More Americans Are Leaving The Work Force

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Tuesday, February 17, 2004 | JON E. HILSENRATH

[Phantom Lord]

Thursday will be my fathers last day at IBM. After 38.5 years with IBM he is finally retiring. He will be turning 56 on Easter.

Ask him his plans... Drink, golf, party, hang out with new grandson, and open a bar.

[dakine]

I'm jealous...

[xrp]

Also, our income tax punishes productivity. Why bother to work too hard???

[Phantom Lord]

I always preferred closing bars.

We were supposed to play golf Saturday morning but upon arrival at the course it started raining too heavy. So my father and I went to a bar for a couple beers. It was 10:30 and we were the only ones there. The bar tender said "drinking kinda early aren't ya?" I responded, "your open aren't ya."

[agrarianlady]

Does this article overlook those who wish to be stay-at-home Mothers?

[Dead Dog]

Man, that brings a tear to my eye. It's beautiful. It's the American Dream.

[oceanview]

the point of the article with respect to your comment is more like: what bother to work too hard AT A LOW PAYING SERVICE JOB.

[oceanview]

and its gone now. current young and even middle aged workers aren't going to be able to do this, as pension and retiree benefit plans are run through the shredder.

[Moleman]

Good for your Dad, I wish him well.

[KC_for_Freedom]

Yup, I'm retired, the comapny is looking for replacements with engineering degrees and citizenship. Its those computers I tell ya, thay make it possible for a single worker to do the work of many workers a few years ago. The economy is growing and we are using fewer workers,

I think more people who are out of work should open a bar. Better still, open a bar in a trailer park.

[Moleman]

The American Dream...and its gone now. current young and even middle aged workers aren't going to be able to do this, as pension and retiree benefit plans are run through the shredder.

Sad but WELL WORTH REPEATING.

[mosel-saar-ruwer]

After 38.5 years with IBM he is finally retiring. He will be turning 56 on Easter.

According to my abacus, 56 - 38.5 = 17.5.

You sure you got your numbers right?

[Phantom Lord]

I am positive I have my numbers right. He was a senior in high school when he started with IBM. And when he went to UB to get his MBA, though not working at IBM the years counted as employment as he was on their educational advancement program deal.

[Dead Dog]

If they are my age (33) and haven't figured out that corporate pensions are a joke, you're are probably right. If they aren't concentrating on building family wealth, they are screwing themselves.

[grellis]

The common denominator for many is that the slow-growing job market is forcing them to change.

...but doesn't it say that Ms Parker CHOSE the buyout package?

My dad, when working a low-level managerial job at Ford, was faced with something similar during the "gas crisis" 1970s: take a 15% wage decrease along with the additional responsibilities of a managerial position which no longer existed. Basically, do two jobs for the price of less than one. His other alternative was a buyout, two months severance, yadda yadda. With six kids to feed he continued to work. When he retired from Ford fifteen years later he was a divisional vice president. No one forced him to do anything.

[freekitty]

Can anyone say Walmart?