I only got two weeks with my last employer (10 days) and I couldn't take more than one week at a time. In addition to that I was required to have my work phone with me at all times during my vacation.
We can take 2 weeks without prior consent but have known my employer to give permission for people to take 3-4 weeks in one go. That takes the piss, when I am on leave I don't check my email unless I am really bored and wouldn't even answer the phone if I saw a work number calling.
Do you rake a full 12 days vacation now? My fucking job started 5 days, after some time I got 7, I think I pull in 10 now. The next bump will be 12 days in god knows when. I think it's one of the reasons I rarely use vacation time, it's so goddamn precious I can't bring myself to squander it without a momentous occasion.
I think that's the thing. They know the magic number that plays mind games with you and stick to that.
How shitty is your job that you only got 5 days vacation? That sounds like you need to look for a new job more than anything. Which is absurd because the research shows that people are actually far more productive when they get lots of vacation time. Europeans work less and get more done essentially.
I think they low-balled me out of college, expecting a negotiation. But I didn't know how the game was played and accepted the first package they offered.