Vacation is a term used in English speaking North America to describe time away from work or school, a trip abroad, or simply a pleasure trip away from home. In the rest of the English-speaking world the word "holiday" is used. In Canada both terms are widely used. In England the word vacation referred specifically to the long summer break taken by the law courts (and later universities) - a custom introduced by William the Conqueror from Normandy where it was intended to facilitate the grape harvest. The French term is similar to the American English: "Les Vacances". The term derives from the fact that, in the past, upper-class families would literally move to a summer home for part of the year, leaving their usual family home vacant.
Country
legally required
Argentina
12 calendar days
Australia
Not required, but 4 weeks is standard
Austria
5 weeks, for elderly employees 6 weeks
The Bahamas
2 weeks after 1 year employment, 3 weeks after 5 years employment
Belgium
20 days, premium pay
Brazil
20 consecutive days
Bulgaria
20 business days
Canada
10 working days, determined by provincial law
Vietnam
10 working days.
Chile
15 working days
China
Not required
Czech Republic
4 weeks
Colombia
2 weeks
European Union
4 weeks, more in some countries
Ecuador
2 weeks
Finland
5 weeks
France
5 weeks + 2 weeks of RTT (Reduction du Temps de Travail, in English : Reduction of Working Time) = 7 weeks. The most significant vacation time of any country in the world.
Germany
4 weeks (24 "workable" days, i.e. Mo to Sa, even if the working week is Mo to Fri), plus 9 to 13 bank holidays
Hong Kong
7 days
Hungary
20 working days
Israel
14 days
Japan
including sick leave: 18 days paid time off;
officially, five weeks (in reaction to the karoshi problem)
Korea, South
10 working days
Mexico
1 week
Netherlands
4 weeks
New Zealand
4 weeks as of April 1, 2007
Norway
25 working days
Paraguay
2 weeks
Peru
2 weeks
Poland
20 business days, 26 business days after 10 years of employment
Puerto Rico
15 days
Romania
minimum 20 working days
Saudi Arabia
15 days
Singapore
7 days
South Africa
21 consecutive days
Spain
30 calendar days
Sweden
5 weeks
Switzerland
4 weeks
Taiwan
7 days
Turkey
12 work days
Tunisia
30 work days
Ukraine
24 calendar days
United Kingdom
20 calendar days, plus 8 bank holidays
United States
Not required, but 7-21 days is standard for most employers. Typically, 10 working days.
Uruguay
2 weeks
Venezuela
15 paid days