Over 50 and not working by choice. Would a ‘mid-life MOT’ tempt you back?

[PuzzledObserver]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64083802

The phrase “not on your nelly” comes to mind.

There are reasons - good ones - why I retired early. They still apply, I’m not bored, I don’t feel my life lacks meaning, and finances are OK. So I’m finding difficult to think of a reason to rejoin the workforce.

How about you?

Nope

This is my DH and I. We aren’t going to rejoin the workforce, I still having a caring role and our finances are very good. It’s an amazing feeling being early to mid 50’s and never having to work again.

I'm no where near my 50s but I can't imagine anyone wanting to go back unless they were very very desperate.

68 and sort of retiredd (as in that was the excuse I gave toxic ex job two years ago). Thinking about going back to temping to put some more money in the pension but I don't want a financial MOT from some bored clerical officer at the jobcentre, thanks all the same. I have an IFA for that.

Absolutely not. I scrimp and scrape, but I'm not going back to a regular job. My menopause has drastically affected my autism and adhd and I just can't talk to people anymore. I'm completely shut down. I can't get HRT because I know there's a national shortage and I'd be constantly stressed about not being able to obtain it, so I do without. This shitshow of a government can sod off. I live without HRT so they can live without my taxes and NI.

I’m too busy looking after my elderly mother, sick husband, alcoholic sister and doing the school run for the grand children. Not sure how I ever found time to go to work. If people had been nicer to me in the university might not have retired when I did.

That's the menopause talking @stbrandonsboat. No shortage of HRT where I am, or where my friends are. Some chemists are having trouble getting hold of some bits and pieces (because they work with nominated suppliers) - all that means is I have to go to Boots rather than Lloyds for mine. Please get the help you need.

Lol no. Am not able to retire yet but no government mot would make any difference whatsoever

I thought they meant a physical mot - heart,Bp, bloods etc - I thought yeah, why not (I’m 69) , I do volunteer and it’s quite physical but don’t need money advice.

This is a bizarre plan.

Most people that have been able to retire in their early to mid fifties are going to financially pretty well off.

Why would anyone of that cohort want to go see a young, inexperienced and low paid civil servant in a job centre, so that they could get some financial advice about whether they need to go back to work 😂😂

We have a big problem with ageism in my sector. Not sure this would go much but it does annoy me that older females are so readily replaced

I'm late 50s and worked solidly since the mid 80s - 50 hours a week and up for the whole time.

I'm not ready to retire yet - but when I do the last thing will be doing is going in to have some useless twat in a brown polyester suit suggest I take up a new role.

I’ll retire soon - before I’m 60. Not a chance this type of penpusher process would make any difference whatsoever.

I think they're worried that people have accessed their pension pots earlier than expected and aren't aware of the impact in years to come - altho I suppose there's an argument that if you are financially savvy enough to be able to retire in your 50s that civil servant isn't going to be able to give you advice you can't access yourself.

I'm 60and can't retire for another 7 years. If they want me to carry on working after that, they can jolly well fuck off.

There is massive ageism in the modern day workforce, overcome that first.

i read the focus of the article as being on people over 50 leaving the workforce due to chronic illness....i left for this reason and would dearly love to return to work at some point in the future but seeing as my chronic illness was exacerbated by lack of workplace flexibility, use of the traffic light sickness policy and no cover being provided when I was off sick, i'm sure there's very few workplaces that would be willing to support people like me to remain in/return to work.

Why would anyone of that cohort want to go see a young, inexperienced and low paid civil servant in a job centre, so that they could get some financial advice about whether they need to go back to work

It seems like a strange cohort to aim for.
I'm in my 40s. Having taken some years out for caring responsibilities, I would like to get back into the industry that I left. Some help with that would be very welcome. I don't need anyone addressing my finances though. I need to brush up on some rusty skills and a role that offers a bit of flexibility.

Government just wants to work people to Death ! More taxes & national insurance! I think since covid where they ruled peoples lives for a while they think they can carry on !!!
No way !!!!

*assessing

A few mentions of ageism on here and I would be interested to hear more about that particularly from women. I have experienced it (combined with sexism as a 50 something white bloke I don't do anything for anyone's diversity score) but also found that the more savvy employer appreciates someone who has been round the track a few times and just knows how to fix things.

I agree with @Buzzinwithbez It's harder to go back after caring for young then for elderlies when you're up against the younger, lesser paid wanting the job 2 levels below where you left off, let alone going back to the level you were at

They could make the process of taking employers to court for age discrimination easier and cheaper.

I can’t think of anyone who has
chosen to retire early would want to go back to work! If they still wanted to/needed to work, they wouldn’t have retired early!