I work for an aging industry. I’m the youngest in my office by a couple decades at least, with majority at or around 65. The oldest colleague was in his 70’s, forced to retire due to health complications, and died 2 weeks later. I am constantly privy to conversations between these boomer men discussing when they’re going to call it quits and how they need to bring in fresh faces to take over. Even in our partnering companies, I see it there too. These guys will cackle about how they’re one bad customer away from retiring, talk about their chronic illnesses and dying colleagues, and then laugh because they have it good and may as well stay. Wouldn’t want to be bored.
I want to scream.
Not only do I believe they deserve to retire, they HAVE TO retire. They have to start seriously preparing the next generation to take over because despite their insistence that they’re healthy enough to work, it doesn’t take a doctor to see they don’t have the time they think. It makes me sad and frustrated as a younger employee to see the lack of effort and prioritization going towards hiring and training new people while we have such knowledgeable and currently capable industry alums within our reach. All I can say is, we are in for a huge reckoning when these guys die and I doubt we will ever be as financially comfortable as they seem to be.
Don’t even get me started on how they feel about no one wanting to work anymore, and how things aren’t that bad. I am so far in debt just from trying to live and they seem to think I’m being paid more than I deserve. I’m so tired.