Daylight Savings Isn’t Saving You Time or Money
The spring and fall months bring with them an annual event that affects the lives of 1.6 billion people: the changing of clocks for Daylight Saving Time (DST). Though the intent of this policy was to optimize daylight hours during the winter, it turns out that its disadvantages may outweigh any benefits.
First, there’s the issue of lost productivity. The hour we lose in the spring amounts to a total of $434 million in losses across the U.S. – thanks to less sleep and a resulting drop in attention levels. Even the hour we gain in the fall can cause negative consequences. Researchers have observed a connection between DST in the fall and an 11% increase in depressive episodes, as well as a decrease in productivity.
But the effects of DST don’t stop there. Over the past few decades, studies have also linked DST to an increase in workplace injuries, strokes, and heart attacks. In addition, those who are already vulnerable to heart disease may be at a greater risk immediately after a time change. Finally, DST has been linked to traffic accidents and decreased SAT scores, as well as longer sentences given to defendants by US judges.
On the other hand, the impact of DST on energy consumption is mixed. While some research has found that it results in slight savings, others have concluded that it leads to an increase in energy use.
Time zone coordination is another issue. With only 70 countries implementing DST, many countries and regions remain unaffected. This can lead to confusion when it comes to scheduling meetings between different countries, as the time difference between them changes depending on the season
Considering all this, it’s no wonder that some countries and states are considering making Daylight Saving Year-round, in an effort to get rid of the time changing ritual altogether. This shakeup in time and loss in productivity may not only be limited to DST but a more habitual issue at your business. No need to go mad trying to find all of the inefficiencies at play! We can help with that! Just set up a free call with us HERE.
