Did you know that outside of academia, people get paid a lot more?

And many places do shut down-or at least slow down-between Christmas and New Year’s....

Sure, I don't have any formal "winter break" as part of my vacation for my full time job. However, as someone who recently finished grad school I still will find my coming two weeks of vacation far more relaxing than any month long winter break during school.

I only got a BS and MS and yet during my BS I was always stressed about school, even if not working, and during my MS, you bet I was working through "breaks". I'm overjoyed to be able to totally check out mentally.

My office building has about a third of the normal occupancy right now, which is pretty damn close to winter break.

Most I know take off 2 weeks. Many companies even Full close down for a week or two.

I'm in Europe so YMMV but still I'm currently working for a US startup and will be gone for good starting now

Meh, at most salaried-type jobs people I know usually take at least one week of leave during the holidays. “Doesn’t exist at all” is pushing it.

I work in industry and I'm going to take next week off. Many people in our office will do the same.