A relatively new phenomenon in the business world is the number of women who remain in the work force after retirement, sometimes long after the age at which they might be expected to go home and grow old gracefully. There are an increasing number of women who continue to work after retirement, and the good news is that companies are willing to hire them or keep them employed, believing that older women exercise a “calming” influence on their other work force.

The reasons women work past retirement age are complex. Often they’ve had their work interrupted by families they had to stay home and care for so they have failed to achieve their employment goals. A few more years might make the difference.

And often women have been forced to take part-time jobs, also meaning they have not met their economic goals at retirement age. In addition, many women report they don’t like giving up their professional identity and miss work after they retire.

So it really boils down to several reasons and often, one may continue working for more than one reason. Women continue to work for increased financial security, to keep healthy and active, and because it is enjoyable. In the words of Bobbie Tallas, at 70, still employed in the publishing field, “If I quit work, I’d stay home on my couch, watching television, and eating Doritos all day!”