Retirement Intentions of the Public Health Nutrition Workforce

Abstract

Of the 4,460 individuals, 47.2% intended to retire within 10 years. Retirement intention was predicted by age category, years of experience in nutrition/dietetics and public health nutrition, agency type, retirement and vacation benefits, time in direct services, US Department of Health and Human Services region, and full-time/part-time status. Years until intended retirement was predicted by age category, years of nutrition/dietetics and public health nutrition experience, required training, and time in direct services. Results suggest retirement rates similar to the public health workforce overall. Findings can be used by managers/administrators to prepare their organizations for worker retirement or to influence retirement intention. Further research is necessary to determine other factors impacting retirement decision.

The early retiree divests the health workforce: a quantitative analysis of early retirement among Canadian Registered Nurses and allied health professionals

“…Many sociodemographic factors are identified predictors of early retirement including household income [19] and eligibility for retirement benefits [16] such as pension. Age [20–22], often considered a sociodemographic variable, is an obvious predictor of retirement; we have classified this under broader context in recognition that year of birth has implications unrelated to biological age (i.e., generational effects [23]). Last, family considerations impact upon timing of retirement—specifically, an agreement with one’s spouse [17] and caregiving responsibilities [18] positively predict early retirement.…”

Conceptual Models of Early and Involuntary Retirement among Canadian Registered Nurses and Allied Health Professionals

“…As Ferreira de Macêdo et al 2014 Finally, we reviewed any relevant studies, regardless of date of publication, exploring retirement within allied health professions, individually (George et al, 2009;Juliá, Kilty, & Richardson, 1995;Schofield, Fletcher, & Johnston, 2007) or as a group (Gleeson & Gallagher, 2005). Individual professions represented in the literature included public health nutritionists (George et al, 2009), pharmacists (Schofield et al, 2007), and social workers (Juliá et al, 1995). We summarized the results of all included literature on the topics of early retirement and voluntariness of retirement; any factor reported as predictive in any of the subsets of the literature (general, RN, AHP) was included in the appropriate conceptual model.…”

“…Several factors linked to retirement in general, as opposed to early retirement specifically, were included in the conceptual model of early retirement. These include age (George et al, 2009;Jones & McIntosh, 2010;Wang & Shultz, 2010), dependent child living at home (Wang & Shultz, 2010;Weaver, 1994), level of education (George et al, 2009;Wang & Shultz, 2010), perceived spousal support of retirement (McDonald & Donahue, 2011;Wang & Shultz, 2010), disability (Ferreira de Macêdo et al, 2014), occupational tenure (Jones & McIntosh, 2010), organizational tenure (Jones & McIntosh, 2010), organizational commitment (Jones & McIntosh, 2010), occupational commitment (Wang & Shultz, 2010), employment status (full vs. part-time) (George et al, 2009), and region of residence (within a country) (George, et al, 2009).…”

“…Retirement, as a phenomenon, is of relevance in near all social science disciplines. To date, the majority of theories and conceptual frameworks commonly applied in studies of retirement originated in psychology; these include Super’s life-span, life-space theory (Super, 1980), social identity theory (Tafjel, 1974), Beehr’s model of retirement behaviour (Beehr, 1986; George et al, 2009), the concept of “push” and “pull” factors (Shultz, Morton, & Weckerle, 1998), and the theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen, 1991); see Wang & Shi (2014) for a review of psychological research on retirement. Super’s life-span, life-space theory posits that the relative importance of “roles” inhabited by individuals throughout their life span fluctuates according to life stage; role importance is operationalized through measures of time and emotion (Super, 1980).…”

“…A recent report from the Global Health Workforce Alliance and World Health Organization (WHO) estimated a deficit of 12.9 million skilled health professionals by 2035 -this reflects a 79 per cent increase in the existing deficit (Global Health Workforce Alliance and World Health Organization, 2014). Multiple global societal trends have contributed to this widespread shortage of health care providers including an aging workforce (Cahill, Giandrea, & Quinn, 2015;Cook, 2015;Dubois & Singh, 2009;Dussault & Dubois, 2003;George, Springer, & Haughton, 2009;Proper, Deeg, & van der Beek, 2009), low birth rates in developed nations (Castonguay, 2006), selective early retirement (Dal Bianco, Trevisan, & Weber, 2015;Dubois & Singh, 2009;Proper et al, 2009), and extended life expectancies (Castonguay, 2006;FitzGerald, Keane, Reid, & O'Neill, 2013). Consequently, more significant (i.e., full-time, steady) and prolonged labour force participation is becoming increasingly necessary (Truxillo, Cadiz, & Hammer, 2015).…”