Although her 68th birthday is coming soon, Barb Kirkman is in a “wait and see” mode as far as retirement is concerned. Her employer, Centennial Communications, may be purchased by AT&T this year.

“We've not been given any promises on who they'll keep and who may get laid off,” she said. Kirkman would like to keep working because she wants a few more years of adding to her 401(k). Like many women, she opted to stay home when her children were growing up.

“I volunteered in their schools and was involved in their activities,” the Fort Wayne woman said. For a long time, she worked two part-time jobs to make ends meet after her divorce. “I got such a late start in being able to put money into a 401(k). Then when you see what you have is cut in half, well, it's one of the reasons I'm hanging on to my job as long as I can.”

She worries about her children's savings, too. Her son's Fort Wayne employer has laid off workers and cut hours. All employees of the North Carolina nonprofit where her daughter works have a mandatory 30-day furlough in May.

“It's hitting everyone,” Kirkman said, noting while she has considered retiring and finding a part-time job, “I like my job and the people I work with. I might as well stay where I'm at and where I know I can do what I do rather than go and try to find another job.” An acquaintance, a local department store manager, has told her when she's ready to move to part time he will hire her, but Kirkman said, “I'm not sure if my knees can handle that.”

“I'm getting my Social Security and trying to save. Since I'm beyond the age that there is a penalty if I take money out of my (401(k)), I did take some out this last year and put in a CD. At least it's making a little something.”

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See WANE-TV's story on this topic at www.wane.com.