John Ternus keeps Apple’s long-running Thanksgiving week tradition

### Apple CEO John Ternus Keeps Thanksgiving Week Break for U.S. Corporate Employees

Apple CEO John Ternus is keeping the company’s long-standing Thanksgiving week break for most U.S. corporate employees, continuing a workplace tradition that dates back to the tenure of co-founder Steve Jobs.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Ternus informed employees in a companywide memo that most eligible U.S. corporate teams will receive Monday through Wednesday off during Thanksgiving week. Those three additional days will be added to the Thursday and Friday holidays already included on Apple’s annual calendar.

With Thanksgiving falling on November 26 this year, eligible corporate employees will effectively receive five consecutive days away from work, from November 23 through November 27.

The extended Thanksgiving break has been associated with Apple since the Jobs era, when the company began giving corporate employees additional time off around the holiday. Although the benefit has reportedly been discussed internally over the years, Ternus has decided to maintain the arrangement after taking over as CEO.

The policy will not apply in exactly the same way to every Apple employee. Retail and AppleCare workers, whose positions require direct customer support, will be able to take the three additional days at another time.

Employees working on international teams will also have different arrangements depending on their location and responsibilities. Apple has directed employees to its internal People site for specific information about eligibility and scheduling.

In his companywide message, Ternus also reflected on a recent visit to New York, where he observed customers using some of Apple’s newest products.

He highlighted features including the latest iPhone camera capabilities, health-related functions on the Apple Watch and the audio experience provided by the newest AirPods.

The comments came as Apple prepared for the latest iPhone Duo to reach stores, adding to an important product period for the company under its new chief executive.

Ternus described the additional time off as recognition of what he characterized as a year of “remarkable milestones” for Apple.

He encouraged employees to use the extended break to relax, recharge and spend time with family and friends.

The memo represents one of Ternus’ first widely reported companywide communications since he became Apple’s CEO. His decision to retain the Thanksgiving benefit also signals continuity with a workplace practice that has remained part of Apple’s corporate culture for decades.

Ternus succeeded Tim Cook as Apple CEO after previously serving as the company’s senior vice president of hardware engineering. His appointment marks a new leadership chapter for Apple as the company focuses on products, artificial intelligence and other areas of technology development.

While the Thanksgiving arrangement does not affect Apple’s customer-facing operations in the same way as corporate teams, the company’s retail stores and support services will continue to require staffing during the holiday period.

For most eligible corporate employees in the United States, however, the decision means the Thanksgiving holiday will continue to include an extended break, preserving a tradition that began under Jobs and has now carried into Ternus’ tenure.