Were you forced into retirement?

No I volunteered, but was close to retirement age, we had what was called RIF's - reduction in force. I was having health issues and hoped for a chance. I was 64. because of the rules they wouldn't tell me until the day before. They gave a nice severance package if you volunteered. 26 weeks along with all unused vacation time paid upfront. The RIFs had been going on for 20 years about ever 6 months. They have changed hands several times since.
 

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Not forced or intended to retire.
I became exhausted visiting mom in the hospital, and working a 3rd shift schedule. I couldn't do it anymore, so I gave my 2-wk notice, with intentions of finding a job elsewhere. After doing a catch-up sleep for 2-wks, I started with mom's doc appts again. Six months went by, mom was healing, I was recovering from the 3rd shift schedule, but I needed money, so I signed up for SS. After that I got too lazy to go back to work again. Thus started my unintentional retirement.
 
No, not "forced"! But I was left with no good options...

I was hired to run a very large global electronics company distribution center used to procure and distribute all service parts relating to their products. It was purposely placed in the center of the USA to minimize the time customers waited for repairs. All parts were shipped overnight express to minimize downtime for the customers. The distribution center was also placed very close to the airport, again to facilitate a quick turnaround on all service parts. I was hired to replace the GM who had started the DC as he had an opportunity to run a larger finished goods DC.

Ten years went by very quickly when this company had some guy in Japan decide that consolidating the service parts inventory with finished goods inventory made sense. It sounded good but this was a big mistake! The major cost of service parts inventory is freight costs because you usually shipped one piece at a time. Service parts seldom went where finished goods were shipped it just did not make sense. Nothing material was gained by combining the inventories, but freight costs sky rocketed. No matter to me, as I had no options but to retire...
 
The company I worked for --- 25 years, closed my location. I transferred to Wisconsin and then to Colorado, but I did not find a good fit - so I retired from the company. Now I work with my husband, we have a small shower door business.

So, yes - I was somewhat forced... If they had not closed down and I could have kept my job - I would have stayed until around 65. I'm blessed to have an option that isn't too bad, and a lot less stressful. Best thing that ever happened to me, no ... but it could have been worse.
 
I don't think I posted in this thread yet... Anyhow I was forced into it because of disability. It was either file for it or end up homeless with nothing. I'm not doing terribly income wise but have very limited funds.
 
In 1995 the corporation I worked for was down sizing management & the blue collar work force.

We [my wife & I] planned for my early retirement at age 55. If being offered a retirement plan that included a great pension, health care until Medicare kicked in, HSA account after Medicare kicked in, severance & a 250k life insurance policy if I accepted & signed a contract to retire at age 54.

Then yes they forced me to retire 30 years ago.
 
I retired myself age 60, moved across the country then un-retired myself at 62. I've now gone down to a three-day week which is a good balance. I will probably retire next year when I'll be 65 - at which age I would have got my state pension, only they've increased the age to 67.
 
change of govt caused a review of govt health expenditure as well as other stuff, the entire alcohol and drug services [at that time offering statewide services] were decimated - by liberal [Tory]govt

I could move to any other govt dept into vacancy with no new skills reqd - just learn it as you go or take a years salary gift - I got out and went into private business but it was never the same - you lose that tight knit comeradeship, who promise to keep in touch and never do
 

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