In most companies in Switzerland, around 4% of employees leave the company each year as retirees and thus enter a new phase of life. Retirement changes their lives fundamentally – for the next 20 years on average.

To enable these employees to approach the new phase of their lives calmly and with pleasure, it is advisable to plan and prepare for retirement with all its aspects.

Retirement – a challenging topic

We know from experience and the findings of ageing research that the transition to retirement life is not equally successful for everyone. In particular, people who have lived entirely for their profession often find it difficult to come to terms with the new situation. The initial euphoria about the new freedom is often followed by a feeling of emptiness. Suddenly, you’re “out of the game.” Some feel worthless and useless. 

Some throw themselves into a variety of activities in order to “be somebody again.” This usually proves to be a fallacy. If the time that has been freed up is crammed with appointments without much thought, there is a great danger that the actual needs and the reorientation to the changed way of life will fall by the wayside. This can lead to inner disorientation and the feeling that one is not living one’s life properly, which in turn can lead to dissatisfaction.

Many companies support their employees in preparing for the new phase of life. Just as they offer employees a health check-up from the age of 50, they are also involved in personal retirement planning: through individual consulting services or with special retirement seminars.

Supporting employees through OTP seminars

OTP has been conducting seminars to prepare employees for retirement for many years. In many cases, these are seminars in which employees (can) participate together with their life partners – however, there are also seminars specifically for singles. The seminars are always tailor-made according to the wishes of the clients.

In this way, employers offer support for a fulfilling conclusion in the job, for the preparation for interesting tasks afterwards and for the creation of new life contents. En passant there is also a sensitization for the passing on of knowledge and experience to subsequent employees. Here, our seminars provide clients with a valuable additional benefit: the transfer of know-how in the workplace.

Financial situation

An important topic for prospective retirees is naturally the question of what their financial situation will look like at the end of their working lives and what retirement options (such as early retirement) are available. The OTP seminars deal with this topic with a view to the general framework of AHV and pension funds. However, in order to clarify your personal financial situation in detail, we recommend an individual consultation with your pension fund representative or a financial expert outside the seminar. 

However, retirement means much more than “just” adjusting to a changed financial situation. 

Quality of life

It is an event that changes many things in life: Leisure time, partnership, social environment, health care, role in society. Some people look forward to this step in order to enjoy their well-deserved retirement. Others look forward to it with mixed feelings, as it brings uncertainties and a lot of new things. What is certain is that a new phase of life begins in a self-determined future.

The step from working life to retirement does not simply mean more time – the quantitative aspect – but more opportunities to shape one’s life and more responsibility – the qualitative aspect. This is the focus of our seminars: Planning and shaping the future quality of life. 

Our seminar concept

Our seminars basically orient the participants to three essential strategies in dealing with the new phase of life:

  • Strategy of selection: Limiting oneself to what is really important.
  • Strategy of optimization: Care particularly intensively for what is possible.
  • Strategy of compensation: Creatively compensate for unavoidable losses.

In the OTP seminar, participants first reflect in group and partner work on the challenges and gains that come with retirement. The pictorial representation of the “House of Change” provides a valuable framework for visualizing the psychosocial situation of the individual and understanding it in this personal change process. Participants can thus anticipate possible gains and losses in the seminar and develop a position on this in learning groups. 

This in no way means sitting idly at home in retirement. For retirees, there are countless interesting tasks that open up new horizons and enrich life: they can voluntarily put their specialized knowledge, experience, and time at the service of a cause that is important to them. Whether in the social sector, in business (for example with “Rent a Pensioner”), in nature conservation and environmental protection, for cultural causes or in politics: numerous institutions in our society depend on volunteers.

In addition, new opportunities are now opening up to pursue hobbies that previously only “blossomed” in obscurity, or to become active in clubs, associations, or self-initiated groups (for example, in a cooking group). Other topics we confront the participants with are: 

  • Changes in partnerships and in the everyday life of single people
  • New forms of living in old age 
  • Tips and impulses on health and well-being in old age 
  • Retirement abroad 
  • And last but not least: the personal action plan for planning the future.

Our seminars focus on these aspects. Participants take the time they need to discuss their upcoming new life plans, exchange ideas with each other and receive valuable information and impulses. What is exciting about the seminars is that they are attended jointly by employees from all functions, all levels, and all professional fields. 

Feedback from participants

The participants are extremely positive about our seminars. They see great benefit in reflecting on the new phase of life from many aspects and in using their action plan to initiate concrete preparations for the time of retirement.

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