Was Going To FIRE Until This Happened (Work Related)

[JLoft]

Hang in there a bit if you can stand it (if as asked above the potential package is good enough).

A guy in my bowling league had a union desk job. Eventually technology took over and he could do his formerly 40-hour workweek in just ten hours. He just did what he wanted the other thirty. Company could do nothing because he was union. Well, until he filled his days watching porn....

[catii]

Quote:

If you are truly financially ready to retire, I would do it now. Stick to your plan even if the timeframe was moved up a couple of months earlier than expected. Why waste your last "x days" doing nothing but showing up and playing solitaire when you could be doing what you had planned on, retiring and enjoying life instead of just watching it pass by.

+1

[joeea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadRunner7 So I come to work, hang out, surf the net, read this forum, do personal stuff, all of which my boss said he has no problem with cause he knows, basically I do not have much to do and he thinks at some point they will get around to me, or will they (?). My wife thinks I should just set a date and quit if this keeps on much longer. I’m thinking they are giving me a strange kind of pre-severance package right now, by showing up and doing nothing most of the time and paying me for it.

Is that really the way you want to spend your days - doing nothing?

You should listen to your wife.

[SpinDoctorTX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by freedomatlast There was a time when the company I work for laid off only people that they didn't suspect would retire in a year or two. They figured, why pay severance when these people will be gone in a year or two anyway? So the people with high financial need were laid off and the people that would be ok financially either had to stay or retire without the package. That was just fantastic for morale.

That's more or less what happened at my company. I finally just gave them the heave ho, which they were counting on I'm sure. They then split my job between two junior employees, so at least in the short term paid more. I'm so glad to be out of corp. America where so little makes sense.

[Bruizer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by catii +1

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRLLS If you are truly financially ready to retire, I would do it now. Stick to your plan even if the timeframe was moved up a couple of months earlier than expected. Why waste your last "x days" doing nothing but showing up and playing solitaire when you could be doing what you had planned on, retiring and enjoying life instead of just watching it pass by.

+2

You're a slave to the time required to get to and be at your desk. Free yourself!

[Chuckanut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt34 Hey, you've worked yourself into a "Wally" position! What's not to like?

+1

Precisely! You have worked yourself into a position where you have no effect on anything.

Now, just find a way to do it remotely, and you will have FIRE'd and out wallyed Wally.

[brett]

I suspect this decision really depends on whether you are ready to retire and if you are in that mind space. Plus the opinion of your spouse.

I decided to wait. I knew it would come. It took about 15 months. But the payback for me was severance of almost 2 years of salary, additional DB pension entitlements, etc.

We used those 15 or so months of time to do some planning and to get in the frame so to speak. We started the process of downsizing, clearing out years of unwanted items from our large home. Then preparing to sell...paining and yard work. During that time I was able to take a vacation without a care in the world or a thought of what awaited me when I returned to work. We also used the time to research and plan seven months in international post retirement travel.

Looking back....am I glad I waited for the package. You bet. It was akin the winning the lottery. But I used the time to may advantage. So when the package came I was essentially on 'starters orders' and ready to start retirement with the lifestyle and financial plan in place.

Everyone's personal situation is different, as is their financial situation. I suspect you know what is right for you. Whatever you decide, don't look in the rear view mirror. Even if you decide to remain at work now, you are still free to change your decision in six months. You are in the driver's so take advantage of it.

[dirtbiker]

Sounds like you've got a great problem to have! I would absolutely positively stick this one out. Worst case scenario is nothing happens and you keep getting paid to do nothing until you get bored and quit. The possibility of a sweet severance is too good not to at least wait it out a bit longer.

And don't mention a word to anyone about the R word. Let them think you're ready to keep working in perpetuity.

[Canoeboy]

There could be several reasons why they are keeping you in limbo, wanting you long-term is likely not one of them.

Do you know what the severance program is? The megaCorp I was with had a published plan so I knew exactly what I would get based on years of service. Having witnessed several rounds of RIF in the years leading up to my departure I know they would bundle the RIF’s when they could (large number of layoffs at one time rather than staggered). In my case, the department I was with was going through a long planned leadership transition. At first the new leader was hoping I would go on my own (mostly because of the expense), but then I made a case to him and HR that I should be offered a package. I made it clear I was not leaving on my own along with explaining how I was previously discriminated on based on age.

If there is a substantial payout with a RIF, I would play it cool and wait. Most all severance contracts contain confidentiality clauses along with waiving your rights to make claims going forward. Despite being closed-lipped they may have caught on that you were going to retire on your own.

[HawkeyeNFO]

Sounds like my job on many days.

[LimaPop]

To me, just arriving and being present is the same as working. They can use or not use my talents, they have that choice, but as long as I'm on the clock, no guilt. That said, I would quit if I didn't have productive work.

[Idnar7]

A former employee in my group at Mega just passed away at 96. He was a mgr when I started in 1979. He was a 35+ year employee. They wanted him to retire. They took away his people, his secretary (back then title) and responsibilities. He wouldn't quit and continued to come in dressed in a suit with a briefcase of magazines. He would shut his door and read magazines for 8 hours. He was ostracized from the rest of the office. He did this until he hit 40 years and then retired. No fanfare. I thought that was incredibly cruel as a new employee, so it wasn't a surprise when the same thing happened to me after 31 years. Except then they had job elimination so I had no choice. If you haven't seen the movie "The Air Up There" it was the screenplay of how they told me - fake meeting, stranger in the meeting, telling me my job was eliminated, a book of details/rights/disclaimers. After my starting experience, I knew it was a matter of time. I was ready and I got a severance, so it was ok. I was one of five in my dept all with over 30+ years.

If they are letting you stay, take it as long as you can. Don't feel guilty don't allow yourself to be shamed by others. You can bet as soon as the time is right they will cut you loose. Good luck

[Carpediem]

At the beginning of the year, 75% of my and my co-worker's responsibilities shifted to another group when a new software tool was implemented. Since then I have anywhere from 1 to 5 hours of work to do TOTAL per week. Fortunately, I work from home full-time so I'm able to keep myself entertained with personal stuff (surfing, ER learning, going to the gym) and chores (mowing the yard, etc.). And they still pay me six figures. I don't get it. I really want a bye-bye package but instead I keep hearing talk of them increasing headcount.

[CardsFan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carpediem I really want a bye-bye package but instead I keep hearing talk of them increasing headcount.

I worked about a year longer than needed, hoping for one of these, I don't regret it, because I liked the work and travel, and still took a lot of family time.

But, in the end, I decided that leaving on my own terms would be just fine, and frankly, more rewarding emotionally.

If I had waited, 3 years later, still no Bye-bye packages. Glad I pulled the plug when I did.