Stealth retirement and going quietly into that good night.

[dirt_dobber]

Awesome - welcome to the club! I didn't do it with any stealth at all.
My last day was a layoff that I knew was coming - but still after working there over 20 years I was a little put off being escorted out the door by security (company policy).
I looked back over the shoulder at all my old co-workers watching and then proceeded to moon them - I laughed all the way home...

 

[rayinpenn]

Ray, you expect to pay 35k for one year of healthcare?

When to HR over a year ago $1,953 a month for the 4 of us. Well it is now the Mrs, Son and I. DD is has her own policy. I know it has gone up I figure $2,500 a month x 12 =30,000 a year plus $5k deductible = $35,000.

I am one of a remaining few who get a subsidy because of my tenure (no longer offered to my younger colleagues). I was told without the subsidy over $3,300 a month.

SIL, single, same firm, retired January $2,000 a month.

*************************************
Edit: Just went into healthcare.gov two ‘cheapie‘ bronze plans one in Penn one in Florida Monthly Premium/annual Pemium/ Deductible/Max out of pocket

Penn. $2,299.70 Mnth/$27,596.40 annual/Ded $11,000/$14,700 Max
Florida $1, 717.18 Mnth/$20,606.16 annual/Ded $12,000/$12,000 Max

My estimate of $35K may be a bit low.

 

[DEC-1982]

I came to the firm 35 years ago quietly - I’ll leave the same way.

When I retired after 25 years with MegaCorp - it was quietly. So many of my good friends had been laid off (or had left on their own terms) before me. I got along with the younger folks and newer hires but I wasn't close to them.

 

[Bamaman]

Megacorp overreacted to the economics of 2008 and decided to retire anyone 55 years old with 30 years in the job. Then only contact was with a conference call with the boss and HR. They gave me a one day notice. No thank you. No retirement meal. Had I been in home office and not on the road, it would have been 2 guards showing up to escort me out the door.

But it wasn't personal, and just a business decision. Megacorp paid out the nose to retire their highest paid, most experienced employees.

 

[Dtail]

When to HR over a year ago $1,953 a month for the 4 of us. Well it is now the Mrs, Son and I. DD is has her own policy. I know it has gone up I figure $2,500 a month x 12 =30,000 a year plus $5k deductible = $35,000.

I am one of a remaining few who get a subsidy because of my tenure (no longer offered to my younger colleagues). I was told without the subsidy over $3,300 a month.

SIL, single, same firm, retired January $2,000 a month.

*************************************
Edit: Just went into healthcare.gov two ‘cheapie‘ bronze plans one in Penn one in Florida Monthly Premium/annual Pemium/ Deductible/Max out of pocket

Penn. $2,299.70 Mnth/$27,596.40 annual/Ded $11,000/$14,700 Max
Florida $1, 717.18 Mnth/$20,606.16 annual/Ded $12,000/$12,000 Max

My estimate of $35K may be a bit low.

Your Florida monthly number sounds like without the tax subsidy netted down, unless your MAGI number will be over the maximum cliff.

 

[Ronstar]

Congrats Ray!

I gave 6 months notice and then agreed to work another year at 960 work hours - half at home. During this time, our office moved to a new building. So I took my personal items home rather than move them to the new building. I walked out the door on my last day with nothing. We didn’t announce my retirement to my clients. I agreed to act as a consultant to my old company on an extremely limited basis after retirement. 4 years later this has finally run its course.

 

[rayinpenn]

Your Florida monthly number sounds like without the tax subsidy netted down, unless your MAGI number will be over the maximum cliff.

Magi will be over $65k. That’s the cutoff for a couple.

 

[kcowan]

I left 3 times. The first after 25 years was delayed by 2 months at management request and everyone that counted was already gone.

The next 2 times were CEO positions and I just had a lunch with my direct reports. I preferred it that way.

 

[Idnar7]

My situation was different in that my job was eliminated after 31 years. They said they would say I was retiring and asked me to stay on a few months. Normally eliminations are gone after two weeks during which time you are expected to be looking for another job. They said I could stay until January 15. I asked if I could leave at year-end as I didn't want to come back after the holidays. They agreed and my last day was Christmas Eve. The majority of the office was on vacation. A lot of people didn't know I was leaving. I turned in my notebook, my e-mail and phone was already off. Turned in my pass at security and took my direct reports who were present out to lunch. Then began my new occupation. Having it be year-end really made it a clean break. I would have hated to go back for two meaningless weeks. My mgr actually stopped by from his vacation to say goodbye and good luck.

 

[gerntz]

Your right but the friends I’ve made will forgive me for this one selfish act... it’s my retirement and like Frank Sinatra sang - I’m going to my way.

Then not sure why you bothered to start the thread.

 

[chicamuxen]

I really wanted a low key exit. I gave 6 months notice to management, so i could train my replacement, and gave 3-4 weeks notice to everyone else. They had a luncheon for me, which was low key, but very nice. I had worked with some of these people 37 years. I planned my retirement on Dec 20th, a couple days before by birthday. That was my best present, and best holidays ever. Love it when a plan comes together

 

[Nightcap]

Over the last few weeks I decided to celebrate my 64th birthday by retiring. I’ve come to grips with disconnecting with the thought that your job is your lifeline. A week ago my Buddy Bill said “you want to retire when you are still healthy and can enjoy it”. It wont be an early retirement by the standards of the readers here but it will be for so many who have no hope of ever retiring.

I wanted to build a separate pile of ready cash to cover the first year of healthcare Roughly $35K. That was done long ago, the son’s tuition is also covered. The next 4 months wedding money for the daughter. There are no more excuses.

I’ll make sure my personal items easy fit in a single duffel bag. On a Friday in Mid July Ill just quietly fill it and leave- Then Ill give notice Monday and work from home until my official date. I’ll drop a very brief email to a few of my buddies thanking them for their support.
I’ll pass on the retirement luncheons

I came to the firm 35 years ago quietly - I’ll leave the same way.

Care to share how you did it? Any advise/thoughts?

I retired quietly, in part because despite two months' clear notice, management didn't. The day before I left the departmental secretary came up to me, distressed that no party had been planned. It was just as well, as I worked from home for them another six months contracted to a consulting firm to ensure a smooth transition. Then, without a moment's regret, I turned on my "I am retired" auto-reply.

I have not been back. I thought it was always a little sad when a retiree returned with a Visitor's badge. The realization comes quickly that they no longer belong, someone else is at their desk, and they haven't been missed.

As I sang this morning in Ralph Vaughn Williams' arrangement:

Let other folk make money faster
In the air of dark roomed towns
I do not dread a peevish master
Though no man may heed my frowns
For I be free to go abroad
Or take again my homeward road
To where, for me, the apple tree
Do lean down low, in Linden Lea

 

[Jerry1]

I took a buy out so essentially, I was let go. That meant one day my boss came down and escorted me to HR and I was gone. It was all good. He and I did get a chance to say goodbye. I thought that'd be great - no retirement party. Then in the few days after, I felt bad that I didn't get a chance to say goodbye and thank you to at least a few people that I would have liked to. A couple weeks later, a number of the management team (my peers) had a little get together and that was nice, but again, I would have like to publically thank a few people who made my success possible and say goodbye respectfully to others. Again, I never thought I'd feel that way.

Of course, I did end up with a year's salary and benefits so it was worth it in a selfish way, but I think you'd regret not having at least a simple (cake and coffee in the break room) sort of thing. Either way, you'll be retired and that will be great.

 

[RobbieB]

Working at micro-corp, I knew there was not going to be a big send off. So, lot's of notice and I got a free lunch and a $200 gift card at Bass Pro Shops. The lunch was with a vendor so most of the talk was business as usual.

That's pretty "low key" even w/o any stealth -

I can't imagine "slipping out the back" and just disappearing.

 

[limeyx]

When to HR over a year ago $1,953 a month for the 4 of us. Well it is now the Mrs, Son and I. DD is has her own policy. I know it has gone up I figure $2,500 a month x 12 =30,000 a year plus $5k deductible = $35,000.

I am one of a remaining few who get a subsidy because of my tenure (no longer offered to my younger colleagues). I was told without the subsidy over $3,300 a month.

SIL, single, same firm, retired January $2,000 a month.

*************************************
Edit: Just went into healthcare.gov two ‘cheapie‘ bronze plans one in Penn one in Florida Monthly Premium/annual Pemium/ Deductible/Max out of pocket

Penn. $2,299.70 Mnth/$27,596.40 annual/Ded $11,000/$14,700 Max
Florida $1, 717.18 Mnth/$20,606.16 annual/Ded $12,000/$12,000 Max

My estimate of $35K may be a bit low.

That is outrageously disgusting!
Don't you get any subsidies if you are earning substantially less than when you were working

 

[tfudtuckerpucker]

I wonder if my experience is unique. In 33 years of mid- and megacorp tech companies, I was never invited to a single retirement celebration. I never heard of a retirement celebration being held. In fact in all that time I only knew of a couple of people who retired at a "normal" age- those who left just disappeared. They offered to have a lunch for me, but I declined. Sometimes I wonder if I should have retired with fanfare, laudatory speeches and recognition for all those years of contributions, but that didn't happen.

If you like podcasts, listen to Joe Kenda talk about his retirement decision It's very interesting and worth listening to.

 

[Bestwifeever]

The last place I was on staff was small and didn't do departure parties. DH took a buyout but the last day was an unannounced bloodbath where buyouts AND involuntary surprise layoffs were executed the same afternoon and everyone was escorted off the premises. His immediate coworkers were shook up about a lot of things that day but several emailed him that they were sorry DH couldn’t have had the standard cake and coffee sendoff (he’d been the 30 plus years and he is definitely a cake and coffee person). DD had a very nice party for him six weeks later and invited his department plus family and friends.

 

[68bucks]

I gave my notice last Tuesday that I will be leaving about the beginning of August. I have only informed 3 upper management people. I asked it to be kept confidential. I have been at the same place for almost 37 years and I would like to leave the same way I came in, quietly. I don't care for the whole farewell tour bit with the luncheon and telling old war stories, that I have heard 1000 times. It will eventually get out most likely, we are a small company and I'm the most senior person in terms of service. My plan is to go out after my last day and have a few cold beverages with a hand full of close friends that I have worked with for a long time. The whispers of consulting or something are already starting though.

 

[NoiseBoy]

The culture around retirement celebrations has changed a lot at my megacorp. Twenty years ago, or even ten, they were well planned, large affairs with cake, beverages, the family coming into the office, and speeches by management and co-workers. That was for someone with 30+ years of service.

I have not attended a retirement celebration like that in several years. Mainly I think this is due to the fact that most of the long service time folks left in the last round of downsizing (there was a very attractive early retirement package offered before they started chopping heads.) But it's more than that. We don't celebrate service anniversaries like we used to anymore either. I don't miss them, but I do miss the carrot cake with cream cheese frosting!

 

[street]

rayinpenn >>> I spent the same amount of years in one place also. I left the same way you will and for me I just wanted to ride off in the sun set.

I wish you the best in retirement and you will find your way after many years of just one way. Good luck!

 

[JoeWras]

The culture around retirement celebrations has changed a lot at my megacorp. Twenty years ago, or even ten, they were well planned, large affairs with cake, beverages, the family coming into the office, and speeches by management and co-workers. That was for someone with 30+ years of service.

I have not attended a retirement celebration like that in several years. Mainly I think this is due to the fact that most of the long service time folks left in the last round of downsizing (there was a very attractive early retirement package offered before they started chopping heads.) But it's more than that. We don't celebrate service anniversaries like we used to anymore either. I don't miss them, but I do miss the carrot cake with cream cheese frosting!

Yes, this is very typical these days.

In Megatech, a retirement is almost looked upon with surprise or even disdain. I mean, come on dudes, those are old people. That shouldn't happen! Now let's go play some ping pong...

 

[JoeWras]

If you like podcasts, listen to Joe Kenda talk about his retirement decision It's very interesting and worth listening to.

Agree about the podcast. Joe's decision rings very true of a lot of stories here. I thought it might be a shill-cast for his TV show, but he never once mentions TV shows here. Oh wait, he does, and basically calls TV news producers to task for some very bad behavior!

Anyway, not a fan of his show (although I do like the I.D. channel), but I'm a fan of his story here.

 

[omni550]

I can't remember which coworker did this.

He gave his 2 week's notice which would have made his final day on a Wednesday. On Tuesday, his second-to-last day, he left at the end of the day and never returned.

He had taken personal things home beforehand and left his badge in his now-empty desk.

Coworkers were expecting to wish him well on his final day...but he was gone-for-good.

I guess he didn't like goodbyes.

omni

 

[Moemg]

I had retired but I was talked into returning on a casual part time basis . I soon realized this was a mistake but I hung in there for almost a year and then I announced I was leaving and this time for good . My Boss did not believe it so she put me on leave . I left and never returned . I still had my badge .It was time !

 

[Teacher Terry]

I will now quit complaining about what I spend on HI. If I had to pay that much I would be still working.