Apple Will Grant US Staff Thanksgiving Week Off

Apple CEO John Ternus announced that most US divisions will receive the full week of Thanksgiving off in 2026.

Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Business Strategy

Apple Will Grant US Staff Thanksgiving Week Off

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Apple CEO John Ternus has granted US staff a full week of paid time off during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday in November 2026. Most corporate divisions will be closed from Monday through Wednesday, while retail and AppleCare teams will receive three alternative days of leave to compensate.

Why it matters

The company introduced this policy to recognize the hard work and ongoing contributions of its workforce. The move marks a significant shift in holiday scheduling, which has fluctuated between closure and retail operations under previous leadership.

Retail and AppleCare teams will receive 3 days of additional leave to be taken at a later date. This balances the schedule against the full week of time off granted to most other US divisions.

The players

John Ternus

He is the current CEO of Apple who authorized the holiday leave policy for US staff.

Tim Cook

He is the former CEO of Apple who previously implemented and adjusted Thanksgiving holiday staffing policies.

The details

John Ternus communicated the new leave policy through an official email sent to the staff. Employees can access the specific procedures and administrative details for this time off on the internal Apple People portal.

2011: Tim Cook granted his first Thanksgiving leave policy as CEO.
2012: Apple opened specific retail locations on Thanksgiving Day.
2013: Tim Cook vetoed plans to keep additional retail stores open during the holiday.
November 2026: Apple US staff receive the full week off for Thanksgiving.

Market Landscape

This policy follows a historical cycle at Apple that balances operational retail demands against corporate office schedules. The decision marks a shift away from the company's past experiments with Thanksgiving retail openings that occurred after the 2013 veto.

Customers should prepare for potential changes to retail store availability and AppleCare service hours during the week of Thanksgiving 2026. Individuals looking for support or shopping assistance should check local store schedules in advance of the holiday week.

The takeaway

Companies are increasingly reevaluating the balance between holiday retail availability and employee wellbeing. Employees should consult their internal company portals for specific instructions on how to schedule their allotted time off.