In 1918, during World War I, Daylight Saving Time (DST) was introduced to conserve coal by extending daylight hours and reducing the need for artificial light. The system remained largely optional for decades until President Lyndon Johnson signed the Uniform Time Act of 1966, standardizing DST across the majority of the United States.
Fast-forward to today and DST appears increasingly outdated. Extending clocks an hour forward may offer more evening light for leisure activities, but at what cost? More importantly, is it something people even want? According to a recent Gallup poll, support for DST is declining—54% of Americans now favor eliminating it, starkly contrasting to the 73% who supported it in 1999.
The Hidden Costs Of Daylight Saving Time On Health
As research on circadian rhythms advances, DST’s negative impact on individual well-being becomes more challenging to ignore. Studies reveal that the abrupt time shift disrupts biological rhythms, leading to what researchers call “circadian misalignment.” Simply put, our internal clocks fall out of sync with the external world. This misalignment has real consequences.
The transition to DST is linked to an increase in heart attacks, sleep deprivation—especially among teenagers—and other various health complications. Standard Time, by contrast, better aligns natural light with our body’s preferred rhythms, allowing for a more natural wake-sleep cycle. Morning sunlight is crucial in signaling wakefulness, while darkness prepares your body for rest. When this balance is disrupted, the effects create ripples beyond the individual—ultimately impacting workplaces and organizations.
How Daylight Saving Time Affects Organizations
The modern workplace increasingly blends personal and professional life, so it’s no surprise that sleep deprivation and misaligned internal clocks have organizational consequences. Fatigued employees aren’t just struggling through their mornings—they’re affecting productivity, decision-making, and overall workplace efficiency.
Research published in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization found that DST’s impact extends beyond just a day or two of grogginess. DST can disrupt employee productivity for up to two weeks. The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine also highlights DST’s role in increasing workplace errors, injuries, and absenteeism. Insufficient sleep is already costly for companies, contributing to an estimated $150 billion in indirect costs due to lost productivity, presenteeism, and workplace accidents. DST only amplifies these risks.
What Can Companies Do To Mitigate Daylight Saving Time’s Effects?
While transitioning to permanent Standard Time isn’t within a company’s control, leaders can take proactive steps to ease employee impact. Consider implementing the following strategies:
- Encourage morning sunlight and exercise — Exposure to natural light and exercise early in the day helps reset your circadian rhythms, and thus improving your alertness and sleep quality.
- Monitor productivity fluctuations — Understand that individuals focus and efficiency may dip for a week or two following the time change.
- Reinforce workplace safety — Increased employee fatigue raises the risk of accidents, especially in high-risk industries, so reinforcing safety protocols is crucial.
- Promote healthy habits — Encourage employees to maintain a consistent nighttime routine to help regulate their internal clocks and set themselves up for a productive tomorrow.
The Bigger Issue Beyond Daylight Saving Time: Chronic Sleep Deprivation
While Daylight Saving Time sparks a biannual debate, the larger issue at play is chronic sleep deprivation. The biannual clock change only magnifies an already widespread problem. Rather than simply adapting to the temporary effects of DST, companies should recognize the long-term impact of fatigue on performance, engagement, and workplace culture. Organizations that prioritize and encourage good sleep hygiene habits from team members—not just during DST but year-round—will cultivate healthier, more resilient, high-performing teams. And that’s a competitive advantage no company can afford to overlook.