I'm doing my best to understand this and be empathetic. Best of my brief research you haven't got any law bound entitlements so whatever the "status quo" is has been set by employers. So what I'm understanding here is that it's not even an agreement, it's just an understanding? Trying my best not to be inflammatory, as I understand this is a cultural thing for the US. But in a country with so little workers rights and entitlements, that high end workers are not even able to protect themselves with contracts seems silly.

> The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations, sick leave or federal or other holidays. These benefits are matters of agreement between an employer and an employee (or the employee's representative).

https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/workhours/vacation_leave

I think the concept is, you protect yourself with the cash you earn. Similarly to SW contractors in EU.

Not silly, happens all the time.

Everything is negotiable. That said, the bigger the company, the harder it can be.

F500 company and you want a line out of your mid-level developer contract? Their legal likely doesn't have time and they will just hire someone else.

Startup? Literally write your own contract.

I vaguely recall striking out some sentences I didn't like, and initialing it. My current employer didn't mind.

> The only things typically up for negotiation is the sign on bonus/equity and base pay. If you start trying to negotiate vacations and holidays, you're going to look pretty silly.

Everything is up for negotiation. Just depends whether or not you have options. I have seen PTO negotiated in the US.

What? Negotiating PTO is pretty standard in my (US) view. I know plenty of people who've done it.