EMPLOYERS who operate a shut down policy over Christmas, expecting all workers to take annual leave, could be breaking new employment equality rules which have come into force.

Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations now make it unlawful to discriminate against any employee that has a religious or similar philosophical belief.

By expecting staff to take annual leave over the Christmas period, employers could be preventing individuals from taking annual leave at a different time of religious significance to them.

Under the new regulations, this could be seen as indirect discrimination unless employers can justify the closure for business reasons, such as maintenance work.