The knowledge of and involvement in retirement planning among employees in their middle adulthood

Abstract

In this study, the purpose was to describe the knowledge of, and involvement in, retirement planning among employees in their middle adulthood. Retirement is often viewed as an issue only relevant to older people who are on the verge of retiring and as something that has nothing to do with young employees or young people in general. This study will therefore add knowledge regarding middle adulthood employees and their understanding of, and involvement in planning for retirement. The first objective of the study was to conceptualise theoretically retirement planning. The second objective was to describe empirically the knowledge of and involvement in retirement planning among employees in their middle adulthood and the third objective was to formulate conclusions and recommendations to the Department of Health and Social Development. A descriptive applied study was conducted with the aim of describing the knowledge of, and involvement in, retirement planning among employees in their middle adulthood. It was a mixed methodology approach with the quantitative design being more dominant. A sample of 119 respondents was identified with the final response rate of (50%). No sampling methods were used because the population was too small. A questionnaire was used as the tool for data collection and the respondents had to complete these themselves. All respondents signed a consent form prior to the commencement of data collection. In achieving its objectives, the study discovered that although most of the employees still lack knowledge regarding retirement planning information, some are already involved in financial planning activities. There is not a retirement education programme within the institution even though it is supposed to be part of the induction programme. It was therefore concluded that there is a need for more education and encouragement among employees to assist them in planning for retirement.