According to a recent online survey, by Harris Interactive and CareerBuilder, of laid-off workers, the majority of workers age 55 and older who were laid off in the last 12 months say they have applied for jobs below the level at which they were previously employed.
The state of the U.S. economy has caused a large number of older workers to delay retirement. This delay has created some benefits, as well as raised concerns. The Wall Street Journal reports that in a recent survey of more than 2,200 U.S. workers, 44% of respondents age 50 or older said they plan to postpone retirement. Half of those say they plan to work at least three years longer than previously expected.
Delayed retirement is reportedly good news for employers who are unprepared for mass retirements among baby boomers. However, delayed retirement is causing concerns for other companies that may need to shed employees to remain profitable.
The White House has unveiled a plan that would give the executive branch more power over Medicare reimbursement rates. Under the proposed plan, Congress would largely cede its power to decide payment issues. The plan would form an independent Medicare Advisory Council that would draw up payment policy recommendations, subject to approval by the president. Congress would then have the opportunity to disapprove the recommendations. However, if it did not, the recommendations would go into effect.
Increasingly, I’ve encountered people who get a significant portion of their information from e-mail campaigns, talk radio, the talking heads on MSNBC and Fox, or the like, and who allow the information from these sources to shape their opinions and attitudes. I would encourage everyone to learn to be an independent thinker! The internet provides a wealth of information from many sources. Be truly informed - Learn to read and think for yourself!