The End of Traditional Retirement

The majority of Brits are not prepared for the lifestyle changes that occur when they retire, with 53% of people admitting they have planned financially but have not considered any other implications of retirement. 

Almost half (45%) worry they will lose their sense of purpose, while 39% of people due to retire in the next 10 years are worried about the impact it will have on their mental health, according to new research from more than 1,000 UK employed adults, published by organisation development consultancy, h2h.

The research ‘From Onboarding to Retirement: Rethinking Career Growth and Retention in Organisations in 2026 and Beyond’ explores attitudes to work across the entire employment lifecycle, from first jobs to retirement, as well as reflections on the impact teachers, parents and social media have on career choices.

“Micro-retirement” – shortlisted as the Collins word of the year for 2025 – is of interest to 54% of people due to retire in the next 10 years, rising to 62% of people who are not yet approaching retirement age.

Susan Binnersley, Managing Director of h2h, says: “The research has revealed a shift in attitudes towards the world of work, which is hardly surprising when you consider how much has changed in the last five years. By speaking to a breadth of generations, we can see some clear trends in the way people approach their careers, from the influences on their first jobs to the preparations they make for retirement.

“There is often a lot of talk about the differences between different generations, but our research shows these groups have plenty in common and are keen to learn from one another through mentoring and knowledge-sharing. With the retirement age edging upwards, we have a span of five generations in the workplace and it’s crucial that organisations learn to harness the benefits of multi-generational workforces rather than exacerbating the divide.

“To do this, we need to reconsider the way we think about career milestones such as onboarding, career shifts and retirement. We still have a long way to go to ensure people take the necessary steps to prepare for the emotional impact of different life and career phases. With the right coaching and a shift in thinking, each new phase can signal a positive change and the start of an exciting new chapter filled with purpose and joy.”

Some 47% of people said it would be easier to leave their current organisation and find a new job than to get a different job in the same company, while 40% would be worried about their line manager’s reaction if they found out they wanted to change roles.

UK adults expect to have an average of 8 different employers by the time they retire, with 26% of people expecting this figure to be higher than 10.

The majority (61%) of people are excited to retire, but this figure differs among men (58%) and women (64%), while 45% of people plan to get a part-time job after they retire.

61% of people due to retire would like to mentor younger colleagues, while 73% of their younger counterparts would be interested in being mentored and 76% would like to learn from older colleagues.

The full report is available to download at: h2h.uk.com/2025-survey-report/