More firms in US tapping the skills of the recently retired

New York

CALL them "boomerang retirees": people who exit gracefully after their career at a company, then return shortly afterward to work there part time.

More and more companies are establishing formal programmes to facilitate this, for reasons that benefit the employer and the retiree. Leaving a satisfying job cold-turkey for a life of leisure can be an abrupt jolt to people accustomed to feeling purposeful, earning money and enjoying their colleagues. From the corporate perspective, it is useful to have experienced hands who can train younger people, pass along institutional wisdom and work with fewer strings attached.