Good day all.

Our bookkeeper has been employed with our company since it's inception 27 years ago.

Her employment contract at the time was obviously something copied from a handbook, a very generic template that was meant only as a base guide, but as our beginnings were very informal, it was never tweeked to suit the company specifically.
Under the subheading "Retirement" there were 3 options, 55, 60, 65 being the ages stipulated that the employee would retire.
One of these options should have been ticked, but never was.
To be honest I doubt that anyone ever envisaged the company surviving long enough that retirement would become a reality.

The situation is quite delicate as she sees herself as a "family friend", I see her as obsolete and overpaid. She turned 60 earlier this year and I believe it is time for some younger more tech savvy blood.

If a retirement age is not specified in the contract, can I ask or if need be, insist that she retire?