hotpink- yes sadly they can do this. One of my previous jobs operated this way, and no matter how much I argued that it wasn't my fault that the place was closed, so why should i use my holiday entitlements towards it? I and everyone, else didn't get away with it.
i think bedbobs and twenty are missing the point here. Hotpink is asking why she should use her holidays up when it's not of her doing why her firm is taking a holiday.
I work for a local authority and we are given the option of working if we wish to do so over the Christmas period, so that employees who don't wish to use their leave up over don't have to.