Just as a data point for this US-centric discussion:

Neither in Germany nor in Switzerland any general minimum wage is guaranteed by law.

Both are rich countries, Switzerland even one of the richest in the world. Unemployment rates in both countries are currently lower than in the US.

Most comments seem to origin in the US. Some contributors may be interested in the situation in Europe. Here the data for the three biggest European economies.

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Paid Leave

European Union requires all its member states to guarantee by law minimally four weeks of paid leave for all employees.

Average paid holiday days per year for full-time employees in 2008:

- Germany 30 days, plus 10.5 days public holidays

- France 25 days, plus 11 days public holidays

- United Kingdom 24.7 days, plus 8 days public holidays

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Working hours

Actual average weekly work hours for full-time employees in Europe

- United Kingdom 40,9 hours (2008)

- Germany 38.8 hours (2010)

- France 38,4 hours (2008)

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And no, my experience in four European countries (UK, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic) suggests that workers are not punished in any way if they take their vacations.