Retiring March 2025 but . . .

[GreatGranny]

I will be 60 in March 2025 and have decided to retire.

I gave verbal notice in March this year as work can be planned months ahead.

I have always been busy (Civil Eng Consultants) and up to 3 weeks ago this was the case.
However work for myself has dried up in the last few weeks.
There have been a few bits and bobs but nothing lasting more than a few hours.

All of my colleagues have plenty of work. I understand if they feel I am not a priority because of my retirement.

I work in BIM/CAD so am totally reliant on others to provide me with work.

Do you think it's worth having a chat about maybe finishing at Christmas with them paying 3 months pay + pension just to get rid of me?
I need to give 12 weeks notice so not sure how that would affect this.

Thanks

[Countdown]

GreatGranny said:

Do you think it's worth having a chat about maybe finishing at Christmas with them paying 3 months pay + pension just to get rid of me?
I need to give 12 weeks notice so not sure how that would affect this.

Thanks

Just playing Devil's advocate - what's in it for them?

Perhaps you could split the difference - maybe finish at Xmas and only get half pay for 3 months? That would give you both some benefit.

[Time4another]

or explore dropping days as you get closer to the final day.

[GreatGranny]

Countdown said:

Just playing Devil's advocate - what's in it for them?

Perhaps you could split the difference - maybe finish at Xmas and only get half pay for 3 months? That would give you both some benefit.

You're correct, there's no real reason why they would pay me full for the 3 months.

Half pay maybe more realistic.

[GreatGranny]

Time4another said:

or explore dropping days as you get closer to the final day.

I do 4 days now so going down to 3 for the final 3 months may be an idea.
Thanks

[wrencho]

Or just sit about drinking tea and getting paid for it...

[GreatGranny]

wrencho said:

Or just sit about drinking tea and getting paid for it...

It sounds great but the novelty wears off after a few weeks!

Seriously thinking of going to our place in Cromer for a few days to do some well over due jobs.

I'll take my laptop obviously

[Terminator X]

With hindsight perhaps you should have just kept it to yourself and handed in your Notice when just shy of your retirement date. I assume that there is no need to give companies any more notice than your notice period?

TX.

[GreatGranny]

Terminator X said:

With hindsight perhaps you should have just kept it to yourself and handed in your Notice when just shy of your retirement date. I assume that there is no need to give companies any more notice than your notice period?

TX.

I have to give 12 weeks notice according to HR.

I am presuming, rightly or wrongly, my lack of work is linked to me retiring and maybe they are intimating I should go asap

[Countdown]

Terminator X said:

With hindsight perhaps you should have just kept it to yourself and handed in your Notice when just shy of your retirement date. I assume that there is no need to give companies any more notice than your notice period?

TX.

if you're retiring and have a company pension then I would suggest the sooner the better. Sometimes the Pension Administrators aren't as quick as they should be and you don't want to start your retirement with no cash.

[GreatGranny]

Countdown said:

Terminator X said:

With hindsight perhaps you should have just kept it to yourself and handed in your Notice when just shy of your retirement date. I assume that there is no need to give companies any more notice than your notice period?

TX.

if you're retiring and have a company pension then I would suggest the sooner the better. Sometimes the Pension Administrators aren't as quick as they should be and you don't want to start your retirement with no cash.

My wife is a few years younger than me and will work for another 2-3 years after I retire so there's no immediate pressure to access my pension.

I've asked HR and they say 12 weeks notice.

[MustangGT]

GreatGranny said:

Countdown said:

Terminator X said:

With hindsight perhaps you should have just kept it to yourself and handed in your Notice when just shy of your retirement date. I assume that there is no need to give companies any more notice than your notice period?

TX.

if you're retiring and have a company pension then I would suggest the sooner the better. Sometimes the Pension Administrators aren't as quick as they should be and you don't want to start your retirement with no cash.

My wife is a few years younger than me and will work for another 2-3 years after I retire so there's no immediate pressure to access my pension.

I've asked HR and they say 12 weeks notice.

Forget what HR says, your contract or terms and conditions will state the required notice period. Stick to what that says.

[Countdown]

Just a note of caution; your "Notice Period" may well be defined in your Contract however I don't think this applies to your retirement commencing, it is just "Notice" that you're going to stop working for them in X months time. And just because you've handed in your notice doesn't mean that HR then have to let the Pension people know you are about to retire and to start paying your pension. The two things are completely unconnected.

So if you want to make sure your pension starts being paid from X date then you need to give HR appropriate "Notice of Retirement" if that makes sense.

[Hol]

In my industry, people in senior positions are put on ‘gardening leave’ for the duration of their notice, which can be as long as six months.

It’s not because they have broken any rules or earned any additional contractual right, it’s to forcibly distance them all the latest management and strategy decisions, as they no longer have skin in the game.

I wonder if something similar is being planned in your case,

[GreatGranny]

Hol said:

In my industry, people in senior positions are put on ‘gardening leave’ for the duration of their notice, which can be as long as six months.

It’s not because they have broken any rules or earned any additional contractual right, it’s to forcibly distance them all the latest management and strategy decisions, as they no longer have skin in the game.

I wonder if something similar is being planned in your case,

Unfortunately I am far from senior

I'm a CAD monkey, BIM, ACAD guy who has no say or interest in the latest management or strategic decisions
It would have been nice though.

Anyway, no work today again so I'm logging off, cheers for the help.
Going to contact my Line Manager tomorrow to have a chat as this is getting me down.

Edited by GreatGranny on Monday 18th November 16:04

[Peterpetrole]

GreatGranny said:

It sounds great but the novelty wears off after a few weeks!

Seriously thinking of going to our place in Cromer for a few days to do some well over due jobs.

I'll take my laptop obviously

You're being paid to wind down.

If the novelty of sitting around drinking tea with no pressure "wears off" I would seriously be having a good think about what you want out of retirement.

[Muzzer79]

GreatGranny said:

Do you think it's worth having a chat about maybe finishing at Christmas with them paying 3 months pay + pension just to get rid of me?
I need to give 12 weeks notice so not sure how that would affect this.

Thanks

You have resigned (presumably) so you leaving costs them nothing in exit costs.

If you want to go early, it needs to cost them less than they'd be paying you until you finish, otherwise they may aswell just keep you on and have you do odd jobs.

If it's that quiet, the notice period will only affect things contractually.

Have a conversation and see what they'll offer, but expect to do a deal for going early, rather than getting your full 3 months.

[GreatGranny]

Peterpetrole said:

You're being paid to wind down.

If the novelty of sitting around drinking tea with no pressure "wears off" I would seriously be having a good think about what you want out of retirement.

Thing is, I will retire from my job but have plans to do other stuff such as volunteer work and maybe even a driving job for a few days a week.
I have a heap of things to do in the house and outside once the weather get better.
Got an E36 to get back on the road, half marathon to train for and some cycle routes I want to do.

Also I have to still log on and be at my computer just in case something comes through.

[GreatGranny]

Muzzer79 said:

You have resigned (presumably) so you leaving costs them nothing in exit costs.

If you want to go early, it needs to cost them less than they'd be paying you until you finish, otherwise they may aswell just keep you on and have you do odd jobs.

If it's that quiet, the notice period will only affect things contractually.

Have a conversation and see what they'll offer, but expect to do a deal for going early, rather than getting your full 3 months.

Yes you're correct, I'll start the conversation tomorrow but not sure how high up I need to go to get a decision

[Sheepshanks]

Hol said:

In my industry, people in senior positions are put on ‘gardening leave’ for the duration of their notice, which can be as long as six months.

It’s not because they have broken any rules or earned any additional contractual right, it’s to forcibly distance them all the latest management and strategy decisions, as they no longer have skin in the game.

I wonder if something similar is being planned in your case,

That's common for people changing jobs, but surely not when retiring?

Although I did know one group director who was supposed to retire at 60 and about 6 mths away from that he became quite disruptive, saying he didn't want to retire. So they kicked him out early. Maybe that's the answer for the OP!

Edited by Sheepshanks on Tuesday 19th November 11:16