Class of 2021

[ospreyjp]

Some of what I have been reading for Feds seems to say that 2 months is a good minimum to make sure CPO has time to work on everything. That is interesting that the one colleague you mentioned wasn't treated that well after letting people know 12 weeks out.

Another reaction that I am considering is that I was promoted into a higher management position this year. I would imagine that will cause some to take issue with the resources (human/financial) that were expended on an employee that leave a year later. Understable, but not my concern at the end of the day.

 

[goingtotravel]

2 months is a good minimum to make sure CPO has time to work on everything

I've been told our agency recommends at least 6 weeks advance notice when filing retirement paperwork. Anything less may slow down getting your file to OPM and therefore may delay the start of the first full/complete/accurate retirement payment.

I was also moved into a new management position about a year ago. Our agency just took 2 years to refill a GS-14, non-managerial position (a team member mentioned in a previous post). That ridiculous timeframe is probably why my manager is trying to get those of us who are eligible in the next year to give a hint at when we might leave so they can start getting approval to refill those jobs. I still don't feel obligated to give notice a year out although I do have a copy of the OPM retirement form already filled out on my personal computer!

 

[ospreyjp]

Our positions often take a while to fill as well, although my new manager (coincidentally a GS-14) was recruited fairly quickly even in the midst of COVID this summer. I figure I will split the difference and let my manager know in April when we have the annual performance review.

I like the idea of having the paperwork filled out in advance! Comforting even if I will need to wait until I hit my date in September.

 

[RBDan]

Hello fellow classmates,

I will be "graduating" in 2021 as well. I live in California and I am currently in escrow for a new home in Colorado that will be completed in May of 2021. I plan on selling my current house and moving by October. Can't wait to start working on my basement!


Updated List:

HNL Bill 01/TBD/2021
GATime 1/2021 or 3/2021
ATX78701 3/1/2021
ClearSky 3/5/2021
LeeLee2021 4/30/2021
Georgia Girl 5/2021
goingtotravel 5/15/2021
Out-to-Lunch 6/1/2021
BGH1 6/1/2021
RobotMom June 2021
Caramel 6/25/2021
ChicagoGal 8/16/2021
Ospreyjp 9/27/2021
RBDan 10/2021
Nougat 11/1/2021
Aramis TBD 2021

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

Hello fellow classmates,

I will be "graduating" in 2021 as well. I live in California and I am currently in escrow for a new home in Colorado that will be completed in May of 2021. I plan on selling my current house and moving by October. Can't wait to start working on my basement!


Updated List:

HNL Bill 01/TBD/2021
GATime 1/2021 or 3/2021
ATX78701 3/1/2021
ClearSky 3/5/2021
LeeLee2021 4/30/2021
Georgia Girl 5/2021
goingtotravel 5/15/2021
Out-to-Lunch 6/1/2021
BGH1 6/1/2021
RobotMom June 2021
Caramel 6/25/2021
ChicagoGal 8/16/2021
Ospreyjp 9/27/2021
RBDan 10/2021
Nougat 11/1/2021
Aramis TBD 2021

Welcome aboard!

 

[corn18]

Everything is still looking OK for my planned Mar 2021 graduation to the class of 2021.

Updated List:

HNL Bill 01/TBD/2021
GATime 1/2021 or 3/2021
ATX78701 3/1/2021
ClearSky 3/5/2021
Corn18 3/31/2021
LeeLee2021 4/30/2021
Georgia Girl 5/2021
goingtotravel 5/15/2021
Out-to-Lunch 6/1/2021
BGH1 6/1/2021
RobotMom June 2021
Caramel 6/25/2021
ChicagoGal 8/16/2021
Ospreyjp 9/27/2021
RBDan 10/2021
Nougat 11/1/2021
Aramis TBD 2021

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

Everything is still looking OK for my planned Mar 2021 graduation to the class of 2021.

Updated List:

HNL Bill 01/TBD/2021
GATime 1/2021 or 3/2021
ATX78701 3/1/2021
ClearSky 3/5/2021
Corn18 3/31/2021
LeeLee2021 4/30/2021
Georgia Girl 5/2021
goingtotravel 5/15/2021
Out-to-Lunch 6/1/2021
BGH1 6/1/2021
RobotMom June 2021
Caramel 6/25/2021
ChicagoGal 8/16/2021
Ospreyjp 9/27/2021
RBDan 10/2021
Nougat 11/1/2021
Aramis TBD 2021

Excellent! I did not notice that you did not get onto that list when it was in its embryonic stage. Glad it is on track for you.

 

[GATime]

Well I'm off the 2021 list. Original plan was 1/21 or 3/21. Company decided that the time is now so I'm officially in the class of 2020.

HNL Bill 01/TBD/2021
ATX78701 3/1/2021
ClearSky 3/5/2021
Corn18 3/31/2021
LeeLee2021 4/30/2021
Georgia Girl 5/2021
goingtotravel 5/15/2021
Out-to-Lunch 6/1/2021
BGH1 6/1/2021
RobotMom June 2021
Caramel 6/25/2021
ChicagoGal 8/16/2021
Ospreyjp 9/27/2021
RBDan 10/2021
Nougat 11/1/2021
Aramis TBD 2021

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

A retirement-incentive package was announced a few weeks ago. (It would be ~6 mos. salary.) I let the powers-that-be know that I "might" be interested if offered. (I am grateful to have complete job autonomy/security, so there was no risk in doing so.) I plan to retire whether this is offered or not.

I got a nice email saying she didn't know the score yet, but would keep that in mind. Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[caramel]

A retirement-incentive package was announced a few weeks ago. (It would be ~6 mos. salary.) I let the powers-that-be know that I "might" be interested if offered. (I am grateful to have complete job autonomy/security, so there was no risk in doing so.) I plan to retire whether this is offered or not.

I got a nice email saying she didn't know the score yet, but would keep that in mind. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Hope it comes through for you!!

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

Hope it comes through for you!!

Thank you so much!

 

[LeeLee2021]

Hope it comes through for you!!

Fingers crossed for you! I did the same thing - when the rumors started to float about layoffs in January, I let my boss know I wouldn't be heartbroken to get a package! I had already worked out that it'd be a generous ~4 months severance. So when the layoff notification did come in August, the only angst was due to pandemic/civil rights/election craziness. I'm trying not to worry now, but instead reevaluate in March/April to confirm I can make it stick to a full-blown retirement!

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

Fingers crossed for you! I did the same thing - when the rumors started to float about layoffs in January, I let my boss know I wouldn't be heartbroken to get a package! I had already worked out that it'd be a generous ~4 months severance. So when the layoff notification did come in August, the only angst was due to pandemic/civil rights/election craziness. I'm trying not to worry now, but instead reevaluate in March/April to confirm I can make it stick to a full-blown retirement!

Oh, good luck to you, too! I hope you can make it work, errr... maybe I shouldn't have used that word!

 

[spanky42]

Just notified that I'm now on the 2021 list (March)! I won't be 50 for three more weeks so I just made my pension qualification along with 64 weeks of severance pay. 32 years starting as a co-op. So many questions!!

HNL Bill 01/TBD/2021
ATX78701 3/1/2021
ClearSky 3/5/2021
Corn18 3/31/2021
Spanky42 3/31/2021
LeeLee2021 4/30/2021
Georgia Girl 5/2021
goingtotravel 5/15/2021
Out-to-Lunch 6/1/2021
BGH1 6/1/2021
RobotMom June 2021
Caramel 6/25/2021
ChicagoGal 8/16/2021
Ospreyjp 9/27/2021
RBDan 10/2021
Nougat 11/1/2021
Aramis TBD 2021

 

[Aramis]

I think I have narrowed down my date to March 31. It seems a switch has been flipped in my brain and it is getting harder and harder to keep on keeping on. My risk averse brain is telling me that maybe I should wait out the US election before giving notice, which is an easy 6 day wait, but I am also thinking about waiting until the COVID vaccine release as I can't really do anything until that comes. Except sleep and relax, of course. Friends are encouraging me to wait the vaccine out

I don't care about not being able to execute travel plans (the focus of our retirement) immediately on retiring but the thought of the world going to hell in a handbasket because of civil unrest and/or the continued worsening of the pandemic crisis around the world make me think of the value of having ongoing income.

I owe my employer a couple of months notice, especially now that my boss has indicated he is retiring on Dec 31. I wanted to assist him during the transition as he searched for a replacement (unique SME role so outside hire is an absolute certainty).
I think he may be asked to stay on for a few months to provide some continuity if I give my notice now so that is messing with me, too. He won't care that I am leaving if he is retiring, of course, which is why I wanted to give a long notice and assist in transition, but if it makes him have to stay for a few months. He has already said he would do this if asked by employer. I don't think he wants to but my departure will probably make them ask and he will agree (no question, long story). SO I may make the guy I was trying to help actually have to hang on for a couple more months - great.

I feel I need to give my notice now (2 weeks), so he can plan around his proposed retirement, rather than waiting until early January, for example. If I wait, he might have solidified plans he could get pressured to change.

Thoughts?

 

[The Onceler]

2021

I am not 100% clear on the standards but I might possibly be class of 2021. I gave my 6-month notice in June. Employer asked me if I’d stay another year. I agreed to stay at 1/2 time. Employer agreed. Full pay (a deal that is pretty nice and akin to a nice severance plan in a way, except it keeps you there for a year on favorable terms).

Anyway, my last full-time day is 12/31/2020 and my last 1/2 time day is 12/31/2021. Really looking forward to it because coasting to the end will be just fine. 59 now and just past 60 when fully retired. Seems like a decent compromise. YMMV. This has been a very informative and supportive community and any single person’s contribution of any amount adds to the overall common good. Many thanks. I have learned a lot here.

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

I am not 100% clear on the standards but I might possibly be class of 2021. I gave my 6-month notice in June. Employer asked me if I’d stay another year. I agreed to stay at 1/2 time. Employer agreed. Full pay (a deal that is pretty nice and akin to a nice severance plan in a way, except it keeps you there for a year on favorable terms).

Anyway, my last full-time day is 12/31/2020 and my last 1/2 time day is 12/31/2021. Really looking forward to it because coasting to the end will be just fine. 59 now and just past 60 when fully retired. Seems like a decent compromise. YMMV. This has been a very informative and supportive community and any single person’s contribution of any amount adds to the overall common good. Many thanks. I have learned a lot here.

We will definitely take you with open arms! Congrats on your journey.

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

A retirement-incentive package was announced a few weeks ago. (It would be ~6 mos. salary.) I let the powers-that-be know that I "might" be interested if offered. (I am grateful to have complete job autonomy/security, so there was no risk in doing so.) I plan to retire whether this is offered or not.

I got a nice email saying she didn't know the score yet, but would keep that in mind. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Update: Today I got official notice that I am "eligible to apply" for the incentive package. So, only a small step forward, but happy to have it!

Next, I will apply, and the powers-that-be will evaluate which applications to accept. (I am planning to retire anyway, but I don't want them to think that!)

 

[goingtotravel]

Today I told my manager that I was actively planning my retirement but I would not give a date until next year. There are several large long term projects kicking off and I was getting pulled into the pre-planning phase with a small group of SME's. I have no interest in those projects and the organization should get people involved who will be there longer though implementation.

I was asked to stay until the end of the fiscal year (September) or come back part time to consult on some big projects. My answer was "I'll think about it" but I at this point I can't imagine working longer than required to get the full retirement package. Just about 6 long months left on the j*b.

 

[DisneyDreamer]

BOOM! I did it! My last day is 12/31/2020. I am soooo excited! I'm DisneyDreamer, a 52 year old, public school teacher originally from New England currently living in Oregon. My dream is to move to Central Florida near Disney. I've lived in FL twice during my military spouse days and I loved it. Anyway, cheers!

 

[goingtotravel]

Congrats everyone who recently joined the class of 2021!!! We can finally see the finish line.

 

[gamboolman]

Well it is for sure this time....

Confirmed effective retirement date will be 1-Feb-21.

Megaoil Corp offered a small incentive package for retirement eligible folks - and it was a no brainer for me

At age 61 it is not a real early retirement but it sure as hell beats working any longer....

43 year in the oilpatch....seems like a blink of the eye ago I was Roughnecking on Odeco 7 and the Ocean King in the Gulf of Mexico.....and all I could think about was going on days off so I could chase ms gamboolgal around......

Now I'm not going to be hampered by the job taking away time from my favorite thing to do - I'll be able to devote full-time to chasing ms gamboolgal around the ole 4 poster buck neckid....

This pic is from ~38 year ago out in West Texas when ms gamboolgal & I had not been married long. I was tossing the Spinning Chain in them days....still have all my fingers.....ha

This pic was always one of my favorites of the Bight of Benin offshore Equatorial Guinea taken from the Jade Platform looking to the West at the Zafiro Producer on the South (left) and the old Magnolia on the North side.....

17 years living in Africa.....I remember going to Africa the first time clear as day.....

Like I said, just the blink of a eye ago......

We came back to Texas in April of this year to finish up the career back out in West Texas.... perfect ending for us to ride off into the Sunset out in West Texas where we started out our married life....39 year ago....

Lifes A Dance And You Learn As You Go.....

gamboolman...

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

Lovely post, gamboolman!

And congrats!

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

Gamboolman you bring me joy

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

Another small update: I just submitted my application for our Voluntary Separation Incentive Package (i.e., RIF buyout package). I will find out by Christmas whether they select me or not.