This is not cringe really. But here to get opinions and thoughts.

My take was once you retire/leave. You’re no longer an asset to the firm and unless they’ve built a specific program to deal with retirees. You’re shi! Out of luck.

They answered their own question. They had absurd expectations. They don't work there anymore. Why would there be a "ongoing relationship"?

Would really love to know what it is they thought was going to happen. Invites to company picnics?

I think the level of entitlement, lack of self awareness and inability to "read the room" makes this cringe, to post something like this. Having your entire career at one place is a rarity, the ability to retire at 34 yrs of work is a privilege (for most white collar, middle class workers its 40 yrs, for many other parts of society a retirement free from any work/wages is out of reach). LinkedIn and the media is awash with stories of tech layoffs, the weird dance of what the hiring process has become, young ppl gig working multiple jobs and still not being able to buy a house, etc. But this person feels slighted because their former employer isn't throwing parties for them every month? They need to own not having enough of a personal life outside of work that they created this sad void they are describing. They need some therapy, not posting "woe is me" b.s. on LinkedIn.

I think times have changed too much for us to even understand what this person expects. 35 years ago many companies had a defined benefit (pension) that kept you tied to that company, not just a generic 401k and out the door.... My parents and grandparents after they retired were still welcome at their place of business, kept ties with folks they worked with until they retired, and generally have a good relationship back to the places they retired from... my mom has regular birthday lunches monthly with the people she worked with, which includes current and former employees.

There's not an expectation that you pour most of your day (8hrs daily) for the majority of your life into a place and when you walk away it's like you were never there.

We are too cynical now to believe there was a time like this.

People’s need for constant validation is unreal.

I mean, if you've cultivated meaningful relationships w coworkers outside of the job, then it's reasonable to expect those relationships will extend outside of the workplace. The "friendships" that were only in office were ones of convenience and will likely go away once you aren't part of that ecosystem. Coworkers are not your friends, and that's okay! I think their biggest mistake was not making sure their life outside of work was fulfilling enough where he wouldn't care about old coworkers. He needs to get a hobby, make new friends and find other ways to fill his time

Perhaps the poster wanted to the former employer to offer a consultant job. I sorta agree, it seems like a waste of institutional knowledge and skill to let 34-years walk out the door. But oh well, that's business nowadays.

Why would anyone want to stay in touch with former employers, especially once retired? 🤷‍♀️ I will run in the opposite direction, hear nothing related to work and work on my hobbies. They need to build a meaningful life outside of the workplace. There will be thousands of people leaving a company at any time and it is impossible to keep in touch with everyone.

Exactly right. My Mom is a boomer and will collect a pension when she retires from the government next year. When I told her that I was looking for a new job, she looked horrified and asked 'what about your pension?'. I don't know how many times I have to say it, but there is no pension for us. Companies replaced pensions with 401ks and conned us out of job security. My Mom was grandfathered into her pension program. But her employer doesn't offer a pension to new employees anymore. So, now I have to work until I am 200 years old to afford retirement. She doesn't understand and I am bitter.

Full context?

Ooohhh huuuh sobbb sniffle a gen exer worked hard their whole life and now they woke up in a different century and there's a sense of emptiness, yeah that's what the current generations are walking INTO. these people complain that the next generation is LAZY, these people are the owners of companies tightly refusing to let go of any of the reins of power. purposely slowed growth and development to keep their job in existence, then left us to clean up the mess. I'll be long retired before that fails, said everyone 20 years ago. we are in for such a rough ride... this "greatest transition of wealth"

This is why 3 year tenures are normal now. Great way to not get attached.

I wonder if this employee had seen “those before him” come back all revered, not realizing that probably stopped 15 years before he retired? Who knows. It obviously was his expectation, so I’m giving benefit of the doubt that he must have seen this in the past.