Appearing on the front page of News Ltd’s papers nationally a few weeks ago was an article on the increasing numbers of Australians over age 65 remaining in the workforce.
The headline read “Over-65’s too broke to quit workforce”.
Does this include Rupert Murdoch and his many multi-millionaire peers who choose to work well into their 80’s? Too broke?
I know sub-editors and their choice of headlines are soft targets for criticism (and it does reflect the tone of the article), but why not :-
“Over 65’s too engaged to quit workforce”
or too excited about their work, or too eager to contribute or just too young!
Without knowing the chronological age of the journalist, Gemma Jones, it is fair to assume her reasons for working are still largely financial.
As workers achieve more financial comfort as they pass beyond the lifestages of mortgages, school fees, and often the expensive instant gratification of keeping up with the Joneses, the financial imperative to work is replaced by other needs. These needs include the feeling of self-worth that comes from performing a worthwhile task well, of utilising business skills and life experiences to assist others, to make a contribution or give something back. Or just doing what is normal – working for a living.
When 65 was arbitrarily selected as retirement age, only 54% of men and 61% of women lived that long. It was understood that you worked up to 65, and then for the half that made that age, there followed a short stay in God’s waiting room.
Work is what we do. It’s a significant part of what makes us who we are.
If you work only for financial reward – if work is a drudgery that can’t end quickly enough – don’t stop working as soon as your finances permit, change the work you do – NOW!
If you can’t fire yourself with enthusiasm, fire yourself with enthusiasm.