{{{Teppy}}} My God, what a gaggle of asshats. Like everyone said, you deserve much better.
And do companies really still only give one week's vacation to new staff?
Well, I dunno. I haven't job-hunted in 13 years.
I think it depends on where you work. If you were to get a job at my employer, they're kinda boxed in by the fact they're a state agency with lots of rules, and you'd earn 8 hours per month for the first year with gradual increments each year until you're like me (because my pre-Annabel service credit still counts) and get 16 hours per month. But in the private sector, especially with a small organization, I'd think that would be a good issue to negotiate.
OTOH, there's something to be said for large state organizations. Even the worst boss I had wouldn't have pulled that crap, because she didn't have the power to do so without raising all kinds of red flags with HR.