Does Daylight Saving Help or Hinder UK Businesses?

Does Daylight Saving Help or Hinder UK Businesses?

It’s that time of year again – people across the UK are seeing more daylight (hooray) after setting their clocks forward one hour on the final weekend of March – unless their technological device already does it! This is a joy for so many and something we have done as an island for over a century, dating back to the early 1900s. When we change our clocks twice a year (which as you know means moving the clock one hour back at the end of Summer – the final Sunday of October), we alter our body clocks and way of life. A familiar pattern but one that still feels strange when it happens. With roughly 70 different countries around the world following similar patterns, this must be beneficial. Or else, why would we continue the tradition?

What are the Origins Behind Daylight Saving?

Dating back to the 17th century, Benjamin Franklin – the founding father of the United States, first thought of the idea as a way to prolong daylight hours and reduce the need to light candles. Then fast forward to 1916 and Britain put the idea into motion during the First World War because energy costs were higher. Originally coined by British man William Willett in 1907, who published a paper dubbed “The Waste of Daylight”, following his death in 1915, Germany was the first to try daylight saving hours and Great Britain quickly did the same a few weeks later.

Today we keep that tradition going, which has a positive and negative impact on a wide range of issues, from the UK economy to our health. Arguments are raised annually about whether it is even worth it still after all of these years.

How Does it Impact UK Businesses?

Just like marmite, you either love or hate the changing of daylight hours, whether you own a business or are an employee of a business. It has wonderful benefits between March and October such as longer daylight in the evening hours to enjoy a bbq after you finish the day, saving energy prices in the process. This is particularly helpful considering how high the bills are currently! But there is also a knock-on effect with darker days for longer during the cold winter months. As workers, if you still need to carry out a shift when the clocks change forward or back, you may have to do an hour extra for instance, which will also be frustrating and tiring.

A report was even made by parliament in 2010 to question whether it was worth permanently moving an hour ahead to boost the economy, but could not find enough conclusive evidence. The challenge remains whether you uphold tradition which has been in place for a century or keep a regular pattern going all year round.

It also depends on the type of business you’re involved in. For instance, farmers will see the value of keeping daylight saving as they have more hours to work during the summer when seasonal crops are at their most valuable point. However, there are also arguments that it has little impact on alleged financial benefits, such as saving more on energy. For instance, in Indiana USA where they finally adopted daylight saving in 2006, residents spent more on electricity.

Can Changing the Clocks Twice a Year Benefit Our Health

The simple answer is no. Studies show that changing the clocks twice a year actually negatively impacts our health. While it’s great to have longer daylight in the Summer months, constantly trying to adjust our body clocks to different sleeping patterns can negatively impact the mind and body. Extending sunlight exposure late into the evening affects how we sleep and the amount of rest we get because it delays the release of melatonin, the hormone which causes drowsiness.

Also, there is the psychological impact too. For example, do you feel down when the clocks go back in the Winter and you know that longer darker nights and waking up for work in darkness too? That makes two of us! It’s not fun to commute to work and increases the chance of car accidents too. We use more electricity in the winter and energy in general. People are less active and have lower energy levels, in addition to altered mood swings.

What Does the Future Hold?

There is a stall because of traditions and how polarised opinion is on the subject. It impacts some businesses and employees in a major way but also benefits others. Because there is limited evidence suggesting it is worthwhile, perhaps we will see the permanent option of moving the clocks one hour ahead. At Global QA Consultants, we can see the reasoning behind both arguments.

Nevertheless, until that day arrives that we do see change, our team is happy to help with any mental health training your business may need to cope with issues such as these or quality management systems you may wish to implement.

To get in touch with Global QA Consultants, click here.