Retirees can benefit former employers

A Missouri law allows retired state employees to draw retirement benefits while simultaneously receiving state paychecks for other state work.

The law allows retired employees to continue to work for state government on a part-time basis for up to 1,000 hours in a 12- month period. Anyone exceeding the limit can have pension benefits suspended. Missouri is one of three states that allow this.

The system was designed to open senior-level positions for younger workers while still allowing the state to benefit from the expertise of longtime employees. For example, Senate administrator Ron Kirchoff retired in February but was hired on a part-time basis as interim director of the Senate research department. As interim director, Kirchoff isn't permitted to work more than 990 hours a year. He is paid about $43,000 in addition to his retirement benefits.

As long as proper procedures are followed and careful records are kept, there are some obvious benefits. Similar policies have worked well in the private sector and at other levels of government.