Tampabay: Older workers reject retirement

Charlie Short will turn 65 in seven years. He and his son run Big Tires and More in Pinellas Park and are expanding to Pasco County. Unless the stock market totally disappears, he should enjoy enough financial comfort to retire.

But Short figures he will only "semi-retire," working 30 hours a week, instead of the 65 or 70 he puts in now. And he'll take long weekends and monthlong vacations.

"I've always wanted to go on an Alaskan cruise," Short says. "I could play golf when I want to play golf."

But quit work altogether? Not a chance.

"I don't call it work. I enjoy working. I saw too many men of my Dad's generation who quit working and just died."

Short is solidly typical. According to a national AARP survey released today, more than two-thirds of people over 45 are planning to work in some capacity during their retirement years.

Many plan to work part time because they need the money. Others figure they will change careers or start their own businesses. Many simply treasure work for work's sake. It gives them purpose and the social satisfaction of consorting with colleagues.

"I would have to do something," said Tampa resident Don Fiset, a 60-year-old software developer at Raymond James. "The routine of playing golf two or three times a week would be fun. But it would get monotonous. You have to have some adventure in your life. Something where you don't know what is going to happen every day."

Such sentiments couldn't come at a better time.

Pension funds and stock portfolios are in rapid retreat. The Social Security system, originally designed to keep people afloat for four or five years, now subsidizes 15 and 20 year retirements.

Besides, the economy needs baby boomers to stay at work. Now ages 38 to 56, they will hold the key to the nation's economic productivity for decades to come. If they quit working, there aren't enough younger workers to replace them and economic chaos would result.

"About 13 percent of the labor force is 55 and older. In 13 years, 20 percent of the workforce will be," said John Rother, AARP's policy director. "It's incredibly important what decisions employers and employees make in regard to keeping people in the workforce, adapting to their wants and needs."

The service sector, with its four- and five-hour shifts, already benefits from older workers, as almost any Wal-Mart or McDonald's can demonstrate. Short and his son soon will open a convenience store and gas station in Pasco County and plan to staff it largely with residents of a nearby mobile home park.

"I prefer a retired person who is concerned about the job as opposed to a 19-year-old saying 'I got the sniffles and I won't be coming into work today,' " Short said.

According to the survey, this is what older workers want: Flexibility in their hours. Ongoing training. Respect.

As it did last year, AARP named what it considers the nation's top 15 employers for workers over 50.

No. 1 was Baptist Health South Florida, a five-hospital, 8,700-employee consortium based in Miami-Dade County.

Along with public school systems, the health care industry faces labor shortages that other sectors of the economy won't start feeling until baby boomers reach retirement age. Qualified nurses and aides have been at premium for years, so Baptist Health is trying to recruit and retain older workers.

Employees with 20 years' experience get seven weeks of vacation time. People can work two or three days a week and even draw a pension while doing it. Workers who retire, then come back within five years, retain their seniority standing for vacation and other benefits. Workers of all ages qualify for paid training into higher-paying jobs.

"Our turnover rate is one-half the industry average," said Carl Gustafson, a Baptist Health vice president. "We have found that if we are taking care of the caregivers, then the caregivers are able to spend their time thinking of the patients."

Emergency room nurse Mildred LaPerche, 81, retired 13 years ago.

"I couldn't wait for the freedom of staying in bed and not having anything to do," she said. "It was the biggest mistake of my life. I missed the stress of work. I missed the thinking. I missed my colleagues. I thought I could be of more value, given the experience I had and the wisdom I have."

She returned to work full time, then cut back to four days a week.

"My husband says I will probably die in the emergency room. I say how convenient."