Today is my Xiaoyu's retirement ceremony, and I am excited and sad to leave the company where I have worked for 30 years. I remember when I first joined the job, I was full of longing and expectation for a new life, but I didn't expect to usher in the day of retirement in a blink of an eye.
Xiaoyu, congratulations on your retirement! This is a small gift prepared by our colleagues in our department, I hope you will have a happier life after retirement! "Mr. Zheng, the department manager, warmly hugged me at the retirement ceremony, and my colleagues also stepped forward to send retirement gifts and blessings.
Thank you all for your care and help over the years, and I will miss you all very much. "My eyes were red with excitement, and I couldn't control my tears when I hugged everyone one by one.
After seeing off the other colleagues, my good sister Li Fang reluctantly came over and hugged me tightly.
Xiaoyu, I'm so happy for you! If you can get such a generous pension, you must live a very nourishing life, you don't have to worry about work anymore, you can do whatever you want. That's great! Li Fang said enviously.
I smiled and nodded, but I didn't quite agree with her words. I worked at least 10 years longer than her, working overtime and trying to save money so that I could live a more comfortable life. I gave more than she did, and I certainly deserve more in return.
Li Fang looked at me and said with emotion: "Hey, if I hadn't given birth to two children, I wouldn't have postponed my work for so many years." If you don't have a family burden and devote yourself to your work, it's no wonder that your pension is higher. I still have to work for another five years before I retire, I really envy you! ”
I nodded and whispered, "Yes, I've been working as a single person, and I have indeed saved a lot more money than you." But isn't life all about making choices? You have a family and children, and you get another kind of happiness. I often envy the picture of your family having fun. ”
Also, everyone has their own life. Li Fang said with emotion.
I looked at Li Fang, and my heart was moving, and I knew that I had different choices with her. Over the years, I have devoted almost all my time and energy to my work, so that I can live my ideal life without worrying about food and clothing after retirement. I work at least 10 hours a week more than Li Fang, and on many weekends and holidays, I choose to give up getting together with friends and work overtime until late at night. Now I can finally enjoy the fruits of my hard work, and I deserve it.
Not long after I retired, one day Li Fang suddenly called me, and her tone was a little excited in her nervousness: "Xiaoyu, do you know how big the gap between our pensions is?" I just accidentally saw the statistics of the human resources department, you can get more than 20,000 a month, and I only have more than 10,000! How can you have so much more than me? ”
I was a little caught off guard, thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it's because I've been working in the company for a long time, and you've taken maternity leave for a few years and joined the work late." ”
Don't make excuses! Li Fang raised her voice and said, "I have calculated, even if I join the work late, the difference between our actual working years is only one or two years." But I asked the Ministry of Manpower, and your pension is more than twice as much as mine! Isn't the company's pension policy so unfair? What exactly are you using?!”
I heard the reproach in her tone, and said with a slight grievance: "Li Fang, I work harder than you, this is what everyone sees." I remember a few years when I worked more than 20 hours a week of overtime, and I would rather sacrifice weekends to get a lot of important business done. As you know, I've always been very focused on my work, and I've never thought about having children or asking for a demotion. Is there anything wrong with wanting to get a good pension so that I can live the life I want when I retire? ”
Li Fang was silent for a while and said, "I'm not going to reproach you for your right to work hard, but is it fair to repay your efforts with twice the pension?" We have all paid in the labor, you can get so much more money if you work for just one more week than me, is the company's system to encourage hard work? ”
I thought for a moment and said firmly: "Li Fang, don't be jealous of my high pension. Each of us has our own choices, and I choose to work hard and deserve to be rewarded accordingly. You can also choose to dedicate yourself to your career, but you choose a family. I respect your choice, but I also hope that you will respect my efforts. My pension is not a 'gift' from the company, but something I got in exchange. If you also want a high pension, you can learn from my work attitude when you return to work. ”
Li Fang was silent, I knew she was thinking about my words. After a while, she said sullenly, "Forget it, everyone has a life." It's good if you're happy. But I still don't think it's fair. After saying that, she hung up the **.
Putting my phone down, I sat in the empty room for a while. I know that Li Fang's doubts come from an imbalance in my heart, but I still firmly believe that I made the right choice. I gave more than she did, and I deserved more in return.
At this moment, I suddenly received an urgent notice from the company that there was an important meeting that all retired employees must attend. I was a little confused and hurried out the door.
When I came to the company's conference room, I saw a sea of people, and all the retired employees gathered here, looking at each other. We don't know what's going on. After a while, Mr. Zheng, the department manager, came to the stage and said with a serious expression: "Comrades, the company has decided to carry out a major reform of the pension system.
When I heard this, I felt a faint pain in my heart, as if I had a sense of foreboding. With Mr. Zheng's speech, my hunch came true - in order to reduce the burden of corporate pensions, the company decided to implement a unified pension system, and the pensions of all retired employees will be adjusted to the same level, and there will be no differences in the original length of service and performance.
At this time, I was excited, and I stood up directly to interrupt Mr. Zheng's speech, and said anxiously: "May I ask what is the unified level?" Is it that no matter how hard we work, the pension is the same? Is this fair? How many times do I work harder than others, and do I only get the same as others? ”
Mr. Zheng looked at me helplessly and said, "Xiaoyu, I understand your feelings. But the company really can't afford the original pension system, this is a decision issued by the superiors, and we can't do anything about it. I hope that everyone can understand the company's difficulties and face the new system together.
I listened to Mr. Zheng's explanation, and my mind went blank. After many years of hard work for the life after retirement, the result is only the same retirement treatment as ordinary employees. I really can't accept this reality.
I still remember when I first joined the job many years ago, the company's boss told us that as long as we work hard, we can get different levels of retirement compensation according to performance. This became the motivation that motivates me to work tirelessly, and I think that I can retire in the future and live a carefree life. Now everything has come to naught, and my efforts have only been exchanged for the same retirement benefits as ordinary employees.
I walked out of the conference room, my steps vague and confused. At this time, my mobile phone rang suddenly, and it was Li Fang calling. I took a deep breath and picked it up.
Hey, Xiaoyu, did you also receive a notice from the company? Li Fang asked cautiously.
Well. I answered, in a calm tone.
Now your and my pensions have been lowered, and the gap is not big. I know it may be hard for you to accept, but what can we do? Li Fang said tentatively.
I was silent, not knowing how to answer. Indeed, under the new system, Li Fang's pensions are only a few hundred yuan apart, and she no longer needs to feel cold or jealous. But what about my own feelings? I worked as hard as she did, I deserved more in return, and that's my right.
Forget it, reform is reform, and the company is also forced to do so. I said bitterly, "I'll hang up first, and we'll talk another day." ”
Okay, take care. Li Fang said softly. I know she can relate to my feelings.
Hang up**, I'm walking aimlessly down the street alone. Moments of the past come to my mind – I gave up a lot of my time to make it my own in order to get a good pension. I could have gone on a weekend outing with friends, I could have gone to a family gathering, I could have traveled abroad. But I chose to work overtime. I thought that life would be better in the future, but I forgot how life was supposed to be spent.
Now everything is different. My hard work did not pay off as expected, and the goals I set for myself became empty. How do I get used to all this? I had to re-examine the trajectory of my life.
Just then, the phone rang again. I picked it up and saw that it was my old classmate Xiaohong calling.
Hey, Xiaoyu, are you busy? Our high school classmates are going to have a reunion this Saturday, are you coming? Xiaohong's voice was full of excitement.
Party? "I hesitated. In the past, when people proposed to meet, I always excused myself on the grounds that I was busy with work.
Come on, it's been a long time since we've eaten and chatted together! I heard that you are retired and have just time to attend our meeting. You must come this time! Xiaohong said enthusiastically.
I thought about it for a moment and nodded, "Okay, I'll participate." Send me the time and place. ”
That's great! We miss you so much! Xiaohong cheered.
Hang up**, my mood seems to be clearer. I let go of my pension obsession and started thinking about what I was really lacking. I crave not only money, but also the company of family and friends. Maybe I can focus my time and energy on these things that I would otherwise have neglected.
Life after retirement doesn't have to be realistic, I can start anew. The reform made me realize that the definition of success is self-made, and that I still have time to explore other possibilities in life.
At Saturday's class reunion, I felt the joy of reunion after a long absence. Everyone talked about the bits and pieces of the past, and I felt that time had flown by. There is no competitive pressure here, and I feel pure happiness again.
Xiaoyu, I heard that you are retired! Then we can come back to you more often in the future. The students said happily.
Absolutely, I have a lot of time with you now. I said with a smile.
Maybe that's how life is. Instead of being bound by my past goals, I re-examine the life I wanted. The pension is only the material basis, and I now have the opportunity to explore the spiritual world.
Turning pages of life, I finally saw a new chapter. This time, I want to listen to my inner voice and live a life that is truly my own.
After the class reunion, I started to actively connect with old friends and get back to my old social life. I also make time to spend with my family, especially my elderly parents, who are retired at home.
Mom, you can move in with me, it's more convenient to have me by your side to take care of you. I said to my mother.
So what's going on, it's good for us to live in our own house, and you young people should be busy with your own going. Mom said with a smile.
I'm retired, and I'll have time for you in the future. You've taken care of me for decades, and it's time for me to repay you. I insisted.
Mom looked at me with relief and finally nodded. I started to make room for my parents.
Doing things that I rarely dabbled in before, I felt a sense of satisfaction that I hadn't seen in a long time. I re-examined what really mattered in my life and realized that I had always measured success in terms of money, but I had neglected that family and friends were the meaning of life.
One day, Li Fang came to my house as a guest and saw me busy cleaning my room.
Why are you so busy? She asked with a smile.
I'm going to pack up a room and let my parents move in with me. I said.
It's good that you finally have time to be filial to your parents. Li Fang said sincerely.
I nodded, remembering that I used to be busy with work and rarely found time to spend with my parents, and I felt a little guilty in my heart. Now I can finally compensate them.
By the way, Li Fang, last time, I'm sorry that my attitude was not well controlled, and the pension matter has affected me too much. I said apologetically.
Li Fang waved his hand: "It's all over, you and I have accepted the new situation." Life is like that, there are often interventions, and we have to learn to transform. ”
I nodded, and Li Fang's words reminded me to face reality and accept the unavoidable variables in life.
By the way, I plan to work for a while and retire as well. When the time comes, you take me to visit the retirement life, you should go to ** play! Li Fang said with a smile.
Okay, it's a deal! I laughed too.
I'm starting to enjoy my retirement. I enrolled in a painting course and had regular painting classes every week. Although the drawing is not very good, I feel happy and satisfied. Occasionally, I would go to the community with my parents to dance and sing, and experience the joy of retirement.
There is still a long way to go in life, and the reform has only made me re-examine the life I want. I let go of my old obsession with money and success and turned to cherish the people and things around me. Life becomes more colorful as a result.
Maybe that's what a person should look like. I am no longer defined by the past, but look forward to a new future.