The IFF pension fund has existed for (over) 80 years! All these years, IFF employees have been building a good retirement provision together through the pension fund, and the pension fund also takes care of partners and children of IFF employees in the event of their death. We let two participants speak: Bert Lonterman (71) and Hakan Karabag (45). The former is retired and currently a board member, the latter is still working hard. How do they view the anniversary fund, on the eve of major changes in pension country? And what does the future of building pensions together look like?

What did and does your life at IFF look like?

Bert: "My father was already working there when I was born. In 2013, when I was 61, I retired as inventory coordinator Flavors. My birth announcement was in the staff magazine in 1951, as was my appointment in 1973.  And most recently, as a board member myself, I got to inaugurate the first digital retirement café. That spans over seventy years...'

Hakan: 'Since 2001, I first worked for a year and a half as a temporary employee and then joined the company permanently. I have worked in almost all planning departments within flavors and am now production planner liquid compounding.'

What about your own retirement awareness?

Hakan: 'I started thinking about retirement quite early. I lost my father early, I was 17. He always worked and didn't get to enjoy it. I prefer to do like Bert, I think at 62 it's been nice. You can't just do that, you have to do something for that.

Bert: "I have to be honest, for a very long time I hardly realized there was a pension fund. I knew I was accruing a pension, but that was about it. I trusted that it was well regulated. Only later did I begin to take an interest in it. The retirement age kept moving up a bit. At the time, I put every extra payment into the life-course savings plan. This allowed me to retire earlier. The freedom attracted me very much, especially when the sun was shining.

Is it important to have your own pension fund?

Hakan: 'It's good to keep it in your own hands, I don't know if the changes will benefit the participants.'

Bert: 'I would personally regret it if it went all the way towards the flexible contract, I am in favor of the solidarity contract. A wonderful fund was established eighty years ago by the then Polak & Schwarz. The company took good care of its people. As a board we would like to continue, the participants would like that too, but ultimately the social partners have to make the decision.'

What is the important task for the coming period?

Bert: "We have to increase the pension awareness of participants. That is difficult, I know. The saying is: you can take the horse to the water, but you can't force it to drink from it. We have to make sure people have a realistic picture so they can make wise decisions.

Hakan: "I myself, for example, use all the online opportunities offered by the pension fund, but I don't think every IFF person does. Some colleagues now know that I might become a prospective member at pension board. The first reactions were, "Nice, then we know who to go to if we have questions." The key is to really connect with the participants.