Apple CEO John Ternus Continues Thanksgiving Week Off Tradition

Apple CEO John Ternus is upholding a long-standing company perk, granting most US teams the entire Thanksgiving week off during his first holiday season as CEO. The announcement was made in a company-wide memo, also highlighting Apple’s new product lineup, including the iPhone 18 Pro Max camera and the upcoming iPhone Duo.

A Tradition Started by Steve Jobs

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the tradition began under Steve Jobs and has been maintained despite occasional discussions about eliminating it. Ternus’s decision to continue the perk signals a calm and steady approach following a year of leadership changes at Apple.

Details of the Holiday Break

Most US teams will receive Monday through Wednesday off, in addition to the already designated Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday holidays. Retail, AppleCare, and international staff, who face operational constraints during that week, will receive three extra days to take at a later date. The full week off became a regular occurrence under Tim Cook, who famously vetoed opening Apple Stores on Thanksgiving in 2012.

Ternus's memo echoes a similar one from Tim Cook in 2014, which celebrated a record-setting month for Apple and also provided US teams with a three-day break. While Cook emphasized rest, Ternus focused on Apple’s products, reflecting his background in hardware engineering.

Employee Benefits

Most US corporate staff will enjoy a nine-day break including both weekends. Retail and AppleCare employees will receive their additional days later.