The Christmas holidays are coming so it’s worth thinking about your rights around leave and the Christmas closedown.
This year the Christmas closedown for NSW Health will be from Thursday, 25 December 2025 to Friday, 9 January 2026.
Can I be directed to take leave?
Your manager may encourage you to have a break and take leave after a big year but there are some rules around whether you can be forced to take leave.
Only employees with excess annual leave (more than 30 days for fulltime employees) may be directed to take leave during the Christmas closedown.
You can only be directed to take the excess portion of your annual leave.
You must be given three months notice where practicable, and at the very least one months notice.
If you have excess annual leave but you are saving it for a planned holiday then it is worth preparing and agreeing upon a plan for your excess leave with your manager. This may involve applying for leave now in advance of your holiday.
I want to take leave but my manager won’t approve it.
Managers are encouraged by the Leave Matters policy to approve leave wherever possible during the Christmas closedown period subject to operational requirements. You should apply for the break you want and need.
I want to work over the Christmas closedown.
If you aren’t taking leave but your work area is closed during the closedown then your manager may direct you to work somewhere else other than your normal department. This work should be consistent with your role, skills, and abilities.
How do I enforce my rights if my manager won’t listen?
You should first try to resolve any disagreements you have around the Christmas closedown with your manager in a respectful and polite way. You can refer them to the rights our union has won relating to excess annual leave and the Christmas closedown in the Leave Matters Policy and your award. If this is unsuccessful, you or your manager can refer your question to your local workforce team.
If you aren’t able to resolve your disagreement, please contact a union delegate or branch official at your site or call the HSU union office 1300 478 679 to speak to a member services officer to help enforce your rights.