When his alarm clock buzzes at 6:30 a.m., Angus McKenzie, a partner specializing in estate law at McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP in London, Ont., gets up, shaves, showers, eats breakfast and hurries to the office.
On one recent morning, he helped a client figure out how to divvy up a $50-million estate into complex trusts. After lunch, he fit in his daily workout at the Y, then rushed off to a fundraising meeting for the Canadian Diabetes Association - one of about 15 committees he sits on.
Later, Mr. McKenzie was off to a charity gala he helped to arrange, making it home by about 10 p.m. - just in time to do some business by e-mail and watch the news before hitting the sack.
That would be a long and draining day for anyone. Imagine doing it at 82.
Mr. McKenzie can, for that's how old he is, and those are the kinds of days he's been putting in since he began practising law in 1953.
Cuba's Fidel Castro may have finally called it quits at age 81 after a half-century of rule, but a surprising number of other octogenarians are still hard at work - and the number is only expected to grow.
Consider Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion who, at 87, is serving her 11th consecutive term. Or 82-year-old Stephen Jarislowsky, the billionaire investor activist, who still puts in regular days at the helm of Jarislowsky Fraser & Co. Ltd., the Montreal investment firm he founded in 1955.
Mr. McKenzie has no intentions of packing it in any time soon. "My wife would divorce me," he laughs. "She doesn't want me rearranging the dishwasher all day."
Indeed, a growing number of older workers have no intention of slowing down. According to a recent survey sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada, 38 per cent of 1,200 Canadians polled said they planned to work full-time past the age of 65; that figure shot up to 53 per cent when it included part-time work.
The share of Canada's 65-plus workers still in the labour force has risen to about 10 per cent today, from about 6 per cent in the late 1990s, a trend likely to continue, according to Sherry Cooper, chief economist at BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., and the author of The New Retirement.
Statistics Canada projects the participation rate of those 55 and over will rise to about 20 per cent in the next decade from about 14 per cent today.
Among them are a growing share of those working to, and through, their octogenarian years.
"Just ask Alan Greenspan," says Ms. Cooper, referring to the former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board, who left that post at age 80 and, at 82, still keeps going: In mid-January, he was hired as an adviser by hedge fund Paulson & Co.
"More Canadians are working straight through their retirement years, even into their eighties," says Barbara Jaworski, president of the Toronto-based Workplace Institute and author of Kaa Boom, How to Engage the 50-plus Worker and Beat the Workforce Crisis.
Working longer is not only good for them, it's good for their employers, she says. With the bulge of baby boomers nearing retirement age, and fewer Gen-Xers behind them, Canada is bracing for a labour shortage, she says.
And there is a growing pool of talent to be found among seniors, with Canada's population aging fast, she says.
According to Statistics Canada, the number of Canadians 65 and over is expected to double to almost eight million in 2028 from nearly four million in 2000.
The number of people 80 and over will more than double in the next 25 years, to about 2.5 million, Statscan projects.
They will also be a larger demographic force, representing 6.3 per cent of the population by 2031, compared with 3.6 per cent in 2006.
Now that mandatory retirement is all but gone in Canada - new legislation banning it in Nova Scotia, the last remaining province, comes into effect in July, 2009 - seniors are no longer automatically forced out of organizations.
And while the greatest number of job openings for seniors is currently in the retail and service industries, that's changing, Ms. Cooper says.
"Today, most of the 'stars' are just keeping on keeping on, " she says.
"Lawyers, physicians, professors, writers and so many more don't need to 'get hired.' They are presidents of their own personal services corporations."
And they will continue to work as they get older and older, she predicts.
While men still outnumber women in the 80-plus work force, that trend is also starting to change, Ms. Jaworski says. Women over 55 are the fastest-growing group in the labour market, she says.
"With their kids up and gone, women are working in record numbers. So we'll definitely see many more over the age of 80 in the coming years."
But aren't they ready for some well-earned downtime? Not necessarily, Ms. Jaworski says. In fact, there are many reasons to keep on making that trek to the office.
For those over 80, working provides a much-needed, and energizing, social outlet, says retirement coach Kristi Nielsen, founder of 50pluslifestyles.com based in Burnaby, B.C., and author of Retirement Inspirement.
"As people age, they can lose hope and purpose, and feel detached from life. Involvement in the community, in making a difference, really helps."
And in our zest-for-youth culture, older people feel younger than they used to, says career strategist Mark Venning, founder of Change Rangers, a retirement consulting firm in Oakville, Ont.
"These days, seniors feel they have so much to offer. Once they get past perfecting that golf game, they say: 'What now?' "
For many working seniors, though, it's more a matter of necessity than choice, Ms. Nielsen says. "Too many of them hit retirement age still in debt, and suddenly find they can't afford to slow down."
Still others experience work more as an addiction than a choice, she says. Someone who has been in a managerial role for decades may simply be unable to let go of having something to manage. And the prospect of losing a "career identity" is scary, she says. "If you define yourself by your business card, when you retire, you become just 'hey you'."
Most workaholics don't have a well-balanced life chock full of hobbies and exercise, Ms. Nielsen says. They need work to keep busy.
For some, the urge to earn can itself become addictive, she says, especially for seniors who grew up poor. "Adding to your retirement egg and transitioning to using that egg is very hard for many people."
To hang on to their senior work force, many companies are offering flexible working arrangements, such as job-sharing and part-time positions, as well as sweeter pension plans, she says. Some are also rehiring seniors on a contract basis, in mentor roles, or to collaborate on specific projects, Mr. Venning adds.
"One of the key strategies facing companies these days is how to prevent older employees, who are typically in the most senior positions, from walking out the door," says Terry Lister, an executive consultant at IBM Canada Ltd., who joined the company's Retiree On-Call program after she retired at 57.
The program, originally started by IBM back in 1987, was reintroduced in 2005 to leverage the skills and knowledge of IBM's senior employees in response to the changing demographics, says Debra Bendiks, country workforce manager at IBM.
Under the program, retirees who might choose to keep working under the right conditions agree to make themselves available for up to 1,200 hours a year on a contract basis. Because the hours are flexible, employees can work from home, take advantage of golf season, or block off certain days for rest, Ms. Lister says. "And since the company doesn't have to recruit and train someone new, it's a win-win for everyone."
The program is definitely working to retain senior talent at IBM, Ms. Lister says. The number of retiree-on-call employees, ranging in age from their early fifties to mid-seventies, has grown from about 250 in 2005 to close to 400 in Canada today, Ms. Bendiks says.
She expects that workers "well into their 60s, 70s, and even beyond" will continue to sign on, as long as they remain active and healthy.
Still, aging in the work force is not without challenges. Ageism is one concern, Ms. Nielsen says.
Understandably, for the over-80 set, the biggest obstacle is poor health, Ms. Jaworski says, adding that the best recipe for career longevity is a good combination of lifestyle and genes.
"Eighty is that magic number where health can suddenly turn," Mr. Venning says.
But he adds that what makes most seniors so successful is their undeniable zest for life.
"We live in a knowledge-based world. So if you have a sharp intellectual mind and good technological skills, there's really no reason not to work into your nineties."
CLOSE-UP STILL TOILING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
Putting in an honest day's work 20 years or more after traditional retirement age
86YEARS OLD
SHEILA STREET
Occupation: Office manager,
LL Graves CA, Marpole, B.C.
What she does
Ms. Street has been the accounting firm's office manager for the past 20 years. She spent most of her life as a full-time mother and part-time volunteer but when, in her mid-50s, her marriage collapsed, she took a job as an accounting secretary at a local church, where she worked until mandatory retirement kicked in. Then she heard the accounting firm was looking for a senior to answer phones; when her employer realized she was adept at bookkeeping, he promoted her to office manager.
Her workweek
She worked full-time until three years ago, when she suffered a stroke. Now that she also has a bad back, her hours are at her discretion. She typically works three days a week; more at tax time.
Why she continues to work
Simple: She needs the money.
The ups and downs
She loves the family atmosphere at work, but getting there is not as easy as it used to be. "There's no elevator, so, once I'm up those 20 steps, I stay in the office until it's time to go home. No running out for stamps or lunch."
Her advice
Find an employer that seems to have a relaxed atmosphere and shows concern for your well-being, one who will allow you to work at your own pace and makes you feel an integral part of the company. "My employer always invites me to staff lunches and calls to check on me when I'm off sick. The work staff is like family."
Second winds
Want to work into your 80s? Widen your prospects with these tips from Workplace Institute president Barbara Jaworski and IBM Canada Ltd.'s Terry Lister:
Consider work-life balance
Figure out what would make continuing to work most attractive to you: Look at working conditions (at home or in the office, for instance), hours per week, and nature of the projects you'd like to take on.
Speak to your boss
Communicate your desire to continue working and in what capacity. Ask about available flexible working arrangements.
Use the Internet
Check out online communities that target seniors, such as theskillsmatch.ca, carp.ca, fifty-plus.net, and workplaceinstitute.org.
Keep on top of tech curve
Take a few courses to brush up on your skills if you are not as literate as you'd like to be.
Sell yourself
Your résumé is long and packed with experience. Keep it updated and use it to show that you are versatile and ready, willing and able to take on new roles and challenges.
Tap your personal network
By now, you know a lot of people. Put the word out that you are available.
Stay fit
If you manage your health with proper nutrition, annual checkups and daily exercise, you'll reduce your stress level and you will also boost the energy quotient that's key to working as long as possible.
90 YEARS OLD
Dr. Abram Hoffer
Occupation: Psychiatrist turned nutritional consultant, Orthomolecular Vitamin Centre, Victoria.
What he does
Known for his work in the controversial field of orthomolecular psychiatry, the development of therapies that use nutrition and vitamins to treat schizophrenia, Dr. Hoffer began his career in 1950. In 2006, he gave up his medical licence, and now works as a nutritional consultant treating clients from an office at his company.
His workweek
He works Monday through Thursday, takes Fridays off for errands, and uses the weekend to rest and recoup.
Why he continues to work
"I'm addicted to work. If I didn't work, I'd go mad."
The ups and downs
He finds great joy in helping people get well, but says it can be exhausting and feels he tires now more easily than he used to.
His advice
If you consider work a vocation, it'll be more fun, he says. Physical fitness is also key, says Dr. Hoffer, who hired a personal trainer six years ago and continues to work out with her twice a week, an hour at a time. And take vitamins, he adds. "I have been taking niacin and vitamin C since 1953, and they get the credit for the fact that I'm still going strong."
87 YEARS OLD
MAX BORINSKY
Occupation: Founder and past president, Marwood Properties Ltd., Toronto
What he does
Mr. Borinsky started out in the processed cheese and margarine business. After selling Monarch Fine Foods in 1963, he founded Marwood, a Toronto real estate and investment company, in 1967. Although he recently passed the presidency on to his son, the senior Mr. Borinsky still heads the daily business meetings.
His workweek
He is at work some time between 9 a.m. and noon, and tries to make it home no later than 6:45 pm, Monday to Friday.
Why he continues to work
"I have to start my day with purpose," Mr. Borinsky says. And since he's never had the time nor inclination to take up hobbies, since the age of 16, work has been his reason to get up and go.
The ups and downs
He's no longer top dog but, with a skilled staff to rely on, he enjoys more flexible hours.
His advice
As you age, make sure you have activity to keep your mind busy - especially if you don't have hobbies. "There's nothing like having a purpose to get you going in the morning." Jobs at this age, he says, require flexibility, so you're not locked into hours.
Age Obstacle: The 'Silver Ceiling'
Ageism is still alive, with many companies routinely turning away grey-haired workers, says retirement coach Kristi Nielsen, founder of 50pluslifestyles.com based in Burnaby, B.C., and author of Retirement Inspirement.
"Seniors are limited by what I call the silver ceiling," she says.
To determine what role age plays in their hiring practices, Ms. Nielsen last year asked 68 human resource managers at organizations across Canada how a candidate's age affects his or her job prospects.
While many companies claimed not to distinguish between workers of different ages, some of the answers shocked her.
"One manager of a well-known corporation with over 1,000 employees said that a worker's usefulness peaks at age 45. Thereafter, his salary should be decreased each year until he reaches 65, when he should be back at minimum wage because that's all a senior is worth," she says. "Imagine what that means for workers over 80."
When it comes to hiring seniors, some companies expressed concerns about their abilities, personalities and level of job commitment, she says. "Employers worry that the older an employee, the slower in picking up new information or new ways of performing, and the greater the resistance to taking instructions from supervisors," she says.
Some also worried about increased absenteeism because of failing health or caretaking responsibilities at home.
And without the safety net of mandatory retirement kicking in at 65, employers can no longer automatically cut the deadwood in their organizations, she says.
While they value those experienced seniors who get the job done, they may also find themselves stuck with some who aren't pulling their weight.