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.
How much written notice an employee must give depends on how long he/she has worked for the same employer. An employee must give: 1  one weekâs written notice if he/she has a period of employment three months or more but less than two years. 2  two weeksâ written notice if he/she has a period of employment of two years or more.