Sounds about right, but every company's vacation policies are different. Some companies require you to take vacation if it's available, otherwise you take docked pay. See above, I think you're right about companies not punishing you, but some companies REQUIRE you to take vacation if it's available. I know where I work they REQUIRE you to do Jury Duty if you are summonsed.... they WON'T write a note to get you out of it... AND it's paid time not subtracted from your vacation. For summons not related to jury duty I believe you can take earned time OR unpaid.... but I'd have to check