Butterfield seniors urged to weigh up retirement offer
By Marina Mello
Age Concern yesterday warned seniors to weigh Butterfield Bank’s voluntary retirement offer fully before accepting it.
James McCulloch, co-chair of the group’s Advocacy Committee, said the offer may suit some seniors, but not others.
And he commended the bank for saying that it would be allowing the retirees to remain as members of its health insurance plan.
The Bank has asked 46 employees to consider voluntary early retirement. All the employees targeted for possible early retirement were aged between 60 to 65.
“The offer by Butterfield Bank may well be attractive to several of the selected senior employees,” Mr McCulloch said.
“Previous experience, both in Bermuda and around the world, indicates that successful outcomes from voluntary early retirement are more common where the employees are nearer to their normal retirement ages. This appears to be the case here where the relevant employees are aged between 60 and 65 years.
“However, all employees have different attitudes to work and security, and varying financial and health needs.”
Mr McCulloch said questions the employees affected should consider include: Are they happy in their work?, is their mortgage paid off yet?, will any pre-existing health conditions be covered in future if they accept this offer?, and do they have plans for post-employment activities which can be brought forward?
He suggested that all the employees offered the retirement packages should get independent financial and personal advice before making a decision.
“Perhaps the bank would pay for this,” he said. “Providing such advice would improve both the take-up rate and the likelihood of future success for the individual.
“The danger of finding themselves regretting this move in future will mostly depend upon the employees’ need for future employment so as to maintain their standard of living or financial security.
“Jobs of all kinds, both full and part-time, are difficult to find these days especially for someone in their sixties. So if you will be dependant upon future employment outside the bank then our advice would tend be to stay in your present employment unless you have a guaranteed position lined up.”