New Lifestyle

Option 1

There are many reasons that may prompt an individual to consider a retirement option.   However the event itself will mean careful review and consideration of many aspect of a lifestyle, until now, has been taken for granted.

The purpose of this lifestyle workshop and programme is to give each individual the opportunity to review their past career and assess their current situation with a view to making informed choices, planning for an active and satisfying retirement.

The Workshop and Programme have been designed to reflect the following principles:

• That each individual brings with them their own personal and unique set of concerns and aspirations.  The workshop and programme will strive to be flexible enough to accommodate each situation

• Active Retirement is a lifestyle rather than simply a career transition.  The workshop and programme will be holistic in approach, welcoming work with partners and carefully considering changes in the home and family

• The workshop will work in conjunction with the follow up support programme in order to facilitate individuals with issues which are personal to them - in particular those who may be experiencing feelings which may be disabling them from effectively moving on.

Individuals are provided with:

1.     A structured opportunity to help identify strengths areas and future needs based upon past achievements, career and life history

2.     Guidance in using this information to assess what each individual will require in order to follow an active retirement, both now and in the future

3.     Information within both the workshop and in reference form which will enable each individual to make informed choices regarding their future direction

4.     Help in creating a realistic and achievable active retirement plan

5.     After workshop support helping individuals to action their plan and move on into a personally satisfying and contented future.

Option 2

Concept and Focus

The age profile of staff who will have the option to participate in the New Lifestyle Programme is likely to range from late 40's to the mid-60's.  We anticipate that the vast majority of these individuals will not want simply to "retire" but will want to seek personal fulfilment through a wide variety of activities according to individual wants and needs.

The New Lifestyle Programme is for those employees who are contemplating retirement or early retirement.  The two day workshop has therefore been designed to aid decision-making by demonstrating the clear and tangible benefits to be had from building a new lifestyle around the financially supportive base of the Shell severance and pension package.

Our approach is founded upon exploring the options for an active and self-valued lifestyle within which each individual can fulfil their particular desire for employment (in its various manifestations) as well as the other pursuits more traditionally associated with "retirement".

It would also seek to be "holistic" - based upon family and not simply individual needs.  It would be presumptuous for example to impose a standard family profile upon each individual participant along the lines of "grown-up children, partner of similar age and needs, mortgage paid off, etc.".  We envisage that the people on this programme will have a wide variety of needs based upon differing circumstances.

The Workshop

Accommodating individual considerations within a group workshop format is therefore a primary objective.  We would achieve this by utilising a number of self-assessed tests and inventories and by fully involving partners in order to help individuals begin to establish their own personal agendas.

The structure of our workshop also recognises that the potential anxiety of both staff and their partners could be high.  When the option to retire early arises through business reorganisation it can occur prematurely and be threatening rather than welcomed.  Feelings may therefore be confused and even resentful.

The first morning of the workshop therefore focuses upon coping with change, putting feelings and emotions in context and taking personal stock of the current situation.  The afternoon and following morning will be devoted to promoting a clear understanding of the opportunities available outside Shell.  The final afternoon is devoted to enabling each individual to plan the way forward towards achieving their desired new lifestyle.

The new knowledge and insight which each participant will gain - of the outside world and of their own interest and requirements - should give each individual the confidence to make a positive decision about their future direction. 

This should facilitate an amicable and effective separation process from Shell and smooth what could otherwise be a difficult transition.