It’s Thanksgiving in the US this week (managers outside us with US reports)

The US office will be closed November 28th in observance of Thanksgiving. 

What to do

Thanksgiving is the time of year people in the US typically spend with their loved ones around a big meal sharing what they are grateful for.

But, it can also be a really rough time for some. 

People can experience the stress of spending time with family who they have strained relationships with or loneliness from spending the occasion alone. Or, this could be the first holiday season they are spending without a loved one. 

So, this is a great time to reach out to your team members based in the US and:

• Ask them how they will spend Thanksgiving.
• Send them a word of thanks or gratitude.
• Wish them a happy time with friends & family (as appropriate - depending on their answer on the first question).
• Connect them to extra support with the People Team or EAP (as appropriate - if they are very sad or upset).

More about Thanksgiving

A time full of holiday traditions

• The US President has pardoned a turkey every Thanksgiving since 1989, though before that the turkeys didn’t always get a pardon!
• The National Football League (NFL) has held games every Thanksgiving except during World War II.
• Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade has happened every year since 1924.
• Americans have so many traditional Thanksgiving Day foods (like turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, bread rolls, pies, and more!) that they eat more on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year!

It’s also a time for remembrance

While for some Thanksgiving is a celebration of food, family, friends, and football, it’s important to remember that for others it is also a time for mourning and deep reflection.

As with Columbus Day, some Americans view the day as a time for remembrance of the suffering of the Native Americans who originally occupied the lands that colonists settled on.