Ronnieboy
Full time employment: Posting here.
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2008
- Messages
- 748
I work for a worldwide retail/wholesale chain, as a pharmacist, that has a reputation for being 'good' to its employees and for the most part that is true.
My biggest issue is that there is no pension/retirement. No problem, most places don't have them anymore and it just means we save more.
There is no continuation of health benefits after retiring. Again, most employers don't offer that benefit anymore either, but it would be nice to be able to continue into the group plan after you gave 20-25 years to the company.
Anyhow, the original plan was to work FT 13 more years to 55 then drop to ESR and work PT (20 hrs a week, 2 days), MAINLY to keep benefits and as extra income (PT I can make the median wage in the area) till I hit Medicare.
Then I saw an opening for a VA (Veterans Administration) pharmacist in the area and am now wondering if it is worth it to try and move jobs to earn a government retirement and continuation of health benefits.
Just from some minor poking around, it seems I could 'early retire' at just under 59 years of age with 17ish years in the program. I estimate that the VA salary would be about $8-10k/year less.
So I am asking advice from people who have a government retirement package if it is worth it, benefits/disadvantages, etc.
Or if there is a VA pharmacist on the board what s/he has to say about working for the VA and the benefits or disadvantages.
Thanks.
My biggest issue is that there is no pension/retirement. No problem, most places don't have them anymore and it just means we save more.
There is no continuation of health benefits after retiring. Again, most employers don't offer that benefit anymore either, but it would be nice to be able to continue into the group plan after you gave 20-25 years to the company.
Anyhow, the original plan was to work FT 13 more years to 55 then drop to ESR and work PT (20 hrs a week, 2 days), MAINLY to keep benefits and as extra income (PT I can make the median wage in the area) till I hit Medicare.
Then I saw an opening for a VA (Veterans Administration) pharmacist in the area and am now wondering if it is worth it to try and move jobs to earn a government retirement and continuation of health benefits.
Just from some minor poking around, it seems I could 'early retire' at just under 59 years of age with 17ish years in the program. I estimate that the VA salary would be about $8-10k/year less.
So I am asking advice from people who have a government retirement package if it is worth it, benefits/disadvantages, etc.
Or if there is a VA pharmacist on the board what s/he has to say about working for the VA and the benefits or disadvantages.
Thanks.