When we think of retirement, we usually consider it a life event that evokes a final break from a career that may be perceived as a source of stress. You may give lots of thought to planning for the financial aspects of retirement, but what about the psychological impact of retiring from work?
Certain life events, like childbirth or retirement, can be times of celebration and stress. Psychiatrists Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe were pioneers in examining individuals’ medical records to determine whether certain events could cause illnesses.
Their work in the 1960s discovered a positive correlation between specific events and stress, which resulted in the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS). Ongoing validation has supported a positive correlation between stress and illness.
The original SRRS consists of 43 life events, each assigned a numerical value representing its perceived stress level. It can be administered as a self-administered tool to obtain a score. Events like “death of a spouse” have the highest value, and “minor traffic infraction” have a lower value. A child’s birth is valued at 40, while retirement is 45.
Individuals taking the SRRS with a score above 300 are considered at risk. A score below 150 translates into a slight risk.
The Diley Ridge Medical Center in Canal Winchester, Ohio, offers its Stress Calculator, based on the SRSS, for online use. Since national holidays can be a source of stress in the original SRRS, their stress calculator is seasonally adjusted to specify the Christmas season.
Those thinking about retirement may want to check out the calculator. At the end of this calendar year, the federal government will see the usual exodus of employees. This is because retirees can get the maximum lump sum annual leave payment for retiring at the end of the leave year, which coincides with the end of the calendar year.
In their final year, some federal employees attempt to maximize their annual leave balance next year by denying themselves opportunities to take annual leave. Not taking annual leave can increase stress.
Additional stress can manifest itself in reduced focus, creativity, and productivity. Overworking has been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other health issues.
Barbara Ricci, in her Harvard Business Review article. “When You Need to Take Time Off Work for Mental Health Reasons” and a National Public Radio podcast, “What to do if you’re struggling with your mental health at Work” by Jordan-Marie Smith and Andee Tagle addresses how the workplace under normal circumstances can create challenges for mental health issues.
2025 will herald anxiety in the workplace due to possible future government shutdowns and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) discussions. Supervisors may want to start the new year by renewing awareness of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in anticipation of the stormy season. They may also want to consider scheduling EAP seminars for the workforce in preparation for the storms to come.
