I retired after 30 years, but my former coworkers keep asking me to help them do their jobs for free. Should I step in or set boundaries?

The challenge is that Larry was the subject matter expert in the office. And though he tried his best to get his replacement up to speed, it was tough to pass along three decades of institutional knowledge in just a couple of months.

While he didn’t mind helping at first, the constant work requests are getting to be too much, especially as he’s not getting paid. After all, he retired because the job was increasingly stressful. Here’s what retirees can do if they find themselves in a similar situation.

Baby boomer brain drain

More than four million Americans are turning 65 every year through 2027, according to a report from the Alliance for Lifetime Income. (1)

That’s leading to a “baby boomer brain drain” as companies lose their most experienced employees to retirement.

Without a succession plan, that invaluable institutional knowledge could be lost. That’s why newly retired employees may get calls from former colleagues.

And, while it may be flattering at first or retirees genuinely want to help, it can take an emotional toll.

Retirement marks a major life transition, both financially and socially.

About four in five (81%) Americans say workplace friendships are “highly important,” according to a KPMG survey. (2)

That’s why some retirees may find themselves feeling lonely or isolated as those workplace friendships fade away.

But many of those friendships were situational. You bonded over shared projects, watercooler conversations and after-work get-togethers. Once you leave, you no longer share those experiences.

That’s why some retirees may be eager to help when a former colleague calls with work-related requests — blurring the line between friendly help and unpaid labor.

Larry, for example, wants to feel valued and keep his social connections from work, but he has valid reasons to decline those requests.

Setting post-career boundaries

Retirees should feel empowered to define what level of ongoing work involvement, if any, feels right.

That means setting clear boundaries with former colleagues around whether you’re available for work-related requests.

If you’re retired and willing to help out, consider a paid consulting arrangement.

You can charge by the hour or by the project. For broader scopes of work, you could ask for a monthly retainer.

It’s wise to sign a contract outlining details of the arrangement and your fee, as well as timelines (especially if you don’t want to work indefinitely).

Not only can this type of arrangement provide a sense of purpose, but it may also provide extra income and fund retirement goals, like travel.

Just be sure to understand how the added income affects your retirement benefits and taxes.

If you’re already receiving Social Security, your benefit may be temporarily reduced if you’re under your full retirement age (FRA) and earn more than the annual earnings limit set by the Social Security Administration ($24,480 in 2026).

In that case, the SSA withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 earned over that limit until you reach your FRA. After that, there’s no annual limit.