I did it!

[tangomonster]

Gave my two-week notice of resignation. No regrets---the way that the managers are acting now just shows what I've been dealing with.
Examples:

* I requested that I not have a going away party. I'm just not into that sort of thing. My direct supervisor is running around asking HR "is she allowed to do that?" Turns out they want a party not to honor me and my contributions over 19 years but as a PR thing to invite all our customers (the counselors who have sent me the referrals for the evaluations).
* My supervisor told me that I need to resign at the exact end of the pay period for payroll purposes. Later she said it has to be the end of the month. Both not true!
* I was told that it's not really acceptable to just give two weeks notice. The HR manual says it is. As a professional, I would have liked to have given more, but policy also says that you are not allowed to take any paid time off during the resignation period. I'm already forfeiting 160 hours that I was too busy to take. Every year, I also forfeited accruing 10 days or more because my account balance was up to 400 hours and you can't accrue more after that.

I've been feeling a little weird about retiring at 52, like I'm giving up and like I'm weak for not being able to handle the work world. But maybe it's not giving up---more like giving in---to sanity and peace of mind and a better way of life!
And maybe I should take pride in my sensitivity and ethics and so on that makes it difficult to function in the work world, at least in a toxic environment like mine.

 

[KB]

Good for you.

I'll bet that you don't miss all the c**p that goes on, once you're retired.
Hope the next 2 weeks go smoothly.....

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

I was told that it's not really acceptable to just give two weeks notice. The HR manual says it is.

This doesn't sound legal, unless slavery is legal in your state.

I've been feeling a little weird about retiring at 52, like I'm giving up and like I'm weak for not being able to handle the work world.

Nuts. You have just won the game. They just lost the game. Expect retribution.

 

[REWahoo]

tango, congratulations!

In honor of your declaration of independence and impending freedom from the world of w*rk, I'm going to move your "I did it!" topic over to Life after FIRE. I think you've earned it.

 

[tangomonster]

Thanks so much! I feel like I have good sense and good values, but then I begin to wonder when I'm so out of sync with most of the people at my job (especially the managers). I start questioning if I'm the one who's "off"/weird, etc. But soon I can be as weird as I like, without anyone questioning it or demanding conformity
(my husband has been well trained not to do this!)!

 

[SteveR]

Congratulations Tango!!!

I gave two weeks notice on my first ER and it really pissed them off too.    There was no rule against it as long as I retired on the last day of the month in which I became eligible.  I gave them two weeks notice exactly 2 weeks before the end of the month.  

I am sure you are feeling the wheels of the great corporate gate creaking and groaning as the slowly open to let you free.  In two weeks you will be on the outside of those gates and those that are giving you grief will still me imprisoned.  

Good luck in your new life.

 

[Dawg52]

Congrats! 52 is a nice number. I chose that age to retire as well. I gave my company more notice(2 years) as I have a lot of stock and didn't want to run into any problems in me not being able to sell it to someone here. But I have been treated well with everyone saying they are envious. Everything is on go.  

Good luck with your retirement.

 

[Martha]

Congratulations!

Be weird and enjoy it.  

 

[Outtahere]

Congratulation, enjoy every minute of the next two weeks knowing how it is driving them all crazy, then .... walk out the door and don't look back!!

 

[Alex]

Tango - Congratulations! The fun part of your life can now begin in earnest. Let us know the date that you break out the 'bubbly' , so we can share a 'virtual' toast with you

 

[donheff]

Tango - two weeks is standard practice for notice. No one should feel an obligation for more. Many people give lengthy notice to companies they have feelings of loyalty to and that is good. But two weeks is more than reasonable for a toxic employer.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Some people give lengthy notices of retirement.

And are subsequently shown the door.

It is not in your best interest to give more than two weeks notice.

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Some people give lengthy notices of retirement....
It is not in your best interest to give more than two weeks notice.

I agree with MasterBlaster.

Nothing worse than a long lame-duck stay at your soon-to-be-former job. No one wants you hanging around; all you will get is short term trivial tasks to do, you will be distracted, and some won't trust you.

2 weeks sounds good. They'll get over it. Faster than you'd like to think!

Good luck with the decision.

 

[lazygood4nothinbum]

* My supervisor told me that I need to resign at the exact end of the pay period for payroll purposes.  Later she said it has to be the end of the month.  Both not true!

i learned from hr at my company that if i retired at the beginning of the month my medical insurance would be covered by the company for the entire month. so it's better to quit on the 1st than on the 31st.

congrats on your e.r. enjoy it.

 

[Coach]

Thanks so much! I feel like I have good sense and good values, but then I begin to wonder when I'm so out of sync with most of the people at my job (especially the managers). I start questioning if I'm the one who's "off"/weird, etc. But soon I can be as weird as I like, without anyone questioning it or demanding conformity
(my husband has been well trained not to do this!)!

Tango, you are weird -- only a tiny percentage of 52 year olds are smart enough, work hard enough, and plan well enough to be able to retire. CONGRATULATIONS!

It does make a lot of the people around you jealous, though

Coach

 

[tangomonster]

An update.

I've been begged to stay on to train someone who isn't my replacement. She was hired to do the same thing I do and was considered to be fully trained and ready to go, but now she is saying she hasn't evaluated for a while and needs refreshing (people who know her from other positions say that this is par for the course). So they asked me to come and train her after I complete MY responsibilities.

I really don't want to do this, but figured I would, to be nice, like for another week or so. (Training this person is reputed to be frustrating---and then when she doesn't get it or is too lazy to perform, she'll blame me and say I haven't trained her adequately). So I tried to negotiate a deal that I would get paid my regular salary if I could take a week off of paid leave time while she writes up the reports so then I can critique them. I'll be losing over 160 hours of paid leave time, so I figured getting 40 of them back for a paid week off would make me feel a little better about not being able to resign when I want.

Employers response: "we'll pay you out of your PTO (paid time off) so that you can receive your regular salary and not lose all that PTO." Hello?? Wouldn't I still be losing it if I had to work to receive it? The idea of paid time off is TIME OFF!!! I don't see any advantage to me if I get paid as my regular salary through regular payroll or if it's my regular salary from my forefeited PTO time.

So I protested. Now they are considering paying me as a consultant. I'm asking for double my usual salary with a minimum four hours at a time since gas is so expensive and work is 25 miles away. This would be $45 an hour (I know that sounds so low to people making big bucks as employees or consultants on this board, but it's actually twice what I was getting paid, even with a master's degree!)
I'm hoping they won't take me up on this offer.

Moral of this story to all who haven't retired yet: take all your leave time! Your employer may not reimburse you fairly for any time you haven't taken!

 

[Alex]

S0, If they take you up on your offer, you win in the form of extra $$$. If they don't - you still win!!! now thats a win-win scenario!

Anyway, uou are much nicer than me. I would tell em to pack sand! Regardless, it is a short term deal either way. Have fun!

 

[Kitty]

Congrats, Tango, life gets better after retirement. There are stages some go through where you still have a feeling like your supposed to be doing something for ??

The retirement feelings get better and better as you go on with your life. You made your plans and carried them through to success, be proud and don't worry about what people think believe me all the remarks above are true. Some places will escort you off the property if you dare to leave without their input.

I think it was Oscar Wilde said "living well is the best revenge".
Now you talk about being weird this fellow was way ahead of his time/curve.

Best wishes,
Kitty