Defining Retirees: Perspectives on Relationship, Happiness and Gratitude in Non-Western Cultures

Abstract

Defining a retiree as retired seems easier and harder than it appears. Persons can be considered to be retired or referred to as retirees if they say they are. The assertion appears harder because of retirees’ personal experience of work, health and earning after retirement. This study presents a qualitative insight of retired civil servants’ perspectives of what defines a ‘retiree’ in non-Western cultures. Purposeful sampling was applied in the study, and qualitative interviews were conducted involving two (2) focus group discussions with six (6) retirees as participants in each group, who are residents of Government Residential Area (G.R.A) Trans-Ekulu, Enugu State, Nigeria. Three themes emerged from the data, including (1) relationship, (2) happiness, and (3) gratitude to the divine. Results of the study offered a more relatively valid definition of a ‘retiree’ which is not solely based on age or length of service, instead the relationships retirees built during their working years, along with their level of happiness especially on economic satisfaction, family relations, and health self-rating in post-retirement served as key adjustment mechanisms and ultimately define their status as retirees. This study concluded with recommendations for civil servants emphasizing the importance of happiness and positive relationship in work place, and not negative perceptions about retirement as many retirees publicly commend their pre-retirement benefits, such as job security, reliable income and social connections, while privately contending with post-retirement challenges. Implications and areas for future research are also highlighted.