This note considers the issues relating to the retirement of employees, where the process was initiated before 6 April 2011 (the date when the default retirement age was abolished). It considers the statutory procedures employers needed to follow and how to deal with requests by employees to remain in employment beyond retirement age. It also considers the claims that might arise in relation to the old law. For the law on retirement post-abolition of the default retirement age (DRA), see Practice note, Discrimination in employment: retirement.