Briefly explain the factors that affect an employee's decision to retire.

Answers will vary. There is almost no relationship between age and job performance-in fact, some studies have found a curvilinear relationship between age and performance with performance highest when workers are youngest and older. In any event, eventually, older workers must confront the decision to retire. In truth, the decision to retire is not as simple as it once was. Many factors are related to the decision to retire (or begin the retirement process). For example, individuals are more likely to retire when they have the financial resources needed to maintain their preretirement lifestyles, and they are more likely to retire when their health makes continuing to work excessively burdensome. Individuals are also more likely to retire when their spouses have retired. In addition, several factors are related to adjustment after retirement. Individuals who have structured leisure activities and those who do volunteer work tend to adjust better to retirement. But one of the most important factors related to adjustment is one's health. Individuals who avoid serious health problems adjust better, partly because they can engage in volunteer work and leisure activities.