"Do some workers and employers prefer a lower salary for more vacation days? sure. Just agree on that as part of a contract. Don't force a one size fits all sol

"Do some workers and employers prefer a lower salary for more vacation days? sure. Just agree on that as part of a contract. Don't force a one size fits all solution on everyone." That wasn't the question, but rather if the protection cost you anything. Now you're just taking a "pro-business" stance as described in the top comment. Almost no employers would agree to larger amounts of unpaid vacation (which is what you are describing) unless that was the norm. I don't think anyone is questioning that paid vacation is shifting your salary around or make you work less hours, that's the whole point. But you can usually choose to take your full salary and work as many hours as if you didn't have vacation, the other way (getting unpaid vacation) is usually much harder.