The US is *terrible* for holidays, from what I've gathered. Here in the UK I would guess 22 days are the average. I'm on 22 and I get the option to buy 2 more day's holiday, which I always take. Don't really understand you folks on the list that hardly get any holiday and then don't take your full allowance... Maybe you just have really really ace and relaxed jobs?

As far as I'm aware 'vacation' is mainly US-English, whereas 'holiday' is the English term for it.

Europe does a little better than the UK, at least northern Europe and countries like France. France even have a bit of a summer shut-down where everyone disappears to their homes in the south of France - nice.

Practically 6 weeks ... including all holiday times such as xmas.
Insanely lot .. but that's one of the downsides of being stuck in Europe

hm in my first year as unix admin I took <1 week, this was last year, this year I'll take about 3 weeks, but I still have 4 weaks left from last year + 2 from this year

and I don't get them paid if i don't use them, but I can keep them for 3 years, then I'll be forced to take them

and yes we call vacation holliday in austria

I just returned from 9 days vacation at the sea side, it was awesome, but usually 2 weeks are enough for me.

I've worked mainly for major coporations and most give you two weeks to start and then you build on that the longer you are employed. When I worked for a bank we had to take two weeks at one time. (some law). They didn't tell me that during the interview and hiring. It really stinks when you only have two weeks and you can't spread it out.

I have been at this job for almost 25 years. We get 10 days to start then 3 weeks (15 business days) after 5 years, 5 personal days and the week between Christmas and New Years off, plus 6 holidays thru the year. We earn another 5 vacation days after 15 years employement and then 1 day for every year after 20years up to 25 yeras for a max of 25 earned vacation days. We can also purchase up to 5 days.

We aren't allowed to sell them.

Since I still have a child at home - although he is high school age - I take the majority of my vacation time in the summer. I reduce my work week to 4 days for the months of July and August then use the rest for family trips.

A few years back they encouraged us to buy additional vacation time - up to 10 days - to reduce overhead so the company could show a better profit. I jumped at the chance.

(There's always the chance they might forget who you are if you don't show up now and then - go figure )

In October of 2005, before my employer started mandating that users take their vacation time or lose it, I had acquired 10 weeks of vacation. They told me I had to take 6 weeks of it before January 1, 2006.

So I took off two weeks in October, two weeks for Thanksgiving and two weeks for Christmas.

Now I acquire 5 weeks per year (I've been here for 11.5 years) and I rarely have time to use it. But I try my best!

i get 20 days plus bank holidays.
as far as i am concerned its not enough, i cant believe so many people only have 2 weeks!