Working Past Retirement - Sample

The loneliness epidemic among the elderly is a major concern, not least because retirees undoubtedly deserve to enjoy their days after a lifetime of hard work. Thus, there is a proposal that we should encourage people to work past the retirement age. This essay will argue that this is a beneficial idea in general, albeit with some caveats.

First and foremost, working is a great way to meet people and form new relationships. As people get older, they also get lonelier, and this is having a detrimental effect on their mental and physical well-being. Most alarmingly, neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, are on the rise, devastating the final years of people’s lives. However, studies have demonstrated a significant slowdown of such diseases through simple and achievable actions, such as being active and fostering social ties. In this regard, the continuation of work is an obvious opportunity. Having a job keeps the elderly active, both mentally and physically, and provides chances of meeting new people and engaging in daily conversations, thereby staving off or at least alleviating common issues associated with old age. Thus, we should facilitate working past retirement age, if there is a desire to do so.

At a societal level, the potential to add new laborers to the workforce can be instrumental. When retirees leave companies, we often lose much of their experience and expertise that have been built up over the years. Retaining or inviting them back to work can therefore be a boost to organizational efficiency and a reduction of brain drain. Additionally, many developed countries are suffering from labor shortages due to aging populations. As such, having elderly people continue their careers can be a stop-gap measure that lessens the burden for younger generations and improves both the quantity and quality of labor. Clearly, on a larger scale, enabling people to work can have a substantial positive effect for both individuals and society.

However, we should always keep in mind that the choice to work or retire should belong to individuals. Although many detest the emptiness and lack of meaning in their twilight years, many others are perfectly content to enjoy a leisurely and relaxing life after their careers are over. Hence, we have to recognize as unrealistic the expectation that all retirees should go back to work, or that current employees should stay at their jobs for longer for the benefit of companies or other people. Ultimately, After a lifetime of work, people of retirement age deserve a say in how they spend their days.

In conclusion, there are definitive benefits to be had for encouraging working in old age, for older people, companies, and society. However, it should stay as encouragement for the sake of the elderly, not an obligation, out of respect for individual freedom.

(465 words, band ~8)