An action plan to foster adequate preparation for retirement for Seventh-Day Adventist employees of West Cameroon Conference

Abstract

Retirement is an inevitable stage in the lives of workers. It is a transition from the world of work into a world of less rigorous activity and more rest and recreation, especially if retirement is due to old age or long years of service. Adequate preparation for retirement is a great challenge for workers and management in organizations. Many persons in the world, including church workers, are dealing with this problem daily. This study assessed the preparations of current employees towards their future retirement and proposed an action plan that would promote adequate preparation for retirement in the West Cameroon Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist for employees. The research was conducted using simple descriptive statistics. The population in this study was 384 including pastors, teachers and medical personnel of Adventist West Cameroon conference. Data were gathered through questionnaires,which were administered to the latter by the researcher. The results are based on data collected from 105 respondents. The study findings revealed that most Adventist workers do not adequately prepare for retirement. In particular, the study indicates that the workers have not even really stopped to think about their retirement years. This is shown in the level of “undecided” answers through the survey. Most importantly, employees are not prepared financially. In relation to this, the workers do not seem to realize that their employers do have a role to play in that situation. They were vaguely aware of what should and could be done by their employing organization. The study recommends an action plan that Seventh-day Adventist organizations, especially West Cameroon Conference, can use to encourage workers to adequately prepare for a better retirement.