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Original poster

Are you mid-50s? Do you still work full time?

252 replies

elsaandanna · 10/12/2023 21:23

I'm the only woman I know of my age who works full time.

Admittedly I have a small circle of people I know and none of them have glamorous or high flying careers.

I'm a childminder so I'm busy long days, 5 days a week. Can't drop a day as I'd lose income. The parents that need childcare 5 days a week because they work full time are much younger than me.

OP posts:
Cleebope2 · 10/12/2023 21:30

I still teach full time at 53 but hoping to drop days in acouple of years or take early retirement. I know lots of women my age and older who work full time through their mid to late fifties and lots who are part time. Just whatever they choose really.

cardibach · 10/12/2023 21:32

Also a teacher and took my pension early at 55. I then worked another 2 years full time as a supply and am now trying to stick to 1 or 2 days per week. I definitely couldn’t manage full time anymore and still have any sort of a life.

Ellmau · 10/12/2023 21:32

Yes, I couldn't afford to stop work or go part time.

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OneRingToRuleThemAll · 10/12/2023 21:33

I'm late 30s and will go part time from 1st January in a local government admin job. I know more women my age part time than full time.

Take home pay calculators suggest the drop in pay isn't very much at all with losing a days wage every week considering I also won't pay pension and student loan.

Redcrayons · 10/12/2023 21:34

52 and yes. Can’t afford not to.

smilesup · 10/12/2023 21:35

God I will have to work full-time for a lot longer. But I worked p/t when the DC were small and glad I did so swings and roundabouts.

DottyLS · 10/12/2023 21:35

I work .8 as a teacher, in every day so feels close to full time. Also don't know many my age working full time

Everydayisanewday · 10/12/2023 21:35

Yes nearly 57, work full time and regularly do 45 hours plus per week plus 3 hours commuting 2 days per week.
It’s tough but another 8 years to go.

Peepshowcreepshow · 10/12/2023 21:35

I'm about to turn 50, but will definitely be working full time until retirement. I'm single and I rent, so need the money, but I also enjoy my job, so like going to work.

Perfectlystill · 10/12/2023 21:36

51 and yes. Need the money although for the first time I am slightly jaded and can see the appeal of part-time.

My industry is sexist and ageist so I don't think it'll be my choice when I stop. Fucking ridiculous but I am a realist. Then I might go freelance.

LatteLady · 10/12/2023 21:37

I am 65 and still working full time at a fairly senior EA role, frankly too busy and having too much to retire just yet.

RandomMess · 10/12/2023 21:37

51 and plan to stay full time until 60

Purplecatshopaholic · 10/12/2023 21:38

Yes and yes. An expensive divorce put paid to any fanciful thoughts of going part time. But I’m senior and couldn’t do my job part time anyway, and I worked hard to get there.

GuffyTheDustBuster · 10/12/2023 21:38

Full time here (mid 50s). Some of my circle are finally getting to throw ourselves into our careers (getting promotion etc) after years of mummy track /part time working. Others are prioritising cutting down their hours/choosing more fulfilling jobs.
Everyone's different!

SpecsAndSlippers · 10/12/2023 21:39

I’m 55 and work full time, public sector. My boss is 68, has more energy than me and is very committed to her job. All of my female colleagues work full time. ;although some worked reduced hours in their children’s early years)

HardcoreLadyType · 10/12/2023 21:39

55 and yes.

I still have 2 children at university, so can’t really afford to earn a lot less than I do now.

I try to have a couple of days off in the middle of the month, but at the moment work is too busy for that.

It’s not too awful, though, as I work from home.

EdgarsTale · 10/12/2023 21:40

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 10/12/2023 21:33

I'm late 30s and will go part time from 1st January in a local government admin job. I know more women my age part time than full time.

Take home pay calculators suggest the drop in pay isn't very much at all with losing a days wage every week considering I also won't pay pension and student loan.

Why won’t you be paying into a pension? How will you fund your retirement?

Hazey19 · 10/12/2023 21:41

Yes, 48 and work full time. Everyone else I know is either part time or doesn’t work. I’ll be working full time until 67 at least though.

Babyroobs · 10/12/2023 21:42

I am 55 and work four days a week. I was full time though until very recently. i left my job for another, it didn't work out so I went back to my old job but there was only a four day a week job available. It is lovely though and really takes the pressure off having fridays off. I am also only about £150 a month worse off overall by the time the new NI rates apply in Jan ( low paid work ), so don't miss the full time pay too much.

coffy11 · 10/12/2023 21:43

Yes 53 and work full time. And will be working full time until I retire. But that's mainly because I love working and can't imagine actually retiring.

Dogsitterwoes · 10/12/2023 21:43

Yes, and will be till I can't work any longer as my pensions are patchy and worth jack shit, with the exception of my current job's.

hidinginthegarden · 10/12/2023 21:44

I can't imagine working part time for quite a few years (mid fifties now) as still have teenagers and pension pot is no where near where it needs to be. But I was part time when kids were little but went full time to climb the career ladder.

freeandfierce · 10/12/2023 21:44

Full time teacher at 55, I also teach two evenings on top of my full-time hours (equates to an extra 8 hrs a week) plus 8 hours every Saturday. Sunday I'm shattered and try not to do any prep work but sometimes I have to. Divorced with a mortgage to pay. I honestly can't imagine not working full-time but I'd like to drop the evening's, just can't afford not to.

Tinytigertail · 10/12/2023 21:45

55 and have recently gone up a day, so now work 4 days, which feels about right for me at the moment. I guess loving my job helps!

RepetitiveMotion · 10/12/2023 21:47

I increased my hours this year aged 56 and work almost full time, and I renegotiated my role to make it bigger and more interesting.

Because I was bored. Never should have stopped working when DC were tiny; I’m not happy not working.