Retire Young and Work Old - Vote For a Gap Year for the Over 50s Worker

At 50 years of age many workers have already chalked up 30 years of toil. Instead of gazing down the long tunnel of their remaining work years with little chance of relief, let's make it possible for workers to take a year off and enjoy life while their health is good and they have the energy to do so.

It is time to start a dialogue with government and employer organizations about the positive impact the concept of a fully funded gap year will have on the attitude and commitment of the workforce.

After years in the same job, many mature employees have lost their energy and enthusiasm. They may become negative. This has a detrimental impact on their colleagues and on productivity. They may start to suffer from work-related depression and absenteeism increases.

Do you think that this situation would change dramatically if the opportunity is available to take a year off work with no penalty?

With high unemployment levels for the mature worker, there is little or no incentive to simply leave a job and take a chance on finding work when they are ready to return to the workforce. Financial security is important to many people and few have access to the funds needed to support themselves for a year. In Australia, superannuation funds can be accessed by early retirees once they have reached the age of 55 years. These funds can only be accessed if the person has left permanent employment and will not be engaged in part-time employment for more than 12 hours a week.

I propose a solution:

Many workers have retirement funds accruing through mandatory employer funded superannuation schemes.Allow workers over 50 years of age to access the equivalent of one year's salary from that fund when they choose to take their gap year.A year of leave should be available to all workers over 50 years with no penalty in the workplace. Their job will be there for them when they return.The year of leave can be taken at any time over the age of 50 years.

By enabling this process I believe there will be benefits to all involved:

Employers gain energetic and positive employees who can plan a sabbatical and experience some of their dreams without financial worriesEmployees will return to the workforce energized and sharpened by their experiencesOR NOT - some may choose to make a complete change to their lifestyle after having the opportunity to explore alternatives during their year off.

This process can be a WIN for all concerned. So let's start this dialogue with friends, employers and government. The workforce needs an injection of optimism and I believe this is the way to achieve it.

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