‘My father retired? He shouldn't think about it.’

Can I introduce someone to you?

This is my father Jaap, 67 years old. A winner. Officially it is with early retirement. Well, I can tell you: the ‘VUT’ is far from over yet;)

Since 1953.
He really is one of ‘the old stamp’. Never sick, weak or nauseous. Complaining is not in his dictionary and he is always there for everyone. But good. So he can retire a long time ago, but don't think that will happen. No. Where most people longed for the day when they can stop working completely, my father doesn't want to think about it.

Unstoppable.

(Tr)old, hard worker

As a child that was (and is) sometimes difficult, then I thought: ‘Go take it easy, enjoy more! Going out with mom more often, now it's still possible.’ After years of denial and sincere concerns about whether he was wise to it, I now know: he is right. He is already enjoying himself, I see he is happy. If you don't want to and just function well, why would you actually stop? Why not keep doing – part-time or not – that you are good at? What makes you genuinely happy? What you help others with, which means you are still in the middle of life?

Partly at the request of mothers and myself (the persistence wins ;-)), he now has a four-day instead of five-day working week as a labor expert. Every working day his alarm goes off at 6 o'clock, and around the same time ’in the evening he returns home. He is healthy, still relatively young in body and limb, and often the first at work. A loyal, modest employee. That –, just like me, likes to think – in terms of possibilities. Looking beyond the limitation of his clients that he guides to work: people who really want to, who, partly thanks to him, simply participate in society. Once again they feel like they count. It has almost become his life's mission.

Valuable contribution

Of course he also enjoys his extra free time, but especially his contribution to society. There are still many social contacts. And the fact that he – with all his knowledge, experience and skills – can be genuinely meaningful to others can make a difference. No, our rock in the surf doesn't want to stop working. Just the thought... So we're not talking about it anymore. That's better, too, for everyone ;-)

Superpowers

My father is one of many. Every day I come across ‘elderly people’ – 50 and 60 and over – who are eager to (stay) working. We often hold up a mirror to them, because: why are you ‘old and discarded’? What do you pay to apply for that other job, or to just keep working?

Practice appears to be more unruly, because then employers will have to move a little more. Unless your name is superman or woman, everyone has their limitations. Who doesn't? You don't have to ask me to carry 1,000 pallets every day, or pick up ‘effe’ online marketing.

Diplomas or not, with or without limitation, young or old... everything depends on mentality. Deployment. And the drive to make something beautiful out of it. Together.

Always something

If you search well enough, there is always a reason not to give someone that chance. Too young, too old, the skills but not the diploma... Due to the persistent, crazy tightness in the labor market, we can no longer afford that luxurious – in search of the sheep with the five-legged –.

People like Jaap are worth their weight in gold. They are responsible, extremely loyal and work hard. But of course this also applies to someone with a (visible or invisible) disability. Everything depends on mentality. Deployment. And the drive to make something beautiful out of it. Together.

Good enough

So from now on we will agree that we look beyond the increasing number of wrinkles (check!), gray hair (check!), just a resume or missing non-essential skills (check!)? Then everyone really gets a chance. You're going to be amazed, I'm sure. And then we immediately get rid of the staff shortage. HOPPA