Age 56. Can't be arsed at work anymore.

52 and feel the same. I can just about afford to retire at 55 although 57 would probably be better. I am almost at the point of counting the days.
I used to love this job.

I said “fuck it no more corporate bollox” at 52. Sold everything, beat Brexit and moved to the sun. Life is good, simple but good 😎

Don’t want to derail the thread, but what’s your problem with gender pronouns?

Nah, it's contempt for corporate memory. Disrespect for older people's learning costs businesses a fortune.

I was made redundant earlier this year, getting the news 10 days before my 55th birthday, I was very concerned as my earnings are over three times that of my husband. I was very unhappy in that job, having been there 28 years, but we had been acquired 6 years before, and it was a slippery slope. My mental and physical health were suffering,

I started looking for a job, was told to look for short term contracts as I wanted too much money…… then I received a message completely out of the blue. I was asked to do a 1 year maternity cover, and they were prepared to pay my previous salary (fewer benefits) but for a much lower level job than my former role.

After 2 weeks, I was concerned about the low work load, did they really need me? I know this was partly as I was having a handover from the person going on maternity leave.

I had only been there 2 weeks when I was told that they hoped I would be a solution to their forthcoming retirement issues. My direct line manager is looking to retire next year, and his boss a year after. I was previously doing his job, although not with a client portfolio, but at a company about 10 times the size.

it has been a real mind shift to step back from the “wild Wild West “ of my previous employer, to the nurturing role I have now. Time to do things properly. It is amazing. My autoimmune conditions are improving.

Despite previously working from home, and now having a commute of 40 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes, I have more time, as I am encouraged to go home when my hours are completed, sent packing at 4 pm and 4.30 regularly.

I am appreciated, and thanked, regularly told how my big firm experience gives them a new perspective.

I have 8 months left of my 1 year contract. I have been put in charge of an 18 month project. The recruitment agent tells me that I will be taken on permanently (although I have said I need that contract before I am really convinced)

best thing that every happened to me. Please look for another job.

Are you me???

I'm similar age. In finance. Our lot restructure every few months. It's terribly exciting 🤣.
I fucking hate it. I roll my eyes as I've been around this block a zillion times. I couldn't give a holy shite.

'Good for you! Can I ask what your new profession is?'

I retrained from a corporate job to a registered nurse. I'll be working privately, sorry I feel like keeping it a secret as to which field, I know it's silly as we're on mumsnet.

Even if I'm not hugely successful, I am okay with just earning a bit. As husband has a decent job. So I do realise that in lucky in that regard. But my goal IS to be fully independent as you never know.

@Evaka

Age 50. 2 kids at uni. Can't wait until they're done and I can afford to earn/work less. I am so blunt, (possibly rude) about the work BS I can't be bothered with. Hope I don't get sacked in the meantime....

I'm 35 and already feel this way!

You sound like you need to move job, as you sound jaded and clearly lacking enthusiasm for the role. The job market is so tough for young people right now (I’m getting hundreds of applications from young people with masters degrees) there’s no point hanging on to a job you don’t enjoy.

Could you speak to your employer about moving to another role? Your line manager must have noticed your lack of enthusiasm, unless you hide it well.

Also, why are you so tired? Are you on your feet all day? Do you have health problems or disabilities that are making work tough? If not, perhaps your diet, exercise and lifestyle need an overhaul? Or perhaps you’re suffering from depression or have lost confidence, which can be common post-menopause.

What are your interests? What are you looking forward to doing when you retire? Why not look to move to a job that’s as close to that as possible.

I know we’re all different. But I’m a year older than you, though never think about my age. I absolutely love working with young people and love my job. I actually need to move to a better paid job, as I rent my family home (lone parent) and rents have skyrocketed. But I love my job so much if I leave for more money, I’ll miss the job and my amazing colleagues. I can’t afford to retire but I wouldn’t want to. I have more energy than I had in my 20s (when I went out all the time) and 40s (when raising young kids).

Maybe they would have worked if the 50/60 year olds back then would have participated.

It’s the ciiiircle of life 😉

I’m changing my job to something I think I’ll enjoy. Kids are older and I need less money to live on, so why not? If you need to, draw down a small part of your private pension to supplement a lower wage.

For me, who's been in my field for 23 years, I get extremely snarky when a "graduate trainee" is parachuted straight from university into a management role and is telling me how things are going to change for the better round here, and brings in initiatives that plainly don't work. We all go along with them, of course, but quite often they are quietly shelved.

Usually the older staff don't have a university education and worked up from the bottom, so these youngsters think they are superior for some reason. It causes constant tension.

I'm nearly 47 and I've got one more grade to go up to then I'm coasting to retirement.

This country isn't built for older people. Even at 47 I feel my views are disregarded. By the time I'm 60 I'm sure I'll be too useless for society to bother with. Here, Grandma, have a cookie -style attitude. Grrr.

I'm in the same boat OP - people are so different these days.

I only have a state pension with 4.5 more years to go. I can't wait even though it's not a great amount of money but it is enough to live frugally.

If I had another pension I'd go at the earliest opportunity - it might be less money but you are receiving it over a longer period & getting away from the madness of work today.

Well I'm at least a decade younger than you and in irritated by stupid ideas also.

I am younger than you and feel the same way. I got at least another 30 years to go - it sucks.

63 here and I totally get it! Worked since I was 18, no kids, always a job and not a career as such as I’ve never been very ambitious. I care less, which is both good and bad. And try to enthuse about ideas that seemingly come around every few years or so presented as being new and innovative. Already quietly quitted really.

Totally understand what you say about your previous company. Thats how I got in my last managerial role. My job just became more and more about goal setting, monthly appraisals (I had 21 staff so it was a nightmare having a monthly meeting with each of them, writing up the form we had to complete after each meeting, getting their comments etc) probably a week a month taken up on that alone. Then the meetings to discuss weekly plans, then the follow ups reviewing what went well/badly each week - honestly I was at my desk about an hour a day. My job was supposed to be managing the team but I barely saw them it was all admin, targets, goals and over analysis.

Getting made redundant when they offshored 70% of the work to cut costs was actually a relief

Came to say the same thing....

Me too.

I mixed occasional 'freelancing' work for certain companies and being self-employed with my own clients from my mid 40s. In my 50s I added new training to broaden my options. I don't intend to ever stop work, even if it's just a few hours a month, as and when it fits with everything else.

Work keeps you young! (That 's a scientific fact) as long as you enjoy it.

i think it is also the fear that there is no where else to work, no one else would have us!
we are settled as well as unsettled

I think a lot of us in our 50's start to feel.this way.

My DH is 52 and has been in the same job for 35 years, he was always so enthusiastic about his work but management and newer work policies etc have taken the shine off it for him and it's just not the same. He plans to retire in the next few years.

I'd say that if you can afford to retire early do it. I care for my elderly mum and seeing how life and health can turn to shit so very rapidly makes you ponder life.

Ah of course they are all excited and full of ideas - they're brand new! It is a bit cliche circle of life but I like it. I enjoy seeing it in my children of a similar age as well and I try and remember I was also that age once 😊

47 and feel the same, i can't bare to go to work (I do and i have a cushy job, don't really do much), I don't feel like there is enough time in the day and i'm too knackered on a an evening/weekend to do anything. Still got 3 grown ups DS at home and I just don't seem to stop - I would quite happy be a kept housewife right now but DH is having none of it (and doesn't earn enough)

I’ve never been passionate about any job I’ve had and I’ve been working for over 40 years.
I work for the money.
I think I’ve only met a handful of people over the years who genuinely love their job.
Most of us just plod on.