During recent years, a discussion on work activity of retirees has commenced also in Germany. First, this contribution presents a survey of the North American phenomenon of bridge employment and, second, complements leadoff empirical results on individual motives and favored basic conditions in Germany. Individual and structural preconditions for work activity during retirement are presented as well as possible manifestations of retirement activities. This paper quantifies the extent of work activity of retirees in Germany into their upper seventies. Potential follow-up actions for the three levels individuals, organizations, as well as politics and society are recommended.