Closing Over Christmas? Shutdown Notice Periods Are Fast Approaching

A short reminder from the Drayton’s Team that if you want your people to use annual leave during a shutdown, there can be notice requirements in modern awards or enterprise agreements. If you are bound by an enterprise agreement, then this will provide the notice periods. This can vary and include reasonable notice. The notice periods are fast approaching, please see below.

Notice periods under the modern awards

• Building and Construction General On-site Award: 2 months
• Clerks Private Sector Award: 28 days
• Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award: 28 days

If, as an example, you are covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 and are closing down on Saturday 19 December, then the notice will need to be issued by Monday 19 October 2026.

It’s important to note that if someone doesn’t have enough annual leave, you can’t put them on unpaid leave unless they agree to it in writing.

Our public holiday and IR calendar for October 2026 to December 2027, covering every state and territory and the key IR dates for 2027, is available to download below.

If you would like to talk any of this through, call us on (07) 3831 7099 or contact the Drayton’s team.

We hope you enjoy the break when it comes.

General information only, not legal advice.