united-kingdom employment
Can an employer dictate when an employee can take annual leave?
<p>My employer is trying enforce new rules about how we use our annual leave. Among other points they require the following are the ones of concern:</p>

<ol>
<li>50% of annual leave must be booked (planned, bot necessarily taken) by September</li>
<li>There must be at least two people in the office on all working days</li>
<li>The manager has priority over leave during the Christmas break this year as he missed it last year (due to the enforcement of rule number 2 that he introduced).</li>
</ol>

<p>Due to the slightly chaotic nature of my life outside of work, planning leave a long way ahead is extremely difficult. And although I'm not too concerned about needing 2 people in the office at any time it is obviously more of a concern at Christmas. I don't live very far away from my workplace, we have full remote access and I have said I am prepared to be "On Call" for an emergency but am not physically required in the office. However my manager is adamant that I physically need to be here. Also denying out leave during that period to give himself priority seems an abuse of his position.</p>

<p>Am curious what restrictions they can legally enforce?</p>

<p>The employer can require an employee to take leave and deny leave at particular times. See <a href="https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights/booking-time-off-" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights/booking-time-off-</a></p>
