Made it known today

[SecondAttempt]

I had a regularly scheduled meeting with my boss today to review quarterly goals.

I started with announcing that I intend to retire in about a year. I made it known that I would be doing it much sooner but I want to complete a project I am leading, true. There are some organizational changes coming that I don't necessarily object to or think will be bad for me but I do think my plans need to be considered. I made it clear that if certain changes are made I will just give my 2 weeks notice and be done.

I will find it interesting how news spreads and how I am treated. At this point I can give mt 2 weeks notice and immediately go on vacation so no real risk.

 

[Lucie]

Congratulations! The ball is in your court. What a great feeling!

 

[Dtail]

Congrats.

 

[Surewhitey]

Win-win... I like it.

 

[Aerides]

I will find it interesting how news spreads and how I am treated.

This will be interesting. I remember, while training my replacement, it was a toss up between... "we want to talk to you still as you're the expert" (like even my last day... lol) or, I'd just be left off the invites. All or nothing.

One particular interaction was odd - a newer colleague asked to meet with both me and the new guy, but when he walked into the room, he only made eye contact with the new guy, including shaking hands with him only.

I was almost invisible, and my replacement was very uncomfortable and kept trying to shift things so I'd be the one answering as he was only days on the job.

 

[Dreamer]

Hope that it all goes well and that you get to finish your project. Congratulations.

 

[Geld ist Freiheit]

Congrats! You’re in the driver’s seat. Make the most of it.

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

Congrats.

 

[marko]

Congrats!!

 

[Out of Steam]

I made it clear that if certain changes are made I will just give my 2 weeks notice and be done.

People here usually advise against giving long notice before retiring, but you have the key point taken care of, in that you could afford to leave immediately if it goes badly.

 

[pacergal]

Congratulations on your decision. A year is quite a long time to be in retirement countdown mode, but I did that too.
My formal letter to HR was 3 month out, but my office knew the entire year.
Time to make this year count--do all of the medical/dental stuff, plan vacations and take your PTO.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

Good for you!

Corporate thinking asks you to give them time.

If they are done with you security escorts you out the door.

You won!

 

[HI Bill]

Congrats! I spent 5.5 years working for a company where I'd told them in my initial interview that I only planned to work there for 1-3 years before retiring. In 2021, as I ceded control of the projects I managed, I could feel myself fading into the background, and any relevance I had just weeks before, fading. If I had it to do over again, I'd just give two week's notice, and not let everyone know of my ER plans. My management 'forced' me into giving 3-months' notice, and they were painful!

 

[RobbieB]

How did they force you to work?

 

[HI Bill]

Not so much forcing, but they asked me to give at least three month's notice to allow for transitions of my projects. I didn't want to hang either my coworkers or my clients out to dry, and wanted to successfully transition my projects and maintain my reputation on the slim outside chance I'd ever want to return to consulting. (It's odd retiring at the peak of one's career, especially when your coworkers are still working when they're more than a decade older)!

 

[Romer]

I also went almost a year. I extended it twice as I wanted to get a project I was leading to a good transition point. My efforts were greatly appreciated and my Boss let me shift to part time my last week which allowed me to stretch my vacation for 5 months enabling company subsidized healthcare and 401K matches up until my last vacation hour. I would have done the same thing even without the part time as I had a lot in the design of the project and wanted it all locked down and on order and let the new lead work the integration and test of the spacecraft as that was his strength. That was a year ago and have since seen pictures of this spacecraft fully built and tested and waiting for launch.

I would do the same thing again

AND I am so happy I am now retired with the only person I have to worry about is myself rather than a complete program full of people

 

[gamboolman]

Congratulations
Sooner is better
Hopefully, they will piss you off and you can then piss off - ha !

Retirement is wonderful

 

[NgineER]

Grattis second attempt!

 

[Born2Fish]

Congrats on starting the final countdown to retirement.

 

[street]

Well, you took the hardest step that first one! Well, I hope all goes well for you in your time there and in ER.

I have one year notice and left the last day open till the time got closer. We had a new manager for about a year and was a good person and did respect years of service for us who had been there for 30 plus years.

I also enforced that I didn't want to be thrown under the bus and need to same respect till I walk out the door.

I made no treats to walk if not but made it clear no politics will be excepted. All went smooth till I walked out the back door and everything I ask for was done to a T.

I also went out at the top and in my best years coming in my career. A tough decision but it was the best thing I ever did.

Good Luck!!

 

[RxMan]

Congratulations and good luck!

 

[wdwwildbill]

Congrats !!! Don't think i'll give that long of notice. Maybe more like 1-2 month as want a very smooth transistion. But will be ready for plan B just in case.. 2 weeks and bye bye

 

[SecondAttempt]

People here usually advise against giving long notice before retiring, but you have the key point taken care of, in that you could afford to leave immediately if it goes badly.

Yeah, in my career I've definitely seen people pushed out more quickly once plans are known. The reality is that my partner is retiring this June so I'd be going in less than 2 months if I did not feel an obligation to bring some things to completion and support my organization. But it is definitely a great feeling to basically be free!

 

[SecondAttempt]

Congratulations on your decision. A year is quite a long time to be in retirement countdown mode, but I did that too.
My formal letter to HR was 3 month out, but my office knew the entire year.
Time to make this year count--do all of the medical/dental stuff, plan vacations and take your PTO.

Part of my rationale is that I am feeling increasingly uncomfortable making decisions on a project in the early stages that I will not have to live with. I want to be able to tell them that I'm short term. I already mostly defer to others on decisions and generally rule by consensus on that project. I have a project that will be done within a month or so and another that I should be able to complete within a year.

I've been around the sun enough times to know to protect myself in case I was immediately escorted out the door but I also have enough professionalism to leave my colleagues and my employer in a good place to the best that I can without too much personal sacrifice.

 

[38Chevy454]

I did kind of similar to OP SecondAtttempt. I was in my beginning of the year PITA filling in and setting that year's goals and objectives for the performance review process. I turned mine in with a simple "Retire in summer" as my goal for the year; nothing else on the form. My supervisor understood and I did have to put some of the general company wide BS crap on mine, but that was just to keep HR happy. There were no personal performance measures. I did retire at beginning of Aug that summer. I was fortunate to be in a position where the company needed me more than i needed them, so could have my longer term notice.