I agree with the advice to essentially lie. Tell them 5 years, leave after two.
First of all, there’s nothing wrong with them asking you when you plan to retire. They have to run a business which includes preparing for your eventual successor. It’s not discrimination unless they are treating you worse than others because of your age. If they pester you over and over for an answer, that could be a different story.
Secondly, there’s no reason to lie. You can say “I haven’t decided” or “I’ll let you know when I do.” If you do know for a fact when you want to retire, whether in six months or five years, I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to let them know.
Thirdly, unless you signed something that says otherwise, and probably even then, you don’t have to give them a year’s notice. You could give them no notice at all. But that’s a pretty dick move and I don’t know why you would feel the need to screw them over for no good reason.
This.
IME of small business owners, particular 2nd generation, reality is often a hard, cold, bitchslap in the face.
They suddenly realized that they’re going to have to replace the people who’ve been keeping things running and they freaked out.
Would they like you to give them a year’s notice so that you’d have time to train someone personally in all the details of your job? I’m sure they would.
Are you required to? No.
Are you required to tell them your plans or be honest with them? No.
I’d bet if your original boss had asked this of you (probably more appropriately), you wouldn’t have had a problem with it. I’ve seen lots of long-term employees give notice of retirement way in advance, so that the company had plenty of time to find someone and make a smooth transition.
I’d probably answer something generic like “oh, I don’t know, I’ve got a few good years left in me, I’ll let you know when I decide.” If they push on it, feel free to tell them whatever you think they want to hear.
As far as notice - hell, you’re retiring, you don’t even have to worry about getting a reference. As long as you have all of your legal ducks in a row (any employment contracts, pension issues, etc.), you don’t have to give notice at all. Just don’t show up one day, if that will make you happy. It’d be a complete asshole move, but there’s really nothing stopping you.
Thank you for posting this. Their motives are no more sinister than wanting to make sure that your replacement is properly trained, which apparently takes a year. They’re not trying to screw you over.
I like the lying idea. Sorry, if you read my opening post, I despise these 2 new bosses and owe them nothing at all. I live in a right to work state (US) so no contract, fire at will etc. And fully vested in 401k. And he asked again today in a funny haha way.
Why lie, when you can just say you don’t know? That’s the truth, even if you really think you do know. Things change, and no one really knows when he’s going to retire until he does.
Technically it wouldn’t be a lie because it’s a plan, and you’re being asked to project your plans out 2 to 5 years. Who knows - if markets tank, you could need to work for 5 more years, not 2.
Given the realities of the world you may decide out of boredom or need you want to get another job at some point after retiring, or you might like to come back to the current job at a higher salary as a consultant or freelance hire. A solid recommendation from your last long term job would be a big deal on your resume. If the new potential employer calls and discovers they feel you are a real SOB who left them in the lurch on short notice it might not be to your benefit.
You seem determined to leave in the least satisfactory way possible to the current bosses in order to satisfy your contempt for them. While this may give you short term satisfaction you need to look at the big picture. While a year’s notice a is bit much would it kill you to give them 6 months or so notice?
Being petty and unprofessional in leaving has little long term benefit for you. If you leave on good terms, which does not seem to require much effort on your part, things will probably work out better for you in the long run.
If they want a year’s notice then it should be on the basis of a contract where each party has requirements and there are penalties and bonuses for fulfilling them. For example you don’t want the situation where you give them a year’s notice; they immediately find a replacement and lay you off a couple months later. And you might be much more interested if they were to pay you a substantial cash bonus for giving this notice.
The OP says a couple of things: “I like the idea of lying to them”, “I don’t owe them [employers] squat”.
Anyone else figure that if it is true his employers want to get rid of him that it’s no wonder?
Good heavens, Frank, YOU would respect the 2 I’ve described?
I think 20+ years proves my worthiness as an employee; my problem is simply that I don’t trust nor respect the new bosses. Definitely NOT the “same as the old boss.”
I’m with astro. I think the most important concept you can impart to them is that you won’t leave without plenty of notice, you love your job, you love the company, you love the owner, and have no desire to leave them in a jam by giving insufficient notice. It does you no good to do otherwise.
I know someone dealing with a 401k rollover issue which her ex-boss needs to fix. She wants to file her taxes now with the IRS, which will bring up red flags pointing to the ex-boss if said ex-boss doesn’t do the right paperwork. I think I’ve convinced her to wait and give her ex-boss the benefit of the doubt. Bottom line–you never know if you’ll need the bridge, so why burn it?
OP asks: "Good heavens, Frank, YOU would respect the 2 I’ve described? "
Why should I believe you? You are a disgruntled employer who has plainly stated “I like the idea of lying”
Further, your real issue here is that your employer asked you when you plan to retire. In response you ask “Should I sue?”. Doesn’t do a lot for your credibility.
So whether I respect the 2 people I have had no contact with really isn’t the question is it?
Can you learn how to quote already? It’s not hard.
Slight hijack: Frank, you can put someone’s quote in a quote box with this formatting: {quote}the quoted text{/quote}, but using square brackets instead.
/hijack
In fact, it’s easier than what he’s doing.
ETA response to tdn: or just click the button that says “Quote”.
There are two, in fact. Three ways to do it.
Let me get this right? No of you folks that commented on my post understood that this: OP asks: "Good heavens, Frank, YOU would respect the 2 I’ve described? " was a quote from an earlier post?
You were confused?
Look, if I wanted to use the quote function, i would. I tell you, it is really seeming like you folks are a bunch of jerks about this quote thing.
As a proudly displayed greeting card at my place states “Conformity. Serving thousands of boring people everyday”
that’s another quote. As I’ve said to others - if looking at or reading my posts is too difficcult or too annoying for you, there is a very simple solution.
Stop telling me to write the way you want! Who the hell do you think you are? And all these smarmy comments i.e., “can you learn how to quote already?”
You must be a half-wit - what I have done is quote already - just not the way you do. If you can explain why 'Joe says colon quotation mark quote end quotation mark is not a quote, I’ll listen - until then shut up already. Can you learn to do that?
Lucky for us, you don’t quote anything properly. So we don’t know who you’re calling stupid and telling to shut up.
Dial back the outrage and stop calling names in this forum. Use the BBQ Pit for that if you want to do it.
Cut out this kind of posting in any other forum or you may be subject to warnings.