What’s the difference between semi-retired and part-time?

[SockFluffInTheBath]

Is it just that one flags to everyone that you’re on the run out, or is there actually a difference?

At my workplace flexible retirement allows people to take the tax free lump sum from their pension and start receiving their pension while working less.

Semi retired...you're accessing pension benefits and working. Part-time, your just part time.

Yes this

I'd say this

It can be either/both of what you and @Winter2020 describe, I think.

I guess it only matters to anyone else if someone who should be PT but still fully engaged with the job is mentally checking out, or if someone PT is being assumed to not want promotions or responsibility.

You can still be part time in the prime of your career and aiming to develop and move upwards.

If you're semi-retired, you're basically winding down, you've reached your peak, and will usually be doing simpler/lower skilled work.

So a general rule of thumb is that if you're in your 50's you're likely to be semi retired as you're winding down, whereas if you're in your 30's you're likely to be part time as you've still got potential for personal career development, increasing your experience and skills, and may even become full time again.

I'm 60. I've not started drawing a pension, but I'm definitely "semi retired" as I work fewer hours, year by year, do more simple work, not learning new skills, etc. Definitely on a wind down.

It means you are taking some of your pension. Technically part time but you are bumping up your salary with a little of your pension. The peope I have known do this are at or very near retirement age but can't afford to fully retire.

Semi-retired means getting pension.
So the person is either working part-time or might be in a much lesser role than before

Thank you, I didn’t know you could draw on your pension but still work at the same place (every day’s a school day!). Makes sense now.

You may not be able to ...it depends if your workplace has a flexible/phased/partial retirement scheme.

Ha! I’m 50 and work 4 days a week, have plenty more career development planned over the next 10 years! No way am I “semi retired”!

It's not just about winding down. It used to be useful for this when there was a default retirement age..as a way of taking the edge off that sudden end. Nowadays you can work as long as you like but with the rise in cost of living and am aging population it can be a helpful to have the flexibility to reduce hours/responsibilities to concentrate on life stuff, might be caring for elderly parents, or taking them to hospital appointment etc. Or it might be to do voluntary work or simply doing something enjoyable. It doesn't have to be the beginning of the end and your employer shouldn't see it this way either.

I say I dm semi retired as I have gone from 5 to 1 day a week but at 48. I do volunteering the other days plus studied for an interesting degree /masters.

So part time if asked on an official form but semi retired to anyone who asks.