Add Comment Question: At the end of November, the owners of our Ontario company informed the staff they would be closing the HO for the last week of December. Then informed the staff we would have to use our personal vacation pay. I feel this is a bullying tactic. They have closed their two processing locations for two weeks for Christmas but this is the first time they have closed the HO. Is this considered an ethical situation or one we could go back to them and justify not using our accrued vacation time. Thank you for your input. Answer: Section 35 of the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 stipulates that an employer can determine when an employee takes vacation, subject to the following restrictions: - The vacation must be completed no later than ten (10) months after the end of the vacation entitlement year for which it is given. - If the employee’s period of employment is less than five years, the vacation must be a two-week period or two periods of one week each, unless the employee requests in writing that the vacation be taken in shorter periods and the employer agrees to that request. - If the employee’s period of employment is five years or more, the vacation must be a three-week period or a two-week period and a one-week period or three periods of one week each, unless the employee requests in writing that the vacation be taken in shorter periods and the employer agrees to that request. Your Comment * Your Email * Your Name * Your City Note, your name, city and email is not displayed on the website. It is used to notify you that we have approved your comment.