Millions of Poles have no retirement plan. According to the latest Human Capital Balance survey, 20-30% of people do not know when they will stop working, and the problem also affects those approaching retirement age. This is a crucial decision, as its timing directly impacts the future pension amount.
The lack of clear retirement plans is not limited to younger workers. Uncertainty persists even among employees just before reaching retirement age. Among men aged 60-64, 17% do not know when they will end their professional activity, while among women aged 50-59, the figure stands at 21%. The data shows that retirement decisions in Poland are often a reaction to reaching the statutory retirement age rather than a part of long-term financial and career planning.
The importance of conscious planning is well illustrated by the ongoing season of July pension applications. July has long been one of the most popular months for retiring, as the indexation of contributions allows many people to obtain a higher benefit than if they applied in June. This shows that the moment of ending professional activity can have measurable financial consequences.
A process, not an event
– The moment of retirement is still treated by many Poles as an event, not a process requiring earlier preparation. Yet the decision to end professional activity has financial, professional, and social consequences, so it is worth preparing for it well in advance – said Prof. Jolanta Perek-Białas from the Center for Evaluation and Analysis of Public Policies at the Jagiellonian University.
The decision to continue working after reaching retirement age depends primarily on professional and economic circumstances. People with higher education, running their own business, or holding managerial positions more often declare a desire to delay retirement. The Human Capital Balance analysis also indicates that gender and general health are not among the most important factors influencing the decision to extend professional activity. Working conditions and the work environment play a much greater role.
Bridging the information gap
– A deficit of information about employers’ expectations of employees approaching retirement age can hinder workers’ planning of further career steps. Age management should not start on the day of reaching retirement age. Conversations about the further career path should be held earlier so that the employee has time to consciously plan the next stages of professional activity – said Anna Tarnawa, head of the Center for Analysis and Strategy at the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP).
Research shows that in the first years after reaching retirement age, 26% of women aged 60-64 and 17% of men aged 65-69 combine work with drawing a pension. The motivations for staying on the labor market are varied. For men, the most important factor is the amount of the future pension, while women more often mention the need for contact with people and a sense of meaningful use of time. The results show that retirement is increasingly becoming a stage that can be combined with continued professional activity.
The survey also reveals that retirement does not mean social passivity. Although most respondents perceive it as a well-deserved rest, nearly 80% of those surveyed declare they still feel needed by others.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Shutterstock/Dziurek
