I'm 68 and chose 'soft retirement.' I work 3 days a week and keep my benefits.
A 68-year-old IT specialist at KPMG successfully negotiated a 'soft retirement' plan, allowing her to work part-time while maintaining her benefits. This arrangement helped her avoid burnout while managing health issues and financial concerns.
Why it matters
The 'soft retirement' model highlights a growing trend in workplace flexibility for older employees looking to balance career longevity with personal well-being.
Tina Bonanno relaxing on her deck during her "soft retirement." Courtesy of Tina Bonanno Unwell and fearing burnout, Tina Bonnano considered retiring from KPMG after 10 years in the job. However, she wasn't ready to "jump off the cliff" and proposed a "soft retirement" plan to HR. The IT specialist works 20 hours a week for half her old salary. She has time to relax and reflect. This story is based on an interview with Tina Bonanno, 68, a KPMG information architect, from Northern New Jersey. It has been edited for length and clarity. I was seriously ill in 2022 and 2023, which led me to having a knee replacement removed and a revision after being treated for an infection. It meant five months of disability leave from my IT job at KPMG, but I pushed through and returned to my position. However, the sickness had taken its toll.
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