[kelnos]

Create a mandatory 'real vacation' by requiring employees to take at least a week off, in a row, once a year

Great idea, but I would argue a week isn't enough. Require employees to take a minimum 2 or 3 weeks off per year, not necessarily contiguously.

Although, I can also see this as a bad thing. It might create the impression in people's mind that "the company thinks that X weeks is the right amount for everyone to take off", which might make people hesitant to take more, even if doing so could greatly benefit their state of mind.