Annual shutdowns

organisations that operate annual shutdowns where most if not all annual leave is pre-allocated need to consider whether such closures are justified.

Such arrangements may prevent individuals taking annual leave at times of specific religious significance to them.

Such closures may be necessary where there is an assemble line operation or essential maintenance requires complete shutdown, but employers need to be clear that this is justified. Employers then need to consider if there are ways that they can balance the needs of the business with those of their staff. They might, for example, explore whether the shutdown arrangements need to include every staff group. They might also consider whether there are some tasks that could be more productively performed during a period of shut down.