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HR Support on Managing the Retirement Process
Editor's Note: Take steps to guarantee retiring employees leave on good terms.
Overview: Retirement can be an emotional and harrowing process for aging employees. HR plays a key role in ensuring a smooth transition from employment to retirement. To best accomplish this, HR should develop a keen understanding of the employer's benefit packages, benefits options available to the retiring employee, healthcare eligibility, pension plans and, where applicable, severance packages. HR must also take steps to ensure that any pre-retirement agreements with the outgoing employee comply with the terms of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) which sets standards for implementation of pension plans in private industry. Where HR's evaluation of a retiring employee has identified risk, it should consider a termination agreement to obtain the employee's release of claims against the company (for example, age discrimination) in exchange for valuable consideration.
In addition to providing for a smooth transition for an outgoing employee, HR may also play a role in transferring the outgoing employee's job responsibilities to another employee. HR may wish to explore the need for training and education programs of current employees who are assuming new or additional responsibilities.
Trends: The American workforce is aging. With that development, comes pressure on employers to onboard younger employees while compassionately and legally encouraging older employees to retire. This means that the HR professional has to have a keen understanding of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Older Workers' Benefits Protection Act (OWBPA) and any heightened requirements based on state law.
Michael Jacobson, J.D., Legal Editor
Latest items in Retirement
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Conduct an Exit Interview
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Exit Interview Policy
An employer may use this policy to convey the purpose for and importance of conducting exit interviews with employees departing the organization. Given that employers may collect valuable, candid information regarding employment practices from outgoing employees and may also identify post-termination risks such as lawsuits, employers are strongly encouraged to conduct exit interviews with all willing, outgoing employees. This policy can be used to put current employees on notice of the employer's intention to conduct such interviews and what the employer intends to do with the information it gathers.
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Voluntary Terminations: Montana
In-depth review of the spectrum of Montana employment law requirements HR must follow with respect to voluntary terminations.
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Prevent Age Discrimination
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Employees Bear Burden of Proof in ADEA Claims
In Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc.,129 S. Ct. 2343 (2009), the United States Supreme Court addressed whether an employee can bring a discrimination claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) for an adverse employment decision based on both legitimate and discriminatory reasons.
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Retirement Benefits
In-depth review of the spectrum of employment law requirements HR must follow with respect to Retirement Benefits
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Organizational Exit Overview
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Voluntary Terminations
At-will employees can voluntarily resign from employment; however, not all resignations are voluntary. This section helps HR professionals recognize and avoid liability for constructive discharge claims, in which an employee claims he or she was forced or coerced to resign.
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How to Craft a Voluntary Retirement Program
Employers should be aware that any voluntary retirement program must comply with the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). This How To will help employers to craft a voluntary retirement/attrition program and to comply with the OWBPA and ADEA in the process of doing so.
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When should an employer assess whether the WARN Act applies to an upcoming layoff?
About this topic
HR guidance on identifying risks associated with employee retirement and tools to reduce post-retirement liability.