Economy

they wanted to replace my top rate pay with a lower paid buddy of my then manager. They got exactly what they wanted in 2016. When the pandemic hit, the company was begging for retirees to return to help out. Not a prayer from my point of view.

As to why people left or had to leave the workforce no matter the age group, the reasons are a varied as the individuals. As mentioned I was forced out with no desire to return to "help 'em out", A friend's wife (another boomer) who was a respiratory therapist retired in April of 2020 because she didn't want to deal with what she saw coming. Some folks left for health reasons, some folks because of child care issues, some had their jobs leave them, such as many restaurant employees and found other work as demand increased in other area such as parcel delivery.

Despite The Cable Noise Network's desire to wrap up the reason into one four word soundbite before they break to the next round of commercials for drugs we never knew we needed, the answer just ain't that easy.