Can an employer encourage an employee to take annual leave during a temporary closure?

You may recall, KFC employees being asked to take annual leave during restaurant closures to cover the working time they have lost following chicken supply issues.

Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, employers can ask their staff to take all or part of their statutory annual leave on certain dates. However, unless agreed otherwise, the length of required notice should be at least twice the period of leave workers are required to take.