His retirement fund was melting too quickly

Photo Carl Vaillancourt
Johanne Marquette held the positions of huissière-audiencière of how supernumerary for approximately three years at the palais de justice in Saint-Hyacinthe.

Carl Vaillancourt

Tuesday, February 6, 2018 01:00

UPDATE
Tuesday, February 6, 2018 01:00

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A woman who has worked 38 years in the field of health has not had another choice than to return to the labour market two years after retiring when it realized that its pension fund was melting too quickly.

Johanne Marquette has worked as the administrative officer for 38 years at the hospital in Saint-Hyacinthe before his retirement in 2012, at the age of 56.

After having spent two years in care for the elderly to make ends meet, it has come to the conclusion that she should return on the job market if she wanted to enjoy a retirement as comfortable as she wanted.

“My pension and my pension will give me approximately 20 000 $ per year, which pays the bare minimum. I wanted to enjoy my retirement while I’m still healthy, ” said the woman, who is now 61 years old.

Bad investments

His pension would have had to allow him to live comfortably, but the 61-year old woman admits that two significant events have had an impact on his wool socks.

After ten years of career, Johanne, Marquette has decided to withdraw its pension funds to invest in investments that promised returns of 10% to 12% per year.

However, the results did not materialize. A significant part of his retirement has been squandered by poor investment choices.

The second blow was her divorce in 2003. The couple’s separation caused him to lose once again a lot of money. It has, however, been able to keep all of his pension fund and receive a portion of the sale of their single family home.

“I do not live above my means, I could not allow myself of excess “, grants-t-it.

After two years doing odd jobs, she finally decided to return to the labour market to increase the prize pool to an RRSP.

New job

It is his daughter, Catherine Berthiaume, who had been informed in 2014 that the palace of justice of Saint-Hyacinthe was looking for workers to fill some of the functions are very precise.

Interested in the administration of justice, Johanne Marquette, who was then 58 years old, has filled out the form from the ministry of Justice to work.

After an interview with the human resources, she was eventually hired as a huissière hearing at the palais de justice in Saint-Hyacinthe.

A job that it occupies between three and four days per week for the past three years.

“It allows me not to worry with the money. I can also pay for travel each year, which was impossible before, ” explains Johanne Marquette.

It affects approximately 17 000 $ from his new part time job.

For retired people

The role of court usher in the courthouse is tailor-made for retired people.

The spokesperson of the ministry of Justice of Quebec, Paul-Jean Charest, says that the status of retired is a nice plus for the position of court attendant in the palace of justice.

“The current status of retirees gives them more flexibility, which is both to the benefit of the employer and the employee, since the working conditions are of a casual nature [on-call] “, he explains.

For its part, Johanne Marquette remembers that the people in human resources who had conducted their interview in 2014 had pointed out that the fact that she is retired, was an advantage in its application.

“I was informed that we could appeal to me once or twice a week. He wanted to be certain that I didn’t expect after this to live. I was available when he called me, and then finally I do between three and four days per week now. I have no difficulty in obtaining leave, it is perfect like this, ” she says.

An exception according to the MJQ

The media adviser added, however, that not all the jobs at the palace of justice that may be suitable for retirees.

“The tasks and the schedule are better suited to their reality, which, it is important to remember, is not necessarily the case for other types of jobs,” explains Paul-Jean Charest.

According to Johanne Marquette, its role huissière hearing is physically demanding some days because of the many stairs in the palais de justice in Saint-Hyacinthe.

“There are mornings when I have to do some back-and-forth between the youth Room and the service registry, it is 42 steps to climb. You need to be in shape still to exercise the functions, since it must also be rigorous at all times, ” she added.