Medical experts usually say the average person can live for 4 to 6 weeks without food. The amount of time someone can go without water is much shorter, roughly a week (or less).
Your employer can force you to take leave at a particular time as long as they give you at least two weeks' notice. However, it is common for employer and employee to come to an agreement about the timing of annual leave. If you put in a request for leave, your employer has to have a good reason to refuse it.
An employer must give: 1  8 weeks' notice if the employment of 50 to 199 employees is to be terminated. 2  12 weeks' notice if the employment of 200 to 499 employees is to be terminated. 3  16 weeks' notice if the employment of 500 or more employees is to be terminated.