I introduced myself years back, but I didn't know which sub-forum to post this question. If the admin needs to move it, I thank you in advance.
I turned 63 in January. First child is now out of college with a good job (just got promoted yesterday, as a matter of fact) and he's still living at home. (Fine with us; muliti-generational households have upsides for all parties and are making a comeback.) Second child has one more year of college, and those monies are planned for. He will definitely not return to the nest, LOL. He's a mover and shaker with big dreams! My wife works for the school district; she's 56 1/2. Her job is in question these days due to some unbelievable district admin decisions. It's a year-by-year thing with her (or the district's) decision to stay or leave. We can afford to retire tomorrow if we had to: 2.2 mil in investments, paid off house worth 550k. No debt. Planning on my SS at age 70 ($4k a month).
I am so burned out from work after 23 years with this company!!! I just want it to end. I have turned over many of my duties to my two direct reports. I do feel like I have been marginalized. Not overt ageism; just that my time in the sun in the company is over and people see my lower performance. I'm honestly fine with that. I really do want to hand it off to the younger crowd. Problem is my wife wants me to try to make it to Spring 2025 to exit my job; mainly for her own sense of security. It's true we have "enough" now. We could both exit tomorrow, but her (frankly traumatized) background will never let her sit completely at ease with me retiring (ever). I realize now I have to make the executive decision for when I depart my job and then ask for her forgiveness later. In all other aspects, our marriage is fantastic and we love each other deeply. Been married 27 years!
Finally, my question: My company does not regularly get rid of people through RIFs and I don't see one coming anytime soon. 6 months ago I told my manager that if there were layoffs to please put me at the top of the list. She was little surprised that I would say such a thing. "Really? You want to retire?" "Yes," I said. "I would like at least 10 years of not working before I die. Longevity does not run in my family." She did say that when people who have worked for a company a long time want to retire, she tries to give them a "package" over and above just their last paycheck, as you would get if you just normally "quit". But I'm not sure at all if her "package" aligns at all with my wish list below!
I've been concocting this plan in my mind that I want to present her (my boss) around July. Basically my great idea is to tell her that I want to leave at the end of 2024. And here is my wish list:
- 23 weeks of pay to be paid to me upon retirement (1 week of pay for each year worked for the company)
- Continued healthcare through the end of June 2025, during which time I would pay my normal medical plan contribution out of my "severence" payment and the company would continue their contribution. My wife's medical enrollment is always in May, and the effective date is July 1. So I could hop to her plan in that time frame.
The above is all I would ask of the company.
So my real question is: Is this a weird thing to ask/negotiate with manager? Is my wish list unreasonable? Has anyone here every done this before, and with success? i.e., Negotiated a departure when the company is NOT laying off people? I'll be clear. I am NOT in the C-Suite. I'm just a mid-level manager.
It's all I think about. So much so that I just want on lay all my cards on the table to my boss. I'm sick of the work, sick of managing people (I am ultimately responsible for a team of 25 people, and I touch base with each of them at least once a month). I want her (my boss) to help me leave the company with a little dignity and, honestly, on my own terms. My formal proposal (that I've written up) also shows how they could hire two new people for my department using my old salary.
I guess you get the point. I'm rambling. Any help?