Happy Sixty Fifth Birthday Ralph
When do you think you will retire?
I am not in a hurry Bill and I can wait until you can find someone to replace me.
That won’t happen. You have been with me for thirty years and I cannot afford the time to train your replacement and do your work too, so I think I will run the business down, shut the door, take the best customers and work from home.
With all the paperwork and liabilities the stress is too great these days and I won’t risk my health or future lifestyle. I could end up in court any day on some trumped up workcover or unfair dismissal charge. I won’t send anyone out untrained and lose the confidence of my long term customers and risk a public liability issue that will tie me up in court while you are caravanning in Queensland.
The truth is Wendy is concerned we won’t be able to afford private health if I retire fully and I may have to work part time to fund it. I might be slowing up a bit but it is a shame to let all my skills and experience just fade away.
There is a scheme that might solve a few of these problems:
If Bill hires Mark through Centrelink to replace Ralph he gets Ralph back part time to train him and compensate Bill for the losses occurred in the training period.
Ralph does not get paid but he gets credits that elevate his public health scheme to the level of private health and he may offer his services to others and end up with a credit of thirty years private health status he never calls on because of good health or sudden death.
If Ralph had private health he would need to spend $90 000 over thirty years for Wendy’s peace of mind.
The alternative is they take what they get on Public Heath and the Government picks up the bill.
Ralph is not tied in to work hours and can come and go as he pleases. This helps his sense of achievement, his self esteem and keeps him healthy. If he goes North for three months it is not an issue.
Mark is now off the dole and has someone dedicated to training him on a one on one basis. This saving on Dole payments would easily compensate the government for any private health gap Ralph may or may not incur.
The pressure is off Bill and he might even take on more work and get another employee while he has Ralph to help.
Bill Wins, Ralph Wins, Mark Wins, Australia Wins and more importantly Wendy is happy.
There is the Plan You work on the details, I am retired
Steve Ragless selgar@adam.com.au