Christmas closure countdown: Important rule changes for annual leave and shutdowns

With Christmas less than 90 days away, employers should be turning their minds to planning and confirming their Christmas/New Year shutdown arrangements.

What is a “shutdown”?

A shutdown, sometimes referred to as a close down, occurs when an employer’s business (or part of the business) temporarily shuts down for a period of time. Shutdowns usually occur during holiday periods such as Christmas/New Year, when there is a decrease in general business activity, or at other times when the specific business is not in demand.

As part of the plain language review of modern awards, the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission proposed a draft model clause in relation to annual leave shutdown provisions in modern awards.