I struggle to articulate the reasons that this is a good idea, because a part of my brain keeps telling me that just the statement, "Why not phased-in retirement?" should be all I need to say for the light to go on in the brains of others!
After all, in the tribal past of all humans, isn't this what was done? What does the term tribal elder really imply? Surely, our ancestors didn't send their older members out to hunt and to war rather than their younger and stronger fellows. But they made full use of their experience by listening to their ideas.
When I was in my mid-twenties, full of energy and ideas, I remember filling out endless job applications and mailing in tons of resumes, trying to get a decent job. The employers all wanted more experience (often with software that was already out-of-date or soon would be).
Now, in my fifties and wanting to slow down, I have seemingly unlimited opportunities to put in more hours, and earn more money, by taking on additional tasks at my current job, or doing some consulting on the side.
An acquaintance - with a career worth of valuable experience - has health issues that prevent her from working fulltime, but would very much like to work a reduced schedule - maybe 40-60 percent of fulltime. Nobody offers part-time jobs these days, unless (1) the hours are those nobody else will work, or (2) the pay is less than what you would get at a fast food joint, or (3) the job description is a mile long and the "flexibility" is all on the employer's side (to make you work as many hours as they wish without guaranteeing you any minimum).
Currently the economic recovery is being hindered by a combination of baby boomers, who can't afford to retire, hanging onto their jobs, and folks in their mid-twenties who can't find that career-starting job.
Imagine sixty-something-year-old workers mentoring twenty-something-year-olds; passing on that (much talked about) organizational knowledge, which managers mostly remember after it has walked out the door.
Imagine allowing older workers with health issues to work abbreviated schedules, thus letting businesses
continue taking advantage of their hard-earned expertise after their bodies can no longer endure forty-plus hours per week in the cubicle jungle.
So, why not phased-in retirement?
