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July 27, 2006
'At 65, People Are At Their Best': More on Snowbird Workers
Another interesting article on snowbird workers: this one in today's Washington Post:
Edward Wright, 72, an electrical contractor for 50 years, started working for Home Depot in Lake Wales, Fla., because he was restless after retiring from his business in Burlington, N.J. The company hired him to work in its electrical department four days a week from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., showing customers and co-workers wiring and other electrical do-it-yourself skills.
When it came time for Wright to return to New Jersey, Home Depot told him he could work there, too, and he went to work at a store over the border in Pennsylvania.
"I love it, to be honest with you," Wright said. "It feels like you're needed. Naturally when you get up there in age, lots of companies want to get rid of you."
According to a Merrill Lynch & Co. report released earlier this year, 60 percent of people age 51 to 70 have taken steps to prepare for a new line of work in retirement. And it's not all about the money. Of those who plan to work in retirement, 60 percent say they will do so to keep mentally active, while 47 percent cite the money. . . .
"If we were not able to retain, train and hire and keep older people, we wouldn't have a business," said Stephen M. Wing, director of government programs with CVS. "The younger folks, there's just less of them. We need those older people to stay in the workforce, and people are living longer, healthier lives."
Whereas 38.3 percent of people 50 and older participated in the labor force in 1985, that figure had climbed to 47.1 percent last year, according to labor data.
"At one point, 65 was retirement age," Wing said. "To be honest, at 65 people are at their best. They have all those life experiences they can share. We see that as a real plus."
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