I don’t want to take a holiday, but my employer is closing the business over the festive season and wants me to use my annual leave. Do I have to?

Yes. You do not have the absolute right to choose when you take your holiday, and your employer can tell you when to take your leave.

However, your employer must give you two days’ notice for every day they want you to take, if he or she is telling you when you must take your holiday. So if your employer is telling you that you must take four days' holiday, they need to tell you this at least eight days' in advance. Your employer can refuse your request for a specific holiday date, but you cannot turn down your employer's instruction to take leave.