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Brett Favre - Poster Child for "Un-retirement." Will Boomers Do the Same? follow this blog post

posted by on Aug. 31, 2009

by Sue Danbom

Brett Favre joined the Minnesota Vikings.  He plays tonight.  Talk about fickle!  Why can't he make up his mind? 

  • Retire? Dec. 31, 2006: As a Green Bay Packer: "If today's my last game," he said, "I want to remember it. It's tough. I'll miss these guys, I'll miss this game."
  • Un-retire? Feb. 2, 2007:Favre commits to playing a 17th season with the Packers. "I am so excited about coming back!"
  • Retire? Mar. 4, 2008:Saying he hasn't got "anything left to give," Favre announces his retirement from the Packers.
  • Un-retire? Aug. 7, 2008:After Favre formally un-retires and arrives in Green Bay, the Packers trade him to the New York Jets, who make him their starting quarterback. He plays one season as a Jet.
  • .Retire? Feb. 13, 2009:Favre tells ESPN "there's no way" he'll play in another NFL game. He retires from the Jets.
  • Un-retire? Aug. 18, 2009:Favre reverses his decision and joins the Vikings. He says he wants to bring a championship to Minnesota.

Until the "Great Recession", the prediction was that there would be a fierce "war for talent."  Many contend the sheer numbers of the Boomers retiring and smaller number of Gen Xer's stepping up will cause a talent shortage when the economy turns around. 

But will the Boomers retire in the numbers that were once predicted?  With retirement portfolios and home equities sliced, how many Boomers feel comfortable about retiring?  How long can they sustain themselves on decimated retirement funds?  And Boomers' sense of worth has always been tied to their work and contributions.  What will they do if they retire?  Like Favre, will they have second (and third and fourth) thoughts after they leave the workforce?  Are they willing to consult or work a reduced/flexible schedule to un-retire?

What do you predict will happen? 

baby boomers generations talent
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5 comments

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  • 1 point 2 months ago

    @Warren - The Pew Study was fascinating.  Satisfaction survey in particular flies against what I've read recently. When you think about it, Pew's sample is more representative than Careerbuilder Survey - where all are looking to make a change.  Thanks for sharing.

    @Ira - Thanks for your generous offer.  I've taken advantage if it and am looking forward to curling up and enjoying it over the holdiay weekend.  It's amazing how differently this has played out as compared to what it looked like 2 years ago.

    @Catherine - I'm looking over my shoulder, girl!

    To conclude - this is my husband's and my retirement strategy

  • 1 point 2 months ago

    Last night I posted to my blog additional comments about the Gen X resentment.  http://geeksgeezersgooglization.com/gen-x-asks-so-why-dont-boomers-retire-already/

    I'd also like to offer to all of you my new book.  You can download it for free by going to:

    http://sn.im/buyggg

    Click on Buy Now and enter code GGG_SPS

    I talk about the Gray Ceiling and a whole lot more.

    And Catherine...I agree that Gen X may not have the numbers to make the change but they can create unrest. And because they have been groomed for 10 to 15 years to move up, they will at least  be in charge in a few years for at least a few years.  Besides, if the resentment against the Boomers keeps increasing, the combination of Gen X and Gen Y already exceeds the number of working Boomers. Fortunately for the Boomers, these two cohorts aren't on the same page....yet.

  • 1 point 2 months ago

    In Florida we have been looking with some apprehension at the impending workforce shortages caused by boomer retirements.  Of course, that is a different story now as you point out.  The downturn in the economy is one factor that may be saving us (temporarily) from a very challenging shortage of nurses in the state, as many cannot afford to retire or have come back. There's an interesting study from the PEW that was in some of the news outlets today that speaks to the same issue of older workers staying in the labor force longer and a number of them looking to come back.   http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1330/american-work-force-is-graying .  Ira's Perfect Labor Storm is certainly brewing!

  • 1 point 2 months ago

    There is no question the Boomers will be hanging around longer.  For some organizations that's a good thing....for others, it's bad.  While Boomers hold the experience, they don't always possess the talent.  Don't confuse the "War for Talent" with a shortage of people - it's a shortage of skilled workers, with an emphasis on "skilled." 

    The postponed retirements is also creating greater resentment in the Gen X cohort who are getting blocked by the Gray Ceiling.  This in turn is blocking opportunities for Gen Y to get jobs.  Management will be remiss if they don't anticipate the loss of Gen X who feel they are trapped by the likes of Boomers in Brett Favre clothing and the eventual exodus of Baby Boomers. For those organizations who don't take heed, they could easily lose the experience and wisdom of two generations at once.

    And while Brett Favre's behavior might resemble that of an aging Boomer, remember that he too is a Generation X, a free agent in life, who want to call his own shots. 

    So I ask, is Favre a Boomer trapped in a Gen X body or is his behavior a sign of things to come for aging Gen Xers?

  • 1 point 2 months ago

    ira - you are right about Favre being an X-er - and a great point about losing both.  Great talent is always in demand.  Thanks for your comment.