Dorset Plodder wrote:I believe the CWU and RM should be designing a strategy to enable their older staff to move to Part Time (if they want it) as they get older. I have a lot of friends who took early retirement at 55. They're not all sat around at home watching Cash in the Attic, after a break most of them have found Part Time Jobs, some voluntary, just to get out and about, and perhaps make a bit of cash.
Very few people nowadays can afford to stop working at 55. Basic maths : IF average wage was £20K and you'd retire at 55 (instead of 65) you'd be "losing" £200K! How many people could afford to lose basically the price of a house?
I think a lot of us are deluding ourselves. Yes it would be nice if we could hang our boots up at 55, and we could continue to enjoy the same life style...... But unless you're a pretty smart cookie, and you've been long term planning for retirement since your 20s, then you must face up to the realities of life.
I believe a better option would be for management to realise that perhaps older Posties can still contribute to the business but might need/want some allowances made to their duties. Perhaps the opportunity to take a career break at 55 ( maybe several months during which time your job would be safe) and then return to something like a 3 day a week Part Time Duty. These would need to be structured duties and not just a "Rent A Postie" getting mucked around again like a Newbie. In the past we've had two Posties who proposed doing a job share, because they both wanted less hours. This was kicked out and they both left the Business.
Seems to me to be a Win Win situation. RM keep experienced staff (they've got a problem recruiting).... no need to pay more leave as it'd be Pro Rata (might be a problem if both were sick)..... Posties could have a career break to do that Special Holiday before they're too knackered...... they'd come back to less hours/less burden..... and they'd still have some income, if reduced.
