-Mart. It was the best job he could find with health insurance benefits. I know he's not the only one with this type of experience. What's going on in this country?

Answer 1

I'm fortunate to be in a profession which is always in demand.... I'm a nurse. When I first started studying 38 years ago, someone said to me, "well you'll always have a job"...at the time I thought she was crazy - I was only intending working until I had a family - but here I am, aged 58 and still working four days a week. And I still love it.
Health insurance is not such an issue here in Australia , since we have universal public health care which works pretty well. My partner is on an aged pension, and he gets everything free, and prescriptions are all charged at $4.20 no matter what the actual cost.
We are also actively encouraged to continue working, with good tax breaks after 55, a bonus scheme for people who defer claiming the aged pension, and a lot of government -sponsored advertising aimed at employers taking on older workers. You can take up an apprenticeship at any age, and the government sponsors you to do it. People in their 50's are becoming plumbers and electricians , after a lifetime of doing something else.
The government is obviously running scared, with the realisation that so many Boomers are staring down the barrel of retirement, and they desperately want them not to do so ! Our pensions are not paid for by ourselves during our working lives - they are a "given" with no strings attached. So our government has a lot more financial worries than yours has in that direction, I guess ! No wonder they are trying so hard to look after all of us Boomers ! But for someone like me, its all a great bonus, since I like working anyway, and wasn't thinking of retirement for many years to come.

Answer 2

Yep, I'm still in the saddle. I left my "profession" about 8 years ago (psychotherapist for many years...just got to be too much!!)...went back to school for additional education in Museum Studies...I've worked for the last 5 years at 3 different museums mostly in education...but....this work is only seasonal and the pay is just above minium wage and, of course, absolutely no benefits. So....along with these jobs I also work 4 evenings a week in an Assisted Living facility cooking the evening meal and doing the evening activity program....again, this is for just above minimum wage and no health coverage. So here I am with a Masters Degree and Certification in Museum Studies and I can't seem to find a job making much over minium wage...and forget about benefits. What I find over and over again, at least in this neck of the woods, is seasoned, highly experienced and well educated people doing service-oriented work....that's about all that is available here. The middle class is disappearing and that leaves the "haves" and those that serve them....So, why don't I just move to a place where there is more opportunity.....believe me, I certainly thought about it but I am the only person looking out for my 85 year old mother and she has a fit if I even talk about moving to the next town...so, I'm just trying to hold out until I can begin to sponge off the government (read- get a small portion of the money that I've been putting into the social security system since I've been 16 years old.) And, no, I don't believe you and I are the only ones going through this. Contrary to what the media would like us to believe, most companies are not eager for us to join their work force. For one thing we older women drive up the health ins. costs...at least that's what I've been told by the HR person at the place where I work....blah, blah, blah....Hum, must have hit a raw nerve, lol (gallows humor)

Answer 3

I'm on the tail end of the Boomers (52 soon),worked many years in the Medical field,(phlebotomist) then was laid off due to cutbacks,then I went into Cosmetology,now have my own business and plan to retire at 65 or so...if my health holds out...NO benefits or Medical coverage here..I do some crafty things on the side to suppliment income and probably do so until I can't physically do so anymore..The Country is heading to another recession in my opinion and they don't value experienced personnel anymore...sad but true..great question!=)

Answer 4

Yep, still working - had a 'good government job' which then got caught up in downsizing and then ran into exactly what your friend did. Had a close to 6 figure salary and now make only about high 20's + Soc. Sec. but have to keep working....LIFE...ah well - at least I'm working! So many are not or cannot

Answer 5

Grampa at seventy 8 replaced into to youthful to be in WWII, sorry that's a certainty, my dad is 80 and he 15 whilst the conflict ended, so gramps could be 12 or thirteen in 1945, he's a ingredient of the subsequent era between the excellent and toddler boomers. those human beings are often referred to as tweeners.

Answer 6

I retired from a job at an Ohio prison, at the age of 56, due to a badly botched foot surgery at the hands of a podiatrist that I trusted. I have since had a second surgery on my foot, but the focus was only on a tiny part of what was wrong. I have to list with the rest of the doctor's mistake, but at least I can still walk.

Answer 7

Yes, Im still working part time in the same restaurant, only 20 hours or so a week. Collect my Social security., so Im doing fine. I do get medical benefits but not after I retire.

Answer 8

Born in 1941, I am pre boomer, and yes, I will work until I die. Blame it on my spendthrift ways as a youth, blame it on retiring at 44, or blame it on anything you want...I cannot imagine getting up in the morning and having no sense of purpose for the day...perhaps I am a workaholic, but .... I own the business, have an extremely compitent staff who operates perfectly with me on site, and just fine without me there..sort of the best of both worlds. I am a very lucky man, I know that. Phil

Answer 9

I think it is easier to pay 2 part timers with no benefits then one with. I know of some companies here let you go as you get close to retirement benefits (halfway so it's not so obvious) they let you go. I think profit has just become more important then people, although I know companies need to make a profit I don't like they way employees are treated.

Answer 10

I was born in 1946 so I am one of the oldest of the baby boomers. I've been blessed with my employment. I've been in the same job 30 years. It's a hospital and they don't down size, but grow by leaps and bounds. There will always be a need because the sick will always be among us.