The contribution of spirituality to the process of retirement

The process of withdrawing from the full-time workforce to pursue other interests is traditionally known as retirement. As governments and individuals strive for self-sufficiency, the role of retirement planning becomes very relevant. Spirituality has an important role to play in retirement planning at an organizational and individual level. At an organizational level, we recognize the relationship between workplace spirituality and work outcomes, which in turn predicts retirement intentions. We acknowledge the importance of workplace spirituality in recognizing the "whole person" in the career development process and easing the transition from work to retirement. Organizations play a role in preparing and supporting employees in making decisions and implementing plans. At an individual level, there are three important ways that spirituality contributes to retirement: individual spirituality and its relationship to workability, coping with unexpected changes and the issue of time perspective (i.e. where the future ends). Recommendations for future research and practical implications are presented.