Hi all, on the basis that work is available, I had a 'discussion' with my son in law who protested that he would have to work until he was 70 before receiving a pension. My response was that as his generation was likely to live longer, then at 70 he may not want to stop working. Especially when he may have 15 or 20 year left of active life.
A school friend, we contact each other on a very occasional basis still works at post 80 years old. His children are all earning adults and his wife passed on a few years ago. He is the senior Techie in a school in MK and he thoroughly enjoys the work and it keeps him active etc. Having worked in a school for a couple of years myself I know what he means, young people keep you young.
Given the oportunity I would have been pleased to work longer as I had an interesting job which was not repetitive and kept the brain active solving problems and difficult issues. I do not think I was 'hogging' a job and stopping another's progress as during the last few years there were several times where I had what could loosely be called an apprentice with me to whom I passed on my experience and we would tackle new problems together with a good measure of success.
I rather suspect that most members on this forum have a bit more self motivation than the average man in the street and this has probably led to work that requires an active brain. One of the things I did learn was never to ask questions that would get a negative answer.
I was once criticised by my boss that when I went on holiday everything ran smoothly, i.e. without me being there, also he did not have to do anything either! I have to say I took this as a complement, as to do this you have to empower your guys to make the right decisions for themselves and I am sure it makes them feel more involved with the job they are doing. I was a carrot man he believed in sticks, an interesting combination but he gradually came around to my way and had a quieter life at work as well.
Some of the accepted work practices we see now can only be described as soul destroying, Zero hour contracts, for example. They can only build up in people as social injustices where they see those in control doing 'very well thank you'.
We shall all reap as we sow.
Regards
Roy