At least one Apple Store in the UK is expecting unusually high footfall during the autumn and holiday period next year, a time frame that is expected to see the launch of the iPhone 15 range. Apple Milton Keynes staff have been told that they are not allowed to take leave between 15 September 2023 and 7 October 2023 and between 2 December 2023 and early January 2024.
This means that requests for time off during this period will not be approved by shop managers. While foot traffic at retail shops is expected to increase around the release of new Apple devices, particularly new iPhone models, in the fall and during the holiday season, the latest instructions from shops appear to be an unprecedented change in protocol in the region.
An Apple Store in the UK is already gearing up for the launch of the iPhone 15 next year
At least one Apple Store in the UK is expecting unusually high footfall during the autumn and holiday period next year, a time frame that is expected to see the launch of the iPhone 15 range. Apple Milton Keynes staff have been told that they are not allowed to take leave between 15 September 2023 and 7 October 2023 and between 2 December 2023 and early January 2024.
This means that requests for time off during this period will not be approved by shop managers. While foot traffic at retail shops is expected to increase around the release of new Apple devices, particularly new iPhone models, in the fall and during the holiday season, the latest instructions from shops appear to be an unprecedented change in protocol in the region.
Apple usually bans holidays before the release of new devices and during the holidays, which is usually done at short notice directly to employees via Apple’s internal communications app. The latest change, a ban on leave about a year in advance, was communicated more covertly through a locally issued memo.
Shop managers claim that the directive came from “above the shop” level. The change was introduced to staff at a “time of high growth” to “ensure we are better prepared for next year”.
It’s unclear how extensive the directive was, but the dates were clearly chosen, most likely in light of the launch of new Apple devices later next year and the increased footfall during the holiday season.
It’s unlikely there will be any firm launch date for the iPhone 15 series just yet, and the devices themselves may still need to undergo production verification testing before a mass production schedule can be confirmed.
