People who have been here for 4 decades or more, why are you still here? This is not one of those "make room for the young 'uns" posts, I'm genuinely curious why you'd still be here if you don't have to. I would understand if it was for financial reasons - that's why I'm still here - but I assume all of you have decent savings and a nice retirement ready to be enjoyed. So what else could it be, considering how much this place has changed for the worse?
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27 replies (most recent on top)
No need to retire when you are occupational! T is looking at reducing management headcount mostly over last year and this year and not non-management. Non-management is safe not to mention there are lots of new hires in the West and Southwest.
I’m already at the full social security age, but why retire! I do this job as a hobby now since I don’t really need the money at this point in my life! T is not back-filling the positions, so I might as well stay since they’re not laying off occupational workers either! Easy money as long as T keeps me and all my coworkers!
I knew a manager working here only because her husband was running his own business and needed health care. Aside from that example, vacation policy, benefits, and pay have always been better than a multitude of other companies. Plus, it seems hard to get fired if a director or higher. Just hang in for the ride.
several answers: daily habit, really like cashing the check each payday, like seeing some surviving old work friends, occasionally enjoying the job still after all these years.
my sincere invitation to the youngsters who are jealous of older workers with seniority: report me to my supervisor whenever you see me not doing my job or meeting my metrics. provide detail with time and dates and what was done/not done by me. supervisory chain will resolve the problem one way or another and i may then finally ride off into the sunset as you wish (but just be aware- the problem they find may be you).
Because they can, that’s why. If you had 30-40 years in and a cush job, why would you leave? I doubt many of them could find another job in the current market unless they have stayed up to date with skills. It is harder to find a gig when you get older. After 40 anything in tech get tougher to get hired on for. It is a young persons game and companies want to hire younger and cheaper workers.
Old timers teach youngins, show some respect for crying out loud. My old man would have slapped a couple of you upside the head. LOL
GET OFF MY LAWN !!!
Young guys are smarter and do more work. Old timers are bitter and can't adjust to the times.
As a younger person forced to carry the load for people who stopped updating their skills long ago, it is entirely my business to know why the old guys won't leave. It's how I decide whether it's worth years of my life to wait for them to retire, or simply move on to a more innovative company.
I used to think like the OP when I was a n00b, but now that I’ve got 25 years in I can see why they do it. If you get to a position that’s not too physically demanding and you’ve survived numerous layoffs & moves like I have, it motivates you to ride it out as long as you can once you’ve made it over the hump.
because the dumbing down of the company that has been going on since 1994 has now made it too easy, absolutely no reason to leave. when we (40 year plus people) hired on you started at the bottom and worked your way up, and work you they did !!, the company now hires people in at top craft, they don't know anything and are not expected to.... anyone with the basic bell system experience looks like a genius compared to the college or "I took a course and now I know everything" people. These new people are so proud of themselves but most all are just a joke, they think they are working so hard and know so much, makes me chuckle all day every day. It is just too easy and no reason to leave, nothing expected of anyone, nothing required of anyone. This train is firmly on the tracks and the cash cow delivers each and every month regardless of how bad anyone screws up. Why would anyone leave??
I only stay to keep young people from taking my job. I'm 73 and when I hired on 55 years ago
lied about my birthday. I don't look old, think I can probably stay till 80.
Plan to leave all the grandkids multi millionaires.
Because I can. If you don't like it......leave. I'll stay and enjoy the pay and benefits for as long as I like.
I also like to watch OPs like you get p-ss-d because us "Old Timers" won't retire.
Or how about.......It's none of your f—ing business.
Either way, I don't give a rats a$$ what you think.
I'm having fun and it seems like you're not. Cry me a river.
I have been in this company for 6 years and joined right after college (undergrad + masters ). Joined the wireless side of the house . There was no training or properly documented material to go through and all I learned was from these “so called old timers”.
Things I learnt about wireless + wireline from them (architecture evolution and the hows and the whys ) cant be found in books or any training .
However I brought in the new things around Cloud , SDN and NFV etc that most of the old timers were clueless about
It’s a symbiotic relation and are equally needed in this company
Age is a number.
Is the person doing their job well and fostering the culture imperatives? Perhaps the question could be asked differently? After all, age is simply a number. Many love their jobs. Many physically young are mentally aged. Value the person and forget the number.
The quesion being posed to politicians 70 and over and thete are many, is the best suggestion I've heard on this site thus far...outstanding!
The old timer should be here if he has updated his professional skills to keep up with company changes and remain productive. He should not stay just to complain about how things used to be.
Suggestion: why don’t you send this same question to your Senator or Congress person? Surely if there was ever a need to push ‘old timers’ out to pasture, you should look at them first. Instead, you’re going after colleagues or coworkers. Ask those old timers (you can name 30 or so who are well past usefulness) why don’t they just leave....now that’s a question I’d support.
It's always financial whether it's needed or not! Why leave when the job couldn't be easier and the pay is very good, better than most companies are willing to pay for the same job/skill set. I don't mind going into work everday with very little to do without the threat of layoff hanging over my head as in years past.
Everyone’s situation is different.
One former co-worker, is now 70 with 50 years, doesn't need to work, bur likes to,
Another former co-worker, is now 60 with 40 years, has no savings and very little in the 401K. Having a child in the late 40's and a divorce. He'll need to work until he can't.
Years ago I tech, in his 70's with over 50 years hod no places to retire, because he was afraid he would die shortly after retirement.
I'm in my mid 50's, with 25 years, and a teen at home. Plan to work until 65. I worked jobs worse than AT&T.
To each his own.
Why do Warren Buffett (90 years old) and Charlie Munger (97 years old) still work full time?
Some people want to work as long as they can.
And you need to do something till you die. Not a lot of golf being played by 90 year olds.
I think tenure and age are two different things. I have a person with over 40 years of experience on my team. He is just over 60. I have another employee that is 68 with less tenure (about 20+) years.
Both employees are effective. Why would I get rid of them if they are effective? And why would they leave? They can't duplicate their current income at any other place.
Having said that, if they don't retire this year, and if there is a surplus next year, they are numbers 1 and 2 targets on my team. Just the way it is. Honestly I don't have any ineffective employees left. We lost so much during last few years we are down to the bone.
"42 years here, non-management..
I don't need to work, my retirement funds are great, all my bills are paid. All 4 of my kids are through college with no loans in good jobs..." "Why would I leave and start over elsewhere?
You didn't answer the question, and you're the exact person that the question was directed.
Why don't you retire and go enjoy some of your money? Why would you need to "start elsewhere"? Do you not understand a simple question?
I hate to say this, but you're the kind of guy that will finally retire and then have a massive coronary on day #2 of retirement. Go retire. Enjoy yourself.
Started at 18 as a lineman. 38 yrs of damned near every outside job. Like the poster said, seniority allowed me rights of first refusal on everything. I made a lot of $$$ on OT. 240 hrs of vaca. Had a bucket truck. Once you hit 30 yrs, bosses pretty much leave you alone. I finally retired at 56.
Maybe "changed for the worse" is in the eye of the viewer...
They may be rare, but some folks do still enjoy their job.
42 years here, non-management..
As the highest senior person in my workgroup, I am sitting pretty. I pick all my vacation first, can get any tour I want. And my position as a "POD" or Team Leader, my job is pretty cushy. I have no metrics or quotas to meet. Plus all the OT I can get right now at POD pay, money, money, MONEY!
I don't need to work, my retirement funds are great, all my bills are paid. All 4 of my kids are through college with no loans in good jobs...
So I can decide when to stop work or get surplussed. And with my age and my health, I have another 5-6 years left at work. Why would I leave and start over elsewhere?
First, it’s none of your business why people elect to remain employed past the point when others think they should leave. Second, to assume that having a job for decades automatically means one is financially prepared to retire is a fallacy. Everyone’s situation is different, and no one should attempt to ‘assume’ anything.