Most people (we, as “most people,” assume) dream of the day they’re able to retire from the rat race, sit back, and reap the rewards of decades of hard work.
But, like the daily grind, retirement, too, can apparently get old.
At least it did for a group of former British execs, who, with “nothing else to do,” came out of retirement last year to launch the Sapient Foundation — a nonprofit through which they offer their expertise to small businesses and startups, often free of charge, per The Times.
A word from the wise
Sapient charges only what they think the fledgling businesses can afford based on their finances. Other times, they’ll instead ask the business to make a donation to a charity after it starts generating revenue.
Sapient’s consultants, who work just a few hours a day with the motto of “no heavy lifting,” also only take on projects they’re interested in. For example:
- Accepted: Oraczen, an early-stage agentic AI startup that it’s helped expand across Europe.
- Rejected: VC firms, who founder Brendan Logan, a 72-year-old former telecoms exec, told The Times were just looking for “cheap consulting.”
So far, they’ve worked with 12+ companies worldwide (consulting them on funding, tech strategy, governance, etc.) and already raised thousands for an education charity in South Sudan.
Unretiring is trending
A growing number of older adults are reentering the workforce or forgoing retirement…
- Roughly one in five Americans ages 65+ are employed or looking for work, ~2x the share in 1988, according to data from Pew Research Center.
… but unlike the seniors behind Sapient, most aren’t doing it out of boredom, or for free: With people living longer and as the cost of living rises, AARP found the biggest reason for coming out of retirement is financial.
Plus: as the global average life expectancy increases — today it sits at 71, up from 32 in 1900 — some countries are even considering raising retirement ages. In Denmark, it’s set to hit 74 by 2060 (RIP).
Meanwhile…
… as gramps continues grinding away, some 20-somethings are already throwing in the towel. One Gen Z retirement home in Malaysia, which offers accommodations to burned out young workers for ~$490/month, is reportedly fully booked.
But with many Zoomers expected to live to 100, unretirement is likely around the corner for them as well.
Labor
