In corporate America, everyone skips town in August, but some get more August than others. Thomas Nides, chief administrative officer at Morgan Stanley, earns six weeks off a year. Alan Ridgeway, C.E.O. of Live Nation’s international music division, and Peter Swinburn, president and C.E.O. of Coors Brewing, receive just five weeks annually.

MuniMae executive V.P. Jenny Netzer signed a new agreement in 2007 that gives her 10 weeks of vacation a year. At Moog, a defense company in New York State, most employees get only three weeks off—until their 10th anniversary with the company, when they can take an additional seven weeks off once every five years for vacation or a “brief sabbatical.”

Twelve weeks—three months—is de rigueur at several firms. Before retiring from S&T Bancorp in December, senior executive V.P. David Krieger had earned 12 weeks of vacation. Hi-Shear Tech­nology co-chairman and C.E.O. George Trahan has received 12 weeks annually for three years.

Employment contracts at Sterling Construction once granted 18 weeks of vacation to C.O.O. Joseph Harper Sr.—10 more weeks than the C.E.O. and chairman had. Company policy now permits each executive to “take so many days’ vacation per year as he believes is appropriate.”