Rethinking retirement

RETIREMENT is influenced by socio-economic and political circumstances in society, and it is within these factors that an individual makes the decision to retire. In society, the economic dynamics have been an influential factor in determining whether one takes early retirement, works for full retirement, or seeks employment after retirement. In the world today, citizens have new options as to how they will plan their lives, based on various factors.There is the view that, to make a stipulated age mandatory for retirement, the employer, group, or government is practising what is considered ageism. While this practice has been a feature of society and has been inherited from the colonial era, modern day features which are aligned with the United Nations strive to uphold the tenet that “Older persons are increasingly seen as contributors to development, whose abilities to act for the betterment of themselves and their societies should be woven into policies and programmes at all levels.”

As Guyana seeks to be respected and governed by 21st century instruments, there is need to be mindful that universal instruments and tenets are not violated.

A government sets the tone for society. In examining retirement dynamics, it would be observed that these vary among agencies, jobs, sectors, and even individuals involved. Consequently the entire issue is deserving of examination; for where the public sector has stipulated requirements for retirement, in the private and corporate sectors, flexibility exists.

The development of every society depends on its people. It is public knowledge that Guyana has a large population resident abroad; suffers from brain drain, where more than 75 percent of university graduates migrate; professionals such as nurses and teachers are recruited by regional and extra-regional governments and institutions; and skilled artisans like electricians, masons, carpenters and plumbers are also lured. The evidence of skills depletion poses challenges to national growth and development.

For those who have taken the decision to remain, or would like to remain, the means has to be established where their contributions can be of relevance, and moreso cause persons to earn and sustain their livelihoods. There are cases involving teachers and nurses who, after compulsory retirement at 55 years, migrated and found employment in the state and private sectors using the skills acquired here, which skills have been put to pasture based on what has been considered retirement. These persons will, for approximately another decade or more, play roles in other countries building another nation before they exercise the option of retiring. In this situation, both the personal and national needs for growth and development are being met.

Utilisation of these skills here mean that, at the individual level, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs are met (physiological, safety, social esteem, self-actualisation) and the society also gains from the institutional memory and experiences acquired over the years being used as guides in refining new systems and approaches for on-the-job training for new recruits.

Further examination will show that many who, based on mandatory retirement, have had to leave a particular employ have not retired from working. Some of this is due in part to economic need, or the individual not feeling that the time is right to sit at home in a rocking chair; and this is ok. At the end of the day, what matters is how one feels about life and living, and society must be adaptable to meeting these needs.

Many retirees find employment primarily in the private security sector. For some, this brings with it a dilemma where it becomes difficult to readjust. For instance, a retired headmaster is placed in a position to compete for this job with persons who may not have completed secondary education, or having to guard the premises of the person whom she or he taught at school. While no honest work is demeaning, that the headmaster’s knowledge and skills are not being utilised in the preferred education system means that such knowledge and skills are being underutilised in post-compulsory retirement, and places that knowledgeable and skilled individual in an untenable situation.

Consequently, there is need to revisit the various retirement standards set by government. The executive and legislature are branches of government, but retirement for those employed in those fields is not determined by the standards set for the teaching, public and military services. A number of persons who have retired from serving in those branches are today involved in politics. Opportunities exist for these individuals through absence of ageism legislation that sees them continuing to give service to society. 21st century society requires universal standards applicable to the dynamics in society. For these reasons, stakeholders must rethink retirement, making it optional and not mandatory, which is consistent with modern society.

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