The Christmas shutdown starting on Friday will keep the annual leave balances of holidaying public servants untouched, except for staff at two of the government's largest agencies.

An analysis of the workplace deals for Canberra's largest 20 government employers shows that when it comes to holiday festivity, some agencies are more Scrooge-like than others.

Some agencies are more Scrooge-like than others when it comes to the annual shutdown. Credit:WARWICK SMITH/FAIRFAX NZ

In the newly-formed Department of Home Affairs, which has adopted the workplace agreement of the former Immigration Department (except for statutory agencies moving into the agency), staff must use annual leave or flexitime during the shutdown.