Alarm clock, microwave, oven, car radio, wristwatch… if it’s not a smart device, you’ll soon be hunting down clocks to set forward an hour — and just like every other time, you’ll forget at least one. Daylight saving time (DST) is upon us once again, bringing with it all the convenience of wartime 1918. This time, we’re jumping forward one hour on Sunday, March 9, at 2 a.m.
Farmers usually get the blame for this biannual fiasco, but the truth is that they were among the most outspoken opponents of a time shift when it was first proposed. DST’s real origin can be traced back to Europe’s World War I energy conservation measures, which eventually found their way stateside. Ever since our initial adoption in 1918, we’ve had a love-hate relationship with DST, bouncing back and forth on whether it was worth all the trouble until the passage of the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which established national rules for DST.
For businesses and their employees, “gaining” or “losing” an hour can be disruptive to daily operations and timekeeping practices. Not only are employees more likely than ever to have scheduling and timekeeping issues, but the changeover can also be problematic from an operations and logistics perspective.
Consider all the systems your company relies on that have a time component — time clocks, security camera timestamps, access management and point of sale systems, just to name a few. Unless they update automatically, you’ll be on the hook for a time-consuming reset. Plus, since DST starts Sunday at 2 a.m. local time, 2 a.m. instantly becomes 3 a.m. — meaning graveyard shift employees may only work and need to be paid for a seven-hour shift that night, unless other scheduling arrangements are made.
From a health and safety perspective, the disruption of sleep schedules can mean tired employees who are more likely to get involved in workplace accidents and other incidents. For example, employees who operate heavy industrial equipment or drive on the job are particularly at risk of accidents, so it’s important to be vigilant in the days following the time change. Similarly, several studies have made the connection between DST and serious health concerns — like diabetes, declines in cardiovascular health and mental health and cognitive issues — that could impact employee health and on-the-job performance.
A 2023 American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) study found that more than half of Americans (some 55%) experience tiredness following the time change, and 14% of those surveyed reported feeling “extremely tired.” A John Hopkins University article noted that disruptions to sleep schedules and the body’s natural circadian rhythm increase the risk of potential adverse health effects due to DST.
While some wish to do away with (or make permanent) DST for good, lawmakers have yet to pass legislation to that effect for the last 52 years. The Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, which would eliminate the need to ever “fall back” again, has been reintroduced by Florida Sen. Rick Scott.
Regardless of where you fall on the hotly debated issue of DST, remember to move all your clocks ahead one hour on March 9, or risk being left in the past.
Eyragon Eidam, Managing Editor, CalChamber
CalChamber members can read more about Timekeeping and Recording Guidelines, including accurately recording time, in the HR Library. Learn how to power your business with a CalChamber membership.
