Standingstones
Celestial
I’ve always wondered about those people who are forced to work well into their 70s and beyond. I have known many people who worked at the phone company and never put a nickel aside for retirement. They finally got to 65 and had to continue working because Social Security money alone wouldn’t cut it. We made decent money at Verizon. To not put money back for old age was almost criminal.He is being responsible, I wasn't being clear. As soon as he felt sick he stayed out, isolated and went for testing. I heard about it yesterday afternoon because he called in. There have been two other people that I know who work there since April who are confirmed to have had it, got over it, got tested and came back. One was about 40, the other 67. Probably more I don't know about.
I'll find out Tuesday what the story with this poor guy is unless somebody calls me before then.
All FT employees over 65 were given 8 paid weeks to do with as they pleased. A sensible few left and didn't come back. He chose to go out just a couple of weeks. Says it's financial pressure. I have had several conversations with him and with the 79 year old man I regularly work alongside. Short answer - they're just in too deep and have too little going on elsewhere. Giving up their jobs is more of an existential threat than the virus, to them anyway.
That issue is a separate conversation - those who devote themselves to something at the expense of all else. Easy to fall into that trap sometimes and age is only a part of it.
One design engineer I knew spent every penny of his check each week. When Verizon started cutting back on management types he was out on the street looking at unemployment checks. I believe he had to move in with his elderly mother to get by. I bet she was glad to have her irresponsible son back home. At that time unemployment benefits lasted 6 months. In PA you received 40% of your gross pay.
What are all those people who lost their jobs from COVID going to do in the future? I think I read that there is 10% unemployment in the country now. It isn’t easy to just go out and find another job in your particular field. I guess these are some things I have been pondering the past few months.