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03-16-2017, 06:19 AM
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#21
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 10,929
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Quote:
Originally Posted by medved
We have a number of people in my office, in their 80s, who come in every day. We no longer pay them anything and they don't really do anything.
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They don't pay them anything and they don't do anything but they are still allowed to "occupy space" in the building? Never heard of such a thing. There must be more to it than that.
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03-16-2017, 06:50 AM
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#22
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 11,327
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My brother was a lobbyist and worked until 78. He would have kept going if he hadn't developed progressive blindness. He enjoyed his work and had clients but no boss. I saw nothing approaching pathological in his interests. They just were not the same as many of ours. For the ~40 years of my career I would prefer to have had as much engagement in my work as he had. I did fine and enjoyed some of it but would have preferred retired at any point I became FI. I don't see that attitude as better than his.
__________________
Idleness is fatal only to the mediocre -- Albert Camus
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03-16-2017, 08:16 AM
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#23
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Pacific latitude 20/49
Posts: 7,677
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My megacorp provided an office for the ex-CEO but when his replacement retired, there was no longer any need for the office.
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For the fun of it...Keith
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03-16-2017, 08:24 AM
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#24
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,019
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Car-Guy
They don't pay them anything and they don't do anything but they are still allowed to "occupy space" in the building? Never heard of such a thing. There must be more to it than that.
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Did they take away their staplers?
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03-16-2017, 08:30 AM
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#25
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,298
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I'm not surprised that some people would rather work than any other activity. Not everyone considers work anathema like some here.
It is more surprising when folks continue to show up when they are no longer being paid, I've never worked anywhere that would allow it even for former employees. But if they're happy doing it, and company management doesn't have a problem with it, what do we care? It's not sad at all, as some here have concluded.
I never went back to work. But for several months after I retired, more than once I dreamed that I was still going to work full time, without pay or position - but with more stress than ever! My unconscious mind created realistic, unsolvable issues and insisted I address them, or I couldn't go home! Fortunately that craziness didn't last long.
__________________
No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57
Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
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03-16-2017, 08:52 AM
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#26
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
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I hated working overtime, but occasionally I'd go into work on a weekend and there would always be the same people there, puttering around their desks, or chatting with the other regulars. My guess is that these same people would come in after retirement just for a place to get away and for the companionship if offered the opportunity.
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03-16-2017, 09:06 AM
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#27
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,593
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Midpack
It is more surprising when folks continue to show up when they are no longer being paid, I've never worked anywhere that would allow it even for former employees.
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Yes, this is exactly my take on it. I'd be very interested to hear how the OP knows they aren't getting paid and under what circumstances they stopped getting paid. Laid off? Forcibly retired? And management has no problem with these folks using company resources (unlimited phones, internet, coffee, snacks, etc.)? Beyond that, wouldn't there be a concern about excessive chatting and fraternizing with the actual employees who are trying to get their work done? Seems like a very, VERY odd situation to me.
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03-16-2017, 10:02 AM
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#28
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 284
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OP here. I guess I never really thought about how unusual the arrangement we have is (allowing senior-level retired folks to keep an office here, if they want to). I have worked here my whole career, so it just seemed normal to me. (Someone asked how I know they don't get paid -- the answer to that is I am in management, so I know what everyone is paid). We do this out of respect for these older people. They were the early generation of people who made the business successful, and we cannot bring ourselves to "throw them out" if they really want to keep showing up. We do move them to smaller, interior offices, but they can show up all they want. Of course, the large majority of retirees don't come in every day -- or at all, other than maybe a rare visit -- but for the 5 or 10 or so who want to be here every day, they are welcome. I just don't understand why they want to do it, and I find it slightly strange and sad. But I sort of like that we allow these people to come in, if they want to. It is not all that expensive. We have the office space anyway. And the incremental cost for coffee and internet and a few hours of secretarial time for their personal needs is no big deal. The least we could do for some of the people who helped build our business.
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03-16-2017, 10:06 AM
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#29
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,346
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Quote:
Originally Posted by medved
I just don't understand why they want to do it, and I find it slightly strange and sad.
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I have to think that they are individuals with no imagination who can't think of anything else to do. Agreed, it's sad.
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03-16-2017, 04:31 PM
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#30
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Leeward Oahu
Posts: 17,888
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My old Megacorp had a policy that retirees could stop into the company Cafe for a free meal whenever they wanted to. I suppose I nicked 'em for 2 or 3 meals in the couple of years before I moved away. But there was this one guy who used to come in every morning at 6:00AM for a free breakfast. He would then stay all morning and talk to his old cronies as they took their breaks in the Cafe and then eat lunch around noon before going off to do whatever he figured retirees did.
After about 6 months, the "powers that be" told him he could no longer continue this practice. It wasn't that he was eating two free meals. They were concerned that he was having a bad influence (I'm supposing here) on other employees facing retirement - or facing a long time until retirement. In any case, they told him he could come in for a meal each day and then leave. It was really sad.
My dad retired from the family (very) small business at 65 (in order to get SS dependent benefits for my sister who was going to college - as well as to collect his "fair share".) Yet he continued to come in to the business as if he still w*rked there. DW was the manager (and had been for some time). She didn't have the heart to kick him out (for several months, that is, heh, heh.) Eventually, even though he did actually "produce", she told him to find something else to do. So he did. He took on odd jobs - from night watchman at a half way house to selling peelers, etc. and growing vegetables to sell at the local markets. He continued to find part-time w*rk until he was physically unable to do so. It was sort of sad, but he was quite happy being "empl*yed" into his 80s. I think my mom stayed on at the family business until 80 (DW had to ask her to leave as well) to have something to do. All very sad except they enjoyed their lives.
__________________
Ko'olau's Law -
Anything which can be used can be misused. Anything which can be misused will be.
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03-16-2017, 04:33 PM
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#31
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,637
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[QUOTxE=target2019;1853526]These sound like nice companies. Offer a substitute for meeting at McDonalds, where the coffee is too hot, and the Internet too cold.[/QUOTE]
My reaction was similar when I read the first post. It's not at all unlike the groups of old f@rts I see at coffee shops in the AM - a bunch of guys getting together for chit-chat, affiliation, etc. I see the same thing at the gym. Some folks are clearly there primarily for social reasons. Any exercise is almost incidental to the social aspects, just like getting any work done is for the folks still going to the office.
__________________
friar1610
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03-17-2017, 01:22 PM
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#32
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 284
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I just walked by the offices of a couple of these older gentlemen. One of them was fast asleep, in his chair. (He often is; I am afraid that one day he will not wake up). Another was reading a novel. They seem content, as did the 90 year old retiree who I saw in the office cafeteria, earlier today. But I still don't get it. Then again, I am sure if they knew that I was likely to walk out the door at around age 56, they would be equally perplexed. Indeed, around here, more people would be perplexed by my RE than by these guys coming in every day, and doing nothing, in their 80s.
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03-17-2017, 01:53 PM
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#33
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Nashville
Posts: 2,506
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Quote:
Originally Posted by medved
... I am sure if they knew that I was likely to walk out the door at around age 56, they would be equally perplexed. Indeed, around here, more people would be perplexed by my RE than by these guys coming in every day, and doing nothing, in their 80s.
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I definitely have seen this over the years in law firms. And as word circulates outside our office that I'm going to be out as of this summer, by far the biggest reaction is "but what are you going to do?" (DW is finding not as much surprise in the physician community...)
__________________
OMY * 3 2ish Done 7.28.17
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03-17-2017, 03:22 PM
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#34
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Bernalillo, NM
Posts: 2,717
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Quote:
Originally Posted by medved
I just walked by the offices of a couple of these older gentlemen. One of them was fast asleep, in his chair. (He often is; I am afraid that one day he will not wake up). Another was reading a novel. They seem content, as did the 90 year old retiree who I saw in the office cafeteria, earlier today. But I still don't get it. Then again, I am sure if they knew that I was likely to walk out the door at around age 56, they would be equally perplexed. Indeed, around here, more people would be perplexed by my RE than by these guys coming in every day, and doing nothing, in their 80s.
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we actually had one of our scientist emeritus people die on the job. He was apparently in his 80's and when his buddies came to get him for lunch, he was passed away. It was sort of hush hush, but I found out because the admin assistant for the area was accused by some of not paying attention and she filed a complaint to management, and I knew one of the complaint processors. Her defense was something like 'but he always looked that way'.
__________________
"We live the lives we lead because of the thoughts we think" ...Michael O’Neill
"We can cannot compel others to do our will" ....Norman Goldman
"There never is shortage of the gullible to accept the illogical"...Anonymous
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03-17-2017, 03:56 PM
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#35
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Colorado
Posts: 8,971
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RobbieB
That is bizarre. Ex-employees who show up every day at the job they no longer have.
Amazing.
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...Officespace, the movie.
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03-17-2017, 05:06 PM
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#36
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,409
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Some people make up reasons to stay working. Guess there's just nothing else they're interested in. Then there are those who just like being victims.
We had a guy who, at 70 was asked why he keeps working.
" I need the health care benefits!"
When told that he was on Medicare he replied "Yeah, but that's expensive y'know..."
__________________
Living well is the best revenge!
Retired @ 52 in 2005
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03-17-2017, 08:02 PM
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#37
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 9,171
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I can see this with a number of people/professions that were mentioned Professional (Legal, Accounting, Finance . . .), Physicians, Scientists, people who started the business. They love it, they're defined by it and it is a lot better than sitting home watching tv. At least they get out of bed, move, socialize . . . I can kind of see this as being cool. Go to an office, work on my finances, socialize with others. I guess the counter to this is what is better? I'd like to think I'll come up with something better, but I'm not sure, as I am one of those people that have basically worked all my life and been defined by it. Unfortunately, I never loved it and worse, I never defined what I'd like better to do. That's what I'm trying to do now, before I retire in a few months to years. If not, finding that one great thing in life that I want (love) to do may elude me - but I'll keep trying.
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03-17-2017, 09:04 PM
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#38
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 83
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Many of us dream of where we'd go when we retire, what we'd do, winters in Florida, summers in New England but there are those who've committed their whole life to a career and they don't know what to do when it's over.
It's sad to me, most of us in this forum want to retire early so we can live, but there are those who want to work because they don't know how to live.
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03-17-2017, 09:31 PM
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#39
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Nashville
Posts: 2,506
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerry1
I can see this with a number of people/professions ... Unfortunately, I never loved it and worse, I never defined what I'd like better to do. That's what I'm trying to do now, before I retire in a few months to years. If not, finding that one great thing in life that I want (love) to do may elude me - but I'll keep trying.
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Don't limit yourself too much. It need not be one great thing.... Good luck!
__________________
OMY * 3 2ish Done 7.28.17
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03-18-2017, 08:25 AM
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#40
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 81
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tmm99
That is truly bizarre... They can still get inside the building and the management doesn't mind??
What kind of business is this?
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Srsly, what company allows that? OTOH, I once worked for three gentlemen all in their 70s who still came into their place of business every day and basically did nothing but drink coffee, read the paper and nap. They didn't even speak to each other. But it was still their company...and they had their reasons.
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