[microtonal]

The same thing is common here in The Netherlands. Also, 20 days of paid holidays (excluding weekends) are mandatory, although some employers offer more. IIRC I have ~37 days of paid leave (excluding weekends), but I am not exactly sure since I never completely use it :). We also get extra days off for e.g. moving or marrying. Most of my colleagues completely disconnect during holidays (no work-related e-mail, phone calls, etc.).

I think the idea of restricting the spending of holiday money to holidays only is difficult to execute in most organisations.

[objclxt]

I am not totally sure if this is true or not, but somebody from the Netherlands was telling me you can roll over your paid holiday allocation year on year?

[Loic]

In France, Germany and Denmark (where I have been employed) you can do this for something like 10 to 20 days (usually 10 days). But sometimes, you can do this but some of them need to be taken within 3 months of the next "holiday" year (the holiday year starts usually 1st of April).

It means for example, that with the about 11 holidays + WE + 30 paid holidays + 10 days from the year before, you can get a year with 51 days "unconnected".

[microtonal]

I don't know what the general rule is here. My employer allows my to save a certain number of vacation hours for the next year. However, these leftovers can only be used the next year. In other words, you cannot save hours multiple years, and then take a year of ;).

[devdas]

Only a limited number of days. Currently, 6 days, I think.