Should people be forced to retire at a certain age?

it seems like some sort of competency test would work better since some people still perform well even when they are older (or younger)

No.

No. Well, maybe only certain occupations. But usually no, especially not for common office jobs. Let them retire when THEY feel like it.

Absolutely not. If we take all the frail and infirm out of the workforce, who's going to keep all those lazy able-bodied people fed?*

*joke

No! Power to the elderly!

No, never.

Not sure. I think most people want to retire, but a few stick in there for one reason or another - money, boredom, loneliness, denial. Critical jobs, like firefighting and air traffic controller, have criteria to meet and if you can't meet it, you have to go. So mandatory retirement exists already for some. With the economy the way it is, I expect we'll be seeing a lot more older folk on the job. And anyway, will the government need older people to work longer so they don't have to pay out their benefits while the economy is down? Maybe. I know lots of people who have put their retirement on hold because their money situation isn't as good as they expected it would be. It's good they can do that and not be forced into a poorer retirement. On the other hand, will that make it harder for young people to enter the workforce? Maybe. Retirement's all about money right now, not age. If we make it about age, maybe people will get smarter about money. I dunno. Just thinkng out loud about something that might become a big problem.

No, people should be able to retire when they want, not when someone else thinks they should.

NO

yes perhaps forced to retire it that is what it takes to get you to retire and at certain age

Just a quick question:

Is this private employers forcing their employees to retire early, or the government telling companies to retire their employees. Are these government jobs, or private sector jobs? Is this some sort of union thing?


I suspect the same rationale for "forcing" the elderly to retire at some age is similar to getting rid of all the women employee's because they were taking men's jobs during economic downturns. This was in part by PR (companies didn't want people to boycott them because they didn't hire men who "needed to take care of their families") and part by the unions I suspect. I guess its a similar rational with the elderly, supposedly taking young people's jobs.

It also smells of conodention, telling people what is good for them because they don't know themselvs. I also suspect labor unions are the cause of that: eg airplane pilots. More reason to support right to work laws I guess.

> NO

Well look at me i am a good example of this and waited so long until i decided it is time for me to retire at 52 years old
missed so many days in a whole year because I just could not work and took 2 months sick leave and come back
all sick again more and more mental problems just could not take it any longer , it is time for those tax payers to support me this time and they are paying for me

Yes my boss she was mad and all pissed off with me missing so many days and not my fault this has happened it is
life is what they call it

I don't think people should be forced to retire. It should be voluntary.

I hope all is well with you JessicaWoman, hope you are feeling better.

What if its the private companies that decide to discriminate the elderly instead of the government?

Should the government have the right to tell companies that they aren't allowed to do that?

Yeah, at 45.

People should be able to retire anytime they wish to. Or until they become senile and drooling...

> I don't think people should be forced to retire. It should be voluntary.
>
>
> I hope all is well with you JessicaWoman, hope you are feeling better.
>

Well since i retired my blood pressure has come down as well as my anxiety and my mental well being just one step at a time and feels soo good being retired and getting out and doing more things

I'm inclined to say no, but it depends on the person.

Not sure

>
> Is this private employers forcing their employees to retire early,
> or the government telling companies to retire their employees. Are
> these government jobs, or private sector jobs? Is this some sort
> of union thing?
>
Good point. I never thought of unions when I asked the question. I've just been hearing a lot of people say they were hoping to retire soon, but can't now with the economic downturn. It made me wonder if the whole thing should be restructured - and wonder what pressures the government is facing having to pay out benefits to the baby boomers right now without the expected return on the money. Since retirement is such a personal issue (and I agree that it should be) it kind of bugs me that the people I"m listening to aren't able to retire themselves. How about a right to retire law? What would that look like?

>

Umm--not really. I think a person should be allowed to work as long as he or she feels like it.

Well, ever since the civil rights act of 1962, anyone and everyone can say discrimination. I'm against the civil rights act of 1962....it was the beginning of the end.

I don't really know the answer Southernyankee. Telling a company who they can or cannot hire, is a loss of freedom.

Did you have a stressful job before you retired?

nope, should be on case by case basis

No, except there should be considerations in some occupations that require mental or physical exertion, alertness, etc.

> Did you have a stressful job before you retired?

Not really to stressful but my boss Diane she would be all over my butt and worked like hell for a part time job of 5 hours she was a slavedriver and made slaves out of us oh gee goodness i hardly ever got a break it was go go
and break your back and my poor head could not take it any longer

I think some people are just not suited for management positions. I feel many times, most people will be more productive if encouraged. Of course, this is not always the case, and those should be asked to leave, or be given a different position that better suits them. The only place I worked that had a terrible way of doing things was a bank. They had charts that each employee had to mark their hours of productivity, several items. I think it actually slowed people down. Thank God it was only a temporary job. Generally, I've worked for places that the management worked well with the employees.

> I think some people are just not suited for management positions.
> I feel many times, most people will be more productive if encouraged.
> Of course, this is not always the case, and those should be asked
> to leave, or be given a different position that better suits them.
> The only place I worked that had a terrible way of doing things
> was a bank. They had charts that each employee had to mark their
> hours of productivity, several items. I think it actually slowed
> people down. Thank God it was only a temporary job. Generally, I've
> worked for places that the management worked well with the employees.

No she would not give me a better position and yes i was hoping she would have made things better for me but the answer was always no and no , oh she thought i was a good worker and all and gave me raises but still my health
could not hold up under these working conditions and my mental state was not good at all and my boss she
had her many mental problems as well

I understand JessicaWoman. I've heard of bosses such as yours.

This would depend on the circumstances; jobs that require physicality or quick reactions should set a retirement age.

> I understand JessicaWoman. I've heard of bosses such as yours.

And being retired is working out for me right now and having a roommate we both understand and think alike all the junk that has happened to us in her life and in my life it has just been a total disaster and one nightmare after the other
it is very difficult to cope with life
An incident just happened at the Church i have been going to will not go into details but one of the men from that Church he is the lowest piece of crap" and scumbag talk about judging me and condemming me he is headed for his
own pile of hell crap
Now i am filing a sexual harrassment against his ass and sexual assault because he grabbed my dress and touched
my breasts and he was telling me not to use the womens bathroom and calling me this name jeff jeff ??
Yes he was telling me to use the mens bathroom oh what a piece of crap he is he does not even know me ??

I will take this all the way to Court and sue the doges sue the crap out of them those holy rollers Jean

Yes my full legal name is Jessica Deanna Rose and F for female on all my documents go figure ??
he pissed me off and set off my panic attacks

I'm sorry about your incident at church, painful. I hope all works out well for you with the suit.

Certain occupations if tested... I guess

No. Force THIS!! How does that feel.

With today's economy, just hoping I'll still be working when I finally am ready to retire!!

No. If they can't hack it they can't hack it but if the person wants to work they should be allowed to continue working. I personally resent having to work but I put up with it out of necessity. I've got too much I need to do to work.

Never forced

No, but it's important that we protect the right of manual workers to retire at a reasonable age.