Non-Health Factors Could Drive Early Retirement

June 11, 2010 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Poor health is the top reason why workers decide to take early retirement, but factors such as high work pressure and low job satisfaction also play a role.

That was the conclusion of a new study in the June Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

The study found that added support and changes in leadership style might help to delay retirement of highly skilled older workers. Especially in industries with highly qualified technical jobs, companies need information on what factors may push valued older employees toward early retirement, as well as factors that can pull them toward staying on the job, researchers asserted.

The new study identifies health- and work-related factors leading to early retirement, along with factors that could help to keep valued older workers on the job. Sometimes that is as simple as a "pat on the back" to express appreciation, the study said. 

"Postponing early retirement could be facilitated by reducing workload, increasing social support from colleagues, appreciative and supportive leadership, and health promotion," the researchers write.

More information about obtaining the study is here.

Fred Schneyer
editors@plansponsor.com