One thing that's worth noting is that most US white-collar jobs DO come with at least 5 and more commonly ~10 paid holidays per year. They're in addition to the

One thing that's worth noting is that most US white-collar jobs DO come with at least 5 and more commonly ~10 paid holidays per year. They're in addition to the vacation days quoted and are so taken for granted that employers don't bother mentioning them. (Things are different for many blue collar workers, since Americans expect services to be available even - or especially - on holidays.) I've yet to hear of a white collar employer that didn't grant New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Presidents Day, MLK Day, Columbus Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve are also common (the latter three because at least half your employees will take them as vacation days anyway, so they're not very productive.) At an office with a decent culture, upper management will often grant an additional couple of paid holidays just because of timing (and because heck, they want to spend a long weekend with their families too!). If Christmas falls on a Weds or Independence Day on a Tues, you'll also get Monday off. If that holiday falls on a Thurs, you'll get Friday off too. The holidays obviously don't make up for the ridiculously low number of vacation days we get, but they may be part of a miscommunication for non-Americans working for US companies, if in other countries the number of paid holidays is typically explicitly stated in an offer. If you're ever uncertain about what holidays you'd get in a job, ask. But 10 days being "generous" is bullshit anywhere I've worked.