In our contract you receive vacation the following January after a 1 year. Example, Start Feb 1 2014, 1 year at Feb 1 2015, you receive your 1 week vacation in Jan 2016. So the earlier you start in the year the longer you wait for a week vacation. Thats what senior guys call, Paying your dues", or "Putting your time in." Even though they all received vacation at exactly 1 year.