Sarah James doesn’t have to worry about finding a carpool partner.
The 65-year-old from Long Island, N.Y., rides three days a week with
her granddaughter to a nearby warehouse store, where they both have
regular shifts. Like many baby boomers, James says she continues
to work for the spending money and because she wants an activity
that forces her to leave the house. Her granddaughter, Ashley Carroll,
is a 19-year-old college student who uses her paychecks for tuition
and spending money.
“Having her grandmother around is an added perk, I’d
like to think,” James said. “We get along great, so
it works out just fine.”
Their work situation is rare but it’s also one that’s
likely to be duplicated as more and more grandparents opt to remain
in the workforce. Baby boomers in numerous countries are staying
on the job for a variety of reasons. Many simply don’t want
to retire, while others have seen their asset values deflate because
of the current global economic downturn and need to work to maintain
their lifestyles.
In response to the needs of the large number of employed baby
boomers in its economy, the Australian government recently passed
a legislation that would allow grandparents at some firms to take
up to a full year of unpaid leave to help tend to their grandchildren.
Meanwhile, the European Union wants companies to adopt practices
aimed at reducing ageism in the workplace. In one American state,
there is such a position as “policy adviser on aging”.
Not surprisingly, that state is Arizona, where 1.6 million of
America’s 77 million baby boomers reside, according to the
U.S. Census Bureau. The Cactus State is a favorite spot for retirees
because of its arid climate and recreational activities. By 2020,
a quarter of Arizona’s residents are forecasted to be older
than 60, according to Melanie Starns, who helps devise policies
on aging for governor Janet Napolitano.
"I see boomers being much more active, much longer, but really
having a sense of balance and control,” Starns said. “They're
saying, ‘I get to call the shots for myself now.’ They
may not have the financial luxury to play golf all day and watch
the grandkids. . . . But they know what they want out of life,
so they aren't going to waste time with things that don't meet
their needs."
For a growing population of 60-something-year-olds those needs
involve community and education. Grandparents are filling positions
that fuel their interests, according to the Center for Productive
Longevity. That non-profit organization says more than 70 percent
of baby boomers will continue working beyond their retirement age.
In fact, the organization is run by a notable octogenarian, William
Zinke, an 80-year-old who spent more than four decades at the head
his own human resources firm.
"We need to change the way we think about retirement,'' Zinke
recently told the Washington Post.
Grandparents Contribute In Many Ways
Whether it’s various associations for retired persons or
large businesses, many observers contend the benefits of having
grandparents in the office are real. Some analysts even believe
keeping them working is crucial to the health of the economy. "I
think there will be significant accommodations and incentives to
get people to stay and work longer, and not lose that human capital,''
said Richard Suzman of the National Institute on Aging, a government
research agency.
Still, there are many who feel they can’t retire. Healthcare
costs continue to escalate while the housing and stock markets
have contracted dramatically in the past six months. Add to the
fact that the human life span is expected to exceed that of previous
generations and it becomes clear more money is necessary to sustain
each individual life.
"People are living longer, and the extra years of life, which
I think have been one of the crowning achievements of the last
century, have to be financed somehow,'' Suzman said.
That means people like Sarah James will continue to join their
grandchildren in the workforce, a prospect that’s not without
its appeal. “I don’t want to work until I drop,” James
said, “but I’m not ready to call it a day yet either.”
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