I have been retired for three weeks. So far it is strange but I can say it definitely does not suck…
Where I work, everyone who leaves the company for any reason shows as terminated, but the HR systems have sub-codes like retirement, deceased, terminated for cause, voluntary separation, etc. Presumably Boeing has similar internal coding.
Hey! I object to that remark. The term is “slimy shopper” if you don’t mind. And it’s not true that we’ll do any job, no matter how disgusting. Well, unless there’s per diem and overtime.
pullin – former job shopper at Boeing. 
Yea, we call them “double-dippers.” Lots of corruption involved in that practice.
How so? From what I’ve seen in state government service, the retiree’s position is eliminated upon their retirement due to a push to cut spending, then supervisors find the work they did was essential and only they knew how to do it. So the retiree is begged to come back as a “locums” or “limited term” employee (the money comes from a different pocket for that so it still looks like the gummint is cutting jobs) and gets paid more but without other benefits.
It’s a stupid and short-sighted way to operate on the state’s side of things but when mandated by the legislature to cut those jobs, it’s the only way to keep the business running. I don’t see the corruption part you mention in the system I’m familiar with.
The key difference between “double-dippers” and contractors is retirement payments. Governments in particular are really loathe to add to their retirement obligations. (one issue is that many Government retirements are based on the highest salaries and a new double-dipper is lured back with a great paycheck). Hence the aversion to someone getting a second government job. A contractor doesn’t add to the retirement burden. And you can terminate a contractor by simply not renewing the contract. Much simpler. Getting a second Government job (my definition of a double-dipper) is not a popular thing-except to the employee of course. So it isn’t even have to be a corrupt hire to be unpopular with existing employees and management.
Congratulations on retirement, and I’m glad you’re loving it! But even more than that, thank you so much for all you did for passenger safety. It doesn’t sound like you got the proper appreciation from Boeing upon retirement, but TPTB aren’t as important as us passengers, right?