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I am in the process of making a huge decision. Two months ago my supervisor changed at work, My prior supervisor was an easy going guy who respected my talents and was very laid back. The new guy is a micro manager, and on Tuesday accused me of spreading rumors in the workplace (completely untrue and unsubstantiated). As well, he did this in front of another employee. I decided that I would never work for him again unless he apologises. So the next two times I see him it is about filling in a schedule for my work listing what I will be doing for each two hour block through the week.
I don't know what I will be doing three days from now at a certain time. My work depends on the submission of content and questions from others. When someone pops into my office, I end what I am doing and work on their problem. Mr. micro manager doesn't like that, and really didn't like it when I refused, three times, to fill in his stupid little form.
So I am pissed. Took yesterday off (it's wonderful working at a unionized office) and stayed home and wrote. Realized that I really liked doing that, and could get into doing it seven days a week (if I chose to). So today I looked up my pension information. And I discovered that the penalty for taking early retirement is only 3% per year. I am 63, so this means only a 6% reduction in the roughly $1000 monthly pension. With Canadian pension top ups, I will wind up with about $1500 to live on. I have savings that equal the remaining payments on my house, so I live rent/mortgage free.
So now I have to make a decision. Take the money and run, or stick it out for another two years (which will increase my pension another $2000 due to longer years of service. I'm leaning heavily for taking the pension.
If I do, I might become the first full-time BC author.
Dawn
Comments
Time forms
It seems to me that this new guy has no idea what you do. Has he even read your job description? (Come to that, have you?) If he's after chapter and verse then maybe any contracts or other documents you can find could make him see reason.
If you're doing a job which depends on the activities of others then form filling may not be appropriate. On the other hand, there may be periods when you don't do that, for example time spent writing up actions taken - and, of course, time spent filling in his form. There's no reason you can't fill in those portions.
Try to (politely) get him to understand that what he is asking for makes little sense. What you do can't be quantified in the same way that that of, say a truck driver cannot. Sure, you can work out how long a journey can take but you can't account for accidents and traffic jams. There are many jobs that can't be tied down that way.
If you can, try and stay until your extra pension kicks in. It may not seem worth it now but 20 years down the line you might need that money. A little hassle now might pay off big in a few years time, especially if your health becomes worse.
Thinks: Has this guy been put there with the intention of getting rid of you early, just so your employer doesn't have to pay out the extra pension? If so, you had better talk to your union guy sharpish. Making you walk to save money isn't the act of a good employer.
Whatever you do, do it calmly and don't make a rash decision. Talk to your union reps. Heck, talk to a lawyer. Get all the advice you can. It's your future you are deciding on.
Penny
how long will the PHB be around?
Sounds like he is a 'here today', wreak havoc,'gone tomorrow' type?
If that is the case then there is merit to sticking around and waiting until things get back to normal. You still have the option to pull the plug and retire.
If he is really into that level of micromanaging then play his game. When your customers start complaining that his rules are interfering with their productivity he may well relent.
I called it a day also aged 63 last September. I'd just had enough after 47 years of work. Didn't regret it one bit.
Samantha
Good points
Yeah, he is liable to be gone in one year. But do I really want to spend an entire year at a job I hate (because of him)? And the prospect of retiring a year early for very little cost to me is so enticing.
Dawn
I waited
I waited until 72 to retire. However I started drawing my Social Security at 70. By waiting, I was able to significantly increase the amount I got. While my job wasn't the hassle that yours is, the extra money now made it well worth it.
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin eine Mann
I took a buyout
at 59 and haven't regretted it. I did like my job but the writing was on the wall. The next round of buyouts weren't nerely as generous, nor were the across the board paycuts. It was a time when they actually wanted me to stay but couldn't make me. Yes I took a pension hit but my dad died at 68 and granddad st seventy so I figured early retirement would be better. Who knows the reduced stress may mean I'll live longer than my predecessors. I'll know soon enough but in the meantime I am enjoying life.
Commentator
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Age Abuse
I started encountering the same sort of disrespect in my mid 50's, so I am wondering if it might be a widely used tactic to get rid of us?
I retired at 56
...and look how that has turned out for me. :P
Anyway, if you want to become a fulltime author, we can probably work with you through DopplerPress to help you earn some while helping support the site. :)
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
The main thing is to keep your sanity.
I had similar experience in my last job where I was service manager in a medical equipment business. I scheduled work for three people, ordered parts, and personally serviced walk-in customers. The job was totally dependent on the customers who had break downs. I solved it as follows.
Instead of refusing to fill out his form, I asked if, for one week, I could fill it out as I went. That gave me the proof I needed to explain why I couldn't fill it out in advance. I then used that initial week as a template for doing future schedules but with broad swaths of ASSISTING OTHERS.
Good luck.
Boys will be girls... if they're lucky!
Jennifer Sue
excellent suggestion
playing the game, delaying a decision and possibly a win-win for you and your clients and your company and sadly even the git.
AP
Take the pension now!
Retire whilst you're still young enough to enjoy it.
I guess many of us have gone through these kinds of ends of career. You have incredible experience, but some crass smart arse wants to ignore wisdom and change everything for the sake of change. Yes, you could spend the next two years finding every day a pain, or you could take your freedom now for a slightly lower pension. I retired in my early fifties and never regretted it one bit.
One thing I have noticed, though, is that as I get older, so my health gets worse. I can't do things now I could do in my fifties. Every year you wait, makes it a year closer to sickness and death. Remember that as you make your decision.
If you do decide to leave, you'll find time is initially your friend. You have time to do things you were always putting off. After a year or two, you seem as busy as you were when you worked every day. So you may initially be a full time BC author, but pretty soon, you'll be just like the rest of us, having to fit it in between everything else.
Good luck and a happy retirement.
PS: for a bit of light relief, you could read my Two Grumpy Old Men (https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/story-wo-comments/55940/two-g...)
Financial considerations
What do you want to do in retirement? Will your pension, net worth, and savings allow you to live the lifestyle you would like? There are plenty of financial sites that you can use to budget your future expenses (usually calculated on present income and lifestyle) and also based on expected longevity. Then it will calculate what retirement income you would need to achieve your goals. If your finances and goals don't match, you may need to adjust your retirement age or adjust your expectations of retirement.
When is your next anniversary?
When is your next anniversary? What pension benefit gains do you get?
If, I understand correctly staying roughly 2 more years increases your base pension to $3000 Canadian/month. I lean towards staying as that would triple your monthly base pension. Protect your position, you got sound advice for that from others.
May things turn out the best for you.