Page 12 | Over 50 and not working by choice. Would a ‘mid-life MOT’ tempt you back?

PuzzledObserver · 2022-12-24T12:55:01+00:00

https://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?

TheGirlWhoTamedTheDragon · 25/12/2022 15:49

antelopevalley · 25/12/2022 15:44

@TheGirlWhoTamedTheDragon So what kind of r9oles do you think people in their fifties should be going for who are not professionals?

After 30-40 years of working life surely most people will have gained professional experience/ qualifications that make them capable of more than entry level, unskilled work?

The separate issue about employers not treating them fairly and being able to obtain those roles is awful. But it's surprising anybody in their 50s would be applying to do basic shop work etc having had a lifetime to develop skills and qualifications and experience. I'd expect people in their 50s to be looking at senior positions.

antelopevalley · 25/12/2022 15:49

@TheGirlWhoTamedTheDragon The majority of working people are not professionals. In your fifties and sixties, employers do not care about your experience. And many jobs that now require qualifications did not used to. I know someone redundant who worked in a field for 35 years and can now not get a job there because they do not have the entry level qualification. As he only has 5 years till state retirement pension, there is no point going back to college for a year and paying loads of money to get a job for 4 years.

cakeorwine · 25/12/2022 15:54

I'd expect people in their 50s to be looking at senior positions

Who wants that shit...all that stress, hours, etc.

Sallytobleroney · 25/12/2022 15:55

The separate issue about employers not treating them fairly and being able to obtain those roles is awful. But it's surprising anybody in their 50s would be applying to do basic shop work etc having had a lifetime to develop skills and qualifications and experience. I'd expect people in their 50s to be looking at senior positions.

Full time professional type roles can feel too much in your 50s and anyway you'd not be likely to get one over and above a 20 something, especially if you've been made redundant or if you've taken a chunk of working life out to do childcare. I think it's very rare for a 50 plus person to walk into a decent professional role. People seem to not believe this and I don't know why.

In my case I want something part time and low stress because of caring responsibilities and menopause, and that means NMW jobs. I wouldn't rule out working in a care home but the pay is shocking.

TheGirlWhoTamedTheDragon · 25/12/2022 15:56

cakeorwine · 25/12/2022 15:54

I'd expect people in their 50s to be looking at senior positions

Who wants that shit...all that stress, hours, etc.

Not necessarily. With skills in demand you have much more control over negotiating/ dictating your working arrangements and conditions.

Who wants to work on minimum wage in a job you could have done as a 16 year old?

antelopevalley · 25/12/2022 15:57

Even if they wanted them, common sense dictates there are not enough senior positions for everyone in their fifties.

Sallytobleroney · 25/12/2022 15:58

Also, just my own opinion, but I think a 50 something man's experience is valued over a 50 something woman's. But I do think the labour market can also be difficult for 50 something men, especially when they've been made redundant.

The working week isn't a 9-5 any more and by 50s very long hours can be too much.

antelopevalley · 25/12/2022 15:59

Its as if you have never noticed all those women in their fifties sitting on supermarket tills.

Sallytobleroney · 25/12/2022 16:00

Not necessarily. With skills in demand you have much more control over negotiating/ dictating your working arrangements and conditions.

In a few roles perhaps but often employers think they're doing you a favour by taking you on at all. 50 somethings aren't in demand.

cakeorwine · 25/12/2022 16:01

Sallytobleroney · 25/12/2022 15:58

Also, just my own opinion, but I think a 50 something man's experience is valued over a 50 something woman's. But I do think the labour market can also be difficult for 50 something men, especially when they've been made redundant.

The working week isn't a 9-5 any more and by 50s very long hours can be too much.

I've seen some good jobs in Leeds - but I can't be bothered with the commute over there.

But so far, I have a job and I get by. If that situation changes, then I will see what they think of me.

But I can't be bothered with long hours and a long commute. Life's too short for that.

speakout · 25/12/2022 16:03

I am in my 60s and no plans to retire. I love what I do, and I am ambitious for my future.

shinynewapple22 · 25/12/2022 16:04

@TheGirlWhoTamedTheDragon I plan to retire in a couple of years time - and if I was to choose some part time employment to top up my work place pension then that's exactly the kind of role I would be looking for .

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/12/2022 16:31

Christ the last thing l’d want is a senior job. I’ve had it with all that shit. Proving yourself to a 30 something. No way, I found it degrading.

This is what people don’t seem to understand. You’ve done your time, you’ve done the stress and the long hours ns the walkers in charge. Who wants that again when you don’t need it?

l’d rather work in low stress minimum wage job. But l don’t have to work. So I’m not!

Stuffin · 25/12/2022 16:36

The easiest thing to earn lots is to continue doing my current job but it comes with lots of stress and responsibility.

DH and I have discussed that if we really did need a boost in income after retiring to pay for a holiday then minimum wage/seasonal work would be fine simply because it doesn't carry that expectation of taking work home and it's only for a short time.

antelopevalley · 25/12/2022 17:54

Sallytobleroney · 25/12/2022 16:00

Not necessarily. With skills in demand you have much more control over negotiating/ dictating your working arrangements and conditions.

In a few roles perhaps but often employers think they're doing you a favour by taking you on at all. 50 somethings aren't in demand.

I totally agree with this. Loads of workplaces do not value older employees, especially older women.
Also being a woman in your fifties for many means dealing with teenagers you are bringing up AND dealing with elderly parents. It has been my most stressful years. The last thing you need on top is a high stress job.

TheGirlWhoTamedTheDragon · 25/12/2022 17:59

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/12/2022 16:31

Christ the last thing l’d want is a senior job. I’ve had it with all that shit. Proving yourself to a 30 something. No way, I found it degrading.

This is what people don’t seem to understand. You’ve done your time, you’ve done the stress and the long hours ns the walkers in charge. Who wants that again when you don’t need it?

l’d rather work in low stress minimum wage job. But l don’t have to work. So I’m not!

Fair enough. I wasn't talking about a managent role with stress, I meant something technical people just get on with on their own. Personally I'd be way more stressed out by a NMW job especially if it involved dealing with the public!! But each to their own! Agree also that it'd be far preferable not to have to do anything.

antelopevalley · 25/12/2022 18:02

What kind of technical job do you think people in their fifties can get assuming they are not already doing that job?

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/12/2022 18:07

Actually l did a design/technical job for years.

Every fucker interfered with it all the time. I was NEVER left to just get on with it in peace.Really wouldn’t want that in my 50’s.

helford · 25/12/2022 20:24

TheGirlWhoTamedTheDragon · 25/12/2022 17:59

Fair enough. I wasn't talking about a managent role with stress, I meant something technical people just get on with on their own. Personally I'd be way more stressed out by a NMW job especially if it involved dealing with the public!! But each to their own! Agree also that it'd be far preferable not to have to do anything.

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These jobs just do not exist unless you have up to date tech skills and if you had those, you d not be unemployed.

cakeorwine · 25/12/2022 21:03

helford · 25/12/2022 20:24

These jobs just do not exist unless you have up to date tech skills and if you had those, you d not be unemployed.

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Do you think it's possible to have up to date tech skills but still be unemployed due to ageism?

On paper, you may have the skills a company needs, but they still can't get past the age issue.

Lovetotravel123 · 25/12/2022 21:14

I’m not far off 50 and could afford not to work but I go because I want to. However, it is important to me at this point to only work in term time. What I do think would help others would be to have more options to buy holiday, as 25 days isn’t enough for most, whether it be for caring responsibilities or just living life. I realise this is hard for companies to arrange but if the 4 day week is being trialled, then why not try this too?

Bunnycat101 · 25/12/2022 21:35

There is a lack of flexibility in so many jobs. I’d love to be able to do my job in 3 days but that just wouldn’t be feasible so I do 4 and feel run-ragged caring for small children. I suspect there would probably be quite a few people in their 50s who couldn’t manage a full time role (either due to their health or because they have the money and don’t want to) that might be interested in something 1-2 days a week I’d it felt . Doing something like that probably would also be good for overall health. I fully intend to retire in my 50s if I can but if I could do the odd bit of consultancy or freelancing I suspect it would be good for me to keep my brain active and being in a bit of money.

Burn out is also very real. It feels like we are worked to the bone and then society is surprised that people can’t do that indefinitely.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/12/2022 21:54

Burn out is also very real. It feels like we are worked to the bone and then society is surprised that people can’t do that indefinitely

Yes!! This is so true. I imagine people who aren’t continously worked to the bone are more productive. It seems like all the reforms of the 20 th century are gradually being eroded, and we are back to Victorian era where all people do is graft in horrible conditions.

echt · 25/12/2022 23:08

Lovetotravel123 · 25/12/2022 21:14

I’m not far off 50 and could afford not to work but I go because I want to. However, it is important to me at this point to only work in term time. What I do think would help others would be to have more options to buy holiday, as 25 days isn’t enough for most, whether it be for caring responsibilities or just living life. I realise this is hard for companies to arrange but if the 4 day week is being trialled, then why not try this too?

We have this in Australia - long service leave, started in the 1860s so government employees could go back to Europe and see family. It's still here, and in private industries too so as to be competitive. It kicks in after seven years and continues to accrue, even when you're on LSL!. It can be taken full/half/unpaid.

It is bloody marvellous. It works here so no reason why it can't be done in the UK. However, if LSL was suggested as new in Australia today, no way would employers want it. Never happen.

It's very much cherished by all workers.

453PigInBlanketSandwich · 26/12/2022 00:36

I'm looking to retire (earlier than state pension age) soon & I have paid into my pension, savings & full NI
There is no option for me to do my current job part time
However, I do work with people from ages 20s to late 60s
Some of my colleagues have sadly passed away before state pension age
I am looking for a different type of job

I have applied for some jobs in other industries, but have received no replies yet.

I have lots of transferable skills !

I am also considering starting my own business

I might actually be one of those people that changes to go & work for NHS, education, animals, hospitality PT
I might try temping too

I am keeping my options open

The alternative, is to fully retire & travel the 🌎 world instead !