How common is vacation without the vacation? Is it even supposed to happen?

I’ve heard that last year in America people took off significantly less vacation than they earned.

I can do you one better. Last year I took a two day vacation one weekend and worked the usual five days the same week. I didn’t plan to do it, I decided my original plan wasn’t in my budget and was fine getting the extra pay when my boss approved my vacation and scheduled me for a full week anyway.

But, today my floating holiday was approved to use in the middle of a six day work week. And it’s my birthday. Six days is obviously a mistake, but I’m wondering how many other people have wound up in this boat, surrendering hard-earned vacation because they could use the extra cash? Do labor laws or company policy usually address this sort of thing?

I could use the cash, but honestly, what I could really use is the vacation.