38 years old. Contemplating retiring

You've been able to get pretty darn accurate based on a small fraction of what I've said. I can tell you are very good at what you do. I appreciate all the advice.

What's really funny is I've definitely prematurely painted rooms for something to do on a rainy Saturday in the hopes of being able to relax on the nice days, the problem is the nice days ends up being great for cleaning gutters for the next time it might rain.

Alarm is set for 5am, but I never need it.
I'm always up at 430 because the first couple hours in the office before anyone else arrives are the most productive.

Still don't know what I'll do, but appreciate all the great advice I've received since creating this thread.

 

I’m always in early because of the same reasons. It’s quiet, no distractions, and our crappy internet moves faster earlier in the day. I just bounce out early and no one says crap haha

 

Yeah...

Id bail out... like I did... after the schenanigans

 

Make sure your lawyer is very well versed in employment law - please. Since you are represented I’ll keep my two cents to myself but I see so many plaintiff’s employment lawyers that are just straight up terrible and they make my job so much easier. Honestly, go to dol.gov and read up on worker’s comp laws and then do the same for your state just so you will know if you hear something that doesn’t sound right. Best of luck to you and I’m sorry you’re having to go through this.

 

My wife is a Paralegal and the senior partners recommended this attny he is a Workers Comp and employment law specialist. I’ve had him involved for about a year now this is all he does. The whole deal just sucks. I hoped with it being a work injury they would have helped me some more in this regard but I guess their at their end. My restrictions make me unfit to perform my job. They already made a PPD payment and acknowledged the permanent disability. As a whole the company has been very supportive through all this and have done things for me even the attny hadn’t seen before.

 

Don't mistake my posts as advice, meant only so you recognize you're situation isn't unique (well, the saving 100% of your income isn't something I've ever run into before, so you got me on that one).

Part of what I do now is consult in business acquisitions as well as finance them. The first thing we do when we step onsite is identify you. Retaining you is key to the purchase and future success. Nearly every time we meet, you're in some stage of burnout. Typically (if you're not the owner) it's because management has delegated their responsibilities to you and a large portion of your co-worker's are happy to let you do their jobs as well. Without fail, you're in early/stay late to do your assigned job, because you have to do everyone else's during normal hours. You give your vacation days to co-workers or the company. Everything runs like a well oiled machine (for everyone else), right up to the day you walk in and quit.

Money isn't your motivating factor, nor is management or peer approval. It's a personal drive that can't be taught or learned. Runs much deeper than work ethic. We (either my wife and I or one of my partner's and his wife) almost always have dinner privately with you and your spouse because frankly, you don't share squat........... but your spouse does. They've heard exactly what the specific work issues are (often) and don't define sharing them as "bitching", especially to another spouse.

So, reread your original post. If you truly dislike the work (as opposed to the job), that's one thing. If you dislike what the job's become but still enjoy the work, that's another. The former, we'd tell the buyers there's a 90% chance you'll leave before or shortly after the acquisition. The latter, 90% chance you'll stay with responsibility changes. Rarely do we finance an acquisition when the key person can't be retained.

You'll be fine whatever you decide. And regardless, your house/car/yard and gutters will continue to be the envy of the neighborhood.

Best.

 

I am glad they have been trying to work with you and very sorry you are having all these issues. Best of luck to you,

 

Why not just get another job?

Don’t stay at a job you dislike. Its never worth the money or the stress.

Who says you can’t get a job better than what you have now while making more?

 

you're going to get BORED. Staying at home and not spending or taking up a big time consuming hobby will be difficult to say the least. I recommend you quit your job, take a month off and then after the month, start looking for part time jobs that you would ENJOY. Go from there.

 

What did you decide to do, OP?

 

Still working. Had a meeting with my boss shortly after I created this thread. Talked about a lot of things. We've restructured the workload so I'm able to take some time off and actually just took a week off. I circled a date on the calendar roughly 2 years from now and think I'll stop working at that point, but have spent lots of time contemplating a different line of work with zero responsibility instead. Don't know if that'll work for me or not.

 

If the job is bearable without added stress then keep doing it until it isn’t.

I retired from the Army 5 years ago, made a point not to have a job with subordinates. Ran the Directv warehouse for about three years. They restructured and my new boss was an ass hat. After dealing with a few passive aggressive encounters, told them I was done. Told them a few times I didn’t have to work, that I was choosing to.

Now I make the dinners and clean the house, lol. Play in the hobby wood shop or do something on the truck. It’s actually pretty nice.

Point being, you’re in a great situation if you can afford to retire when you want. Deal with what you feel is bearable. You can always find another job if you feel like it’s time to walk. That alone helps when dealing with the nonsense. You’ll know when it’s time to walk.

 

It's been a few months- thanks to everyone for the insight in this thread. I've been considering making a career change for quite some time. Even had a long discussion with someone who I trust very much at work about it. Like the OP, I have a date circled, but a bit further away (five years). I'll be secure at that time (gotta love pensions), and until then I'll just go through the motions knowing I'm not the only one who has these mid-late career doubts. I've built the career, now time to focus on the other stuff in life while I ride it out. Then I'll start trying out all sorts of jobs for fun, an experience, or the challenge. Retail during Christmas season? Selling Toyotas? Handyman?

 

OP: Look up F.I.R.E. Financially Independent Retire Early. There are current financial/business articles covering this subject.

 

So my story is I am 52 now and been with my current employer for 30 years. I really like about 90% of what I do but we have some serious A-holes who are new and feel they need to make their mark on the agency. The culture there is being destroyed and employee morale is as low as I’ve ever seen it. As it is I have a stress disorder and put that in top of my nonstop work ethic I’m on the verge of loosing it. I feel like Its time for me to walk/ retire but there are a lot of guys there who I really care about and they count on me. I’m one of the few surviving old timers who knows every corner and aspect of the agency. I’d hate the feeling of just giving up and bailing out on them. Basically I care sooo much about my job it’s at a fault. I let it control my life. Anyone have similar experiences and any opinions?

 

Just pulled the trigger today and sent “the email”. I gave them 1 months notice and most said that was quite kind of me. It was really scary but definitely a weight lifted after I hit the send button. We’ll see what the next chapter brings, but I couldn’t stay onboard that sinking ship. I gave it my all for 30 years and I’m sure by not taking it easy occasionally it took a few years out of me.

 

Best of luck. What did they reply back with?

 

One of the HR ladies basically said congratulations and a few days later my dept manager replied with the same followed by me needing to meet with him to basically return all of the company property I have- computer ect. No problem at all I certainly don’t want that crap. Morale is really bad right now and I think management is not telling anyone as they think that might make things worse for them. I haven’t even seen my job get posted yet and because there is so much accountability in my position they’d want it filled yesterday. All in all I think they’re happy I’m leaving so they can get a fresh perspective and someone who will agree with everything they say.