Seeking resources: predicting retirees' return to their workplace

Purpose – This study aims to employ a resource‐oriented theoretical perspective to examine retirees' desire to return to their former organization.Design/methodology/approach – Using a cross‐sectional field study design, data were collected from 243 retirees under 65 years of age who had been retired from a career job less than ten years.Findings – Regression results indicate that retirees who had experienced financial and pervasive role loss as well as retirees who perceived a higher fit with their former organization and the availability of desired job role options expressed significantly greater interest in returning. Retirees who experienced gains in leaving work as well as gains in their life satisfaction following retirement reported significantly less interest in returning to their former organization.Research limitations/implications – The cross‐sectional design and self‐report data create a potential for bias. Even though the findings are based on respondents' “interest” in returning to their for...