I've worked for a family owned business for 42 years. I'm turning 65 in two days. A year and a half ago starting experiencing significant knee pain. So, part of my expected duties were shelved. Since then I've noticed a what I can describe as a significant cooling of relations between me and my employer. There are several other things involved, but none have anything to do with me.

So, how would you handle this situation?

Tell them now I will retire in six months.

Give them two weeks notice before retiring.

Just quit and who cares. I won't be requiring a reference from them anyway.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: goose5,

If they have treated you badly, quit now and AMF. Otherwise, give 2 weeks notice. No sense telling them you’re going to quit months from now. You don’t owe them anything.

Due to your length of service, I would give them 2 weeks and then negotiate from there.

They will either walk you out immediately, accept the 2 weeks notice, or negotiate for you to stay longer to handover responsibilities to someone else or for you to continue to provide valuable insight/consultation.

If they do not want to negotiate in good faith or they give you a ton of shit, then walk immediately.

Remember, 2 weeks is you being generous. If they had a reason to get rid of you, they could tell you that they are ending your employment and walk you out immediately (depending on your state laws, union affiliation, age, and other factors). Employers very rarely give employees a 2 week notice that they are being let go (usually only when required by law or the company is closing its operations and they cannot keep it quite).

I retired in February. I gave a 2 week notice. They tried to negotiate to keep me on, but we could not come to an agreement that worked for both of us. So, I worked the full 2 weeks and left on good terms.

The fact that the relationship has seen “significant cooling” even after 42 years of service tells me there will be no negotiations. I actually interpret that as bad enough to say AMF now.

Think through every possibility before you "pull the handles", where you can be "injured".

I resigned form a toxic enviornment, in an "at will" state, without a contract that one would believe to superseded the "at will" simple understanding.

A few days after exercising my "at will" (rights/position) as I believed it to be/exist, I found myself in a situation where I was in peril of felony charges.

After consulting with several attorneys (one show is a member of this esteemed forum), I found that even though I did nothing un-ethical, immoral or even beyond the best of honorable intentions, I was very likely going to be arrested and charged for several felony charges, that likely could result in conviction.

It took almost year and six figure costs to "be cut free" of a bear trap without loss of limb. (it's only money, not as if you've lost any life for any of that...)

(and even after years of retirement, I tried to re-enter the "workforce", to earn a little more quality of life, I find that the reality is one has to "put self above all else", and I just don't like wearing that "suit")

My integrity and perception of what I will "do and not do" as is right by my revelation of the "Higher Authority" of all things, I'll accept what is, and sleep without fits and fight.

I do wish you the best, in your future path.

I guess I'd tell them I'm 65 now, and ready to hang it up, and work out an exit plan with them. It doesn't need to be complicated. Ask them what they want.

If they are back-filling, they may want to try to get someone on-boarded and have a few weeks of overlap. My assumption from what you've said (which could be wildly off, not knowing what you do) is that they'll not backfill and they'll shift the rest of your work to others.

I once worked for a family owned business (when I was just starting my career). It took me a few years, and I gained some valuable experiences, but I eventually determined that one should never work for a family-owned business unless your last name matches theirs. And maybe not even then.

Couple things...

1) Did you, at any time in the last 42 years, sign anything presented by HR or any other representative of your employer? If so, read it.

2) In my experience, long term employees leaving a company that provide extended notice of their departure, are often treated, shall we say, with reduced respect for the remainder of their tenure. The shorter notice, the better.

3) Do you have any comp time coming (vacation, personal days, sick days). If so, review policy relating payout upon termination of employment, so you don't lose out on any income.

4) If you can afford to retire in 6 months, you can afford to retire now. What the heck are you waiting for?

5) Wishing you all the best in life's next chapter.

I’d give them the 2 day notice. When you are ready to retire, tell them I am leaving today.

The old 2 week notice is almost a thing of the past. Many employers choose to terminate when they get the 2 week notice and people go from job to job so much today, I do not think it is seen as detrimental to bounce around.

You are retiring so it really does not matter anyway. Go when you are ready, they should already be planing for you to leave knowing your age and the fact you have worked for them for 42 years.

I would tell your boss you are planning to retire.

Give them two weeks notice and see what they say.

We no nothing of the company or the situation and this could go several different ways.

I would have a I am out the door not later than x date in your mind.

You may find they want you to stay for x time because 42 years of company knowledge is hard to replace quickly.

Good Luck

I gave two weeks written notice and even specified " The end of my normal work day ".

I gave my former employer 3 weeks, my boss wanted 6 months, but he was also the reason I felt it was time for me to go.

quote:

So, how would you handle this situation?

Tell them now I will retire in six months. That's out.

Give them two weeks notice before retiring. Most likely this one. What they do after this is now their move. They could offer you more money to stay, or put you on some kind of "light duty" if that is feasible. Or they might tell you to GTFO. That would make your decision easy.

Just quit and who cares. I won't be requiring a reference from them anyway. Possible option. It would depend on just how significant this "'cooling' relationship" is.

Nobody gives notice when they fire you, do they?

If you have any personal property on the premises, whether or not related to your work (e.g., tools), be ready to box it up and transport it, just in case.

quote:

Originally posted by pace40:
Couple things...

1) Did you, at any time in the last 42 years, sign anything presented by HR or any other representative of your employer? If so, read it.

2) In my experience, long term employees leaving a company that provide extended notice of their departure, are often treated, shall we say, with reduced respect for the remainder of their tenure. The shorter notice, the better.

3) Do you have any comp time coming (vacation, personal days, sick days). If so, review policy relating payout upon termination of employment, so you don't lose out on any income.

4) If you can afford to retire in 6 months, you can afford to retire now. What the heck are you waiting for?

5) Wishing you all the best in life's next chapter.

I like this path forward….
I would also say, in light of the recent threads on the subject, apply for Medicare NOW. You can start the process three months before you turn 65 so you are in the window.

Best of luck in your retirement !

As someone else said, if you can retire in 6 months you can go today.
My personal code of conduct would have me offer a 2 week notice with zero flexibility on an end date.
If they chose to be unprofessional and/or unreasonable about things my give a F meter would immediately bottom out at zero and I'd hit the door.

0730 Monday October 1, 2001:

When I get off shift on Thursday October 4 I won't be coming back.

"You owe me a two week notice."

I don't owe you shit.

Friday October 5, I hooked my Chevy truck to my 38' 5th wheel and haven't been back. No house, No forwarding address, no bills. Retirement checks Direct Deposit.

Happy birthday

If you are taking social security or any other pension sign up and make sure you have cash on hand to cover you a month or so till it kicks in. Same with heal care coverage. Medicare or change over to spouses coverage. Typically if you are employed on the 1st of the month you have same coverage for entire month.

42 years is a really long time. I’m sure you have some conflicted feelings with the family members who own the shop. Seems you have some choices.

1) Hang around till they fire you and squeeze them for money for age discrimination
1a) Go out on disability for the knee and work that for years.

2) Walk in monday tell your boss that New Year’s Eve will Be your last day. Not negotiable.

3) say hey I’m done, X day will be my last day but I’m open to a consulting role for x months to train whoever you hire to replace me but 6/1/26 (or other date) is a drop dead date.

I’m sure there are some other variations but it can be handled well.

Answer really depends on the company and your desires. Was managing a development team supporting a government customer which would need a coordinated transfer, so gave a couple of months retirement notice. Provided time to get replacement up to speed and a customer visit to say goodbye to long term associates. YMMV, of course.

As was mentioned, did you sign anything as a condition of employment and what are the benefits that you have. Health insurance, vacation, sick time.

Get your Medicare signed up, and figure out if you are going to enroll in a supplemental plan so when you leave there is no gap. You need a qualifying event to change coverage, retirement/leaving company plan is an event and now is the enrollment period. Find a good agent that works that field to guide you, it can be daunting with all the options.

Sick time earned and vacation days typically expire on the day you quit, they don't owe you unless there is some kind of agreement so don't give it up.

So start taking your sick days, and vacation before you leave, might as well get paid sitting on a beach in Florida.

When you get back then tell them you're ready to retire, they'll either beg you to stay, thank you and congratulate you, or walk you to the door, just have all your personal stuff ready to roll.

You said "significant cooling" instead of hostile and when your knees started to act up they made accommodations for you so it doesn’t sound like the relationship has gone completely sour.

After 42 years, especially if your job has any significant responsibilities that need to be off loaded, once you are ready to walk out the door i would start the conversation with"I plan to retire next month" and see where it goes from there.

They will either:
-treat your decision with the respect 42 years deserve and settle on a date next month that works for you both.
-try to extend your retirement date to keep you longer which will be your choice.
-walk you out the door, in which case your goal of being retired have been met.

You win in each scenario and until you bring it up, you really don’t know how they will treat you.

Take all your sick/vacation now, then tender your resignation.