The subject of retirement has been bantered about a lot in the media during the past year, not only in terms of if people are able to retire, but also how they’re retiring.  In this issue of The Animal Science Monitor, we examine the subject of semi-retirement and how it can be beneficial for both the employer and the employee.  We also have a special announcement regarding the newsletter and a recap of a successful industry event that was held recently.  As always, thanks for being a loyal ASM reader, and we hope you enjoy this issue.

 

—Dan and Don

 

 

 

 

 

We’re pleased to announce that The Animal Science Monitor newsletter is now on Twitter!  You can start following our publication using this social networking site by clicking here.

 

Remember, Twitter is just the latest stop on The ASM’s tour of social networks.  We’re also part of both LinkedIn and Facebook.

 

To join our ASM Group on LinkedIn, click here.

 

To add us as a friend on Facebook, click here.

 

If you have any ideas about how we can further explore the world of social networking with The ASM, we’d like your feedback.  Send all ideas to matt@animalsciencemonitor.com.  We look forward to seeing you on Twitter!

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s economic environment is providing plenty of challenges for companies, especially in the area of workforce management.  There always seems to be more work than employees available to complete it and no money to hire additional full-time staff.  What’s needed is flexibility.  Utilizing semi-retired workers or bringing someone out of retirement for a project are strategies that can provide flexibility and help to overcome what might seem like insurmountable obstacles.

 

It’s no secret that a lot of people haven’t been able to fully retire as they had hoped.  Many of these workers have a wealth of skill and experience, built up over decades of productive employment.  The good news is that you can put this skill and experience to work for you and you can do it in a way that allows you to stay within budget limits and head count.

 

In order to take advantage of the flexibility that semi-retired workers can provide for your company, you may have to offer flexibility to them.  Remember, not all semi-retirees return to the workforce because they need the money.  Some do so simply because they’re bored with retirement.  For others, they miss the camaraderie of the workplace.  Whatever the reason, the key to successfully wooing these workers and capitalizing on their contributions is to offer one—or more—of the following:

 

When it comes to augmenting your team with semi-retirees and retirees who decide to return to the workforce, hiring these people on a contract basis is most definitely a viable option.  The choices listed above involve semi-retirees working fewer than 40 hours per week and not on a salaried basis.  As a result, you won’t have to deal with traditional benefits, state and federal tax withholding, workers’ compensation, etc.

 

As you consider your workforce planning for the rest of this year and into 2010, how would hiring semi-retirees on a contract basis fit into those plans?  Would it help you to leverage your resources more effectively and better meet the demands of today’s market?  Most importantly, would it allow you to increase productivity while controlling costs?  Unique challenges call for innovative solutions, and augmenting your team with the semi-retired is one solution that could reap sizeable benefits, both now and in the future.

 

If you have any questions about this article, or about how I can help you to meet your hiring needs (direct or contract), you can contact me at dan@consearch.com.

 

 

 

 

 

In the past, semi-retirement was usually an option for people who just wanted to stay involved in the workforce, especially if they had good health.  They wanted to stay healthy by remaining active mentally, socially, and physically.

 

Now, with the present state of the economy and the loss of savings for many, semi-retirement might be a way to make ends meet, pay for extras, or help replace those lost retirement savings.  So if you’re able to make semi-retirement an option—keep it that way!

 

Regardless of your reasons, there are some things for which you should plan and consider:

 

1.     Research your Social Security.  If you take it early and decide to take a part time job the amount you earn, above a certain amount, will begin reducing your checks.

 

2.     Put together a complete plan to re-balance your time.  How many hours are you willing to commit to work in semi-retirement?  What are you going to do with your new-found free time?  When you’ve worked full-time your whole life, the second consideration is sometimes the one to which people have the most difficulty adjusting.  One suggestion is to make a list of the top 10 things you'd like to accomplish in your life if you had more time, and then post it somewhere.

 

3.     Carefully plan your finances.  You should try to avoid, if possible, making your semi-retirement job a substitute for your retirement savings.  You must define the purpose and mission of your semi-retirement status /income.  Is it just to remain involved, stay healthy, purchase extras, or to make ends meet?

 

4.     Decide what type of work you want to do in semi-retirement.  Yes, it could be related to your present job or work, but is your identity too bound up with your past career?  Do you have other talents or passions that you’ve never had time to pursue?  You’ll have to decide what an ideal day or month would feel like in semi-retirement.  Sometimes figuring out what type of work to do is as easy as just doing your hobby and making money from it.

 

If you don’t carefully identify, evaluate, and re-balance all of your talents, time, and treasures, you’re not going to be prepared for semi-retirement.  With proper planning, it’s a great opportunity to finally arrive at a perfect work-life balance.

 

If you have any questions about this topic, please send me an email at don@bayresourcegroup.com.  And if you’re currently engaged in a job search or are interested in advancing the scope of your career, be sure to send me your resume.  I’d be happy to discuss your career goals and ambitions, including ways in which I can help you to achieve them.  Any exchange of information, including resumes, will be kept in total confidence and handled in a discreet fashion.

 

 

 

 

The Animal Science Monitor is pleased to report that the Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), the Canadian Society of Animal Science (CSAS), and the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) was a great success.  The meeting was held from Sunday, July 12, to Thursday, July 16, in Montreal, Canada.

 

According to preliminary numbers provided by event officials, over 2,650 members and guests were in attendance, including nearly 400 first-time attendees.  The meeting included 37 symposia/workshops, 810 oral presentations, and 1,066 poster presentations that covered a wide range of subject matter areas.

 

A number of awards were distributed, as well.  Three were presented in special recognition of long-term contributions to ADSA and the dairy industry.  Those awards and this year’s honorees are listed below:

 

• ADSA Award of Honor—Dr. Mike Hutjens, University of Illinois
• ADSA Distinguished Service—Dr. Stanley Gilliland, Oklahoma State University
• ADSA Fellow—Dr. Dale Bauman, Cornell University;  Dr. Peter J. Hansen, University of Florida; Dr. D. Wayne Kellogg, University of Arkansas; and Dr. Marcus E. Kehrli, USDA

Next year’s joint meeting of the ADSA and ASAS is scheduled for July 11 through July 15 and will be held in Denver, Colo.  Of course, more information regarding this meeting will be published in future issues of The ASM.  For more information about the ADSA, visit www.adsa.org.

 

If you’d like to raise awareness of your industry event in The Animal Science Monitor, send an email to matt@animalsciencemonitor.com.

 

 

 

It’s already August.  Have you taken your vacation yet?  Chances are good that a great many of you have not.  In the next issue of The Animal Science Monitor, we’re going to explore “The Value of Vacation,” because as tempting as it may be to shift into “workaholic mode” over the summer, that decision could have dire consequences in the long run.  And of course, we’ll also present our “Video Link of the Month” for your viewing edification.

 

The next issue of The ASM is scheduled for publication on Tuesday, August 18.