Not popular, but DST can benefit Businesses

Every year Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins when clocks “spring forward” one hour and ends months later when clocks “fall back.” Many Americans dislike it, yet Businesses across the U.S. gain from this time change. A 2021 poll showed 75% of people hate switching clocks twice a year. Read more about this frustration in a Newsweek story: List of States That Want to End Daylight Saving Time. Despite the grumbling, data shows DST delivers real benefits for industries.

Why Businesses Can Win DST

Extended daylight shifts human activity. People stay out longer after work. This impacts healthcare, education, retail, and manufacturing in clear ways. Here’s how:

• Retail Sales Climb. More evening light pushes shoppers out. Stores see higher foot traffic. A study from 2021 found Los Angeles shoppers spent 3.5% less after DST ended compared to Phoenix, where clocks don’t change.
• Healthcare Stays Busy. Longer days mean more appointments after regular hours. Clinics and hospitals handle patient demand better. Evening exercise also rises, cutting health costs over time.
• Education Benefits. Schools save on lighting and heating with later sunsets. Students get more outdoor time, too. This lifts attendance and focus.
• Manufacturing Adjusts. Factories align shifts with daylight. Workers commute safer in brighter conditions. Output holds steady without extra energy costs.

These gains add up. Chambers of commerce back DST for its economic kick. Consumer spending jumps during the eight months of DST. Outdoor industries thrive, too. Golf courses report $200 million to $400 million more per month of DST. Barbecue businesses rake in an extra $150 million.

Hard Numbers Show the Impact

Recent studies underline DST’s edge. Check these stats:

• A 2022 report from Britannica notes DST cuts evening crime by up to 20%. Fewer robberies save businesses $59 million yearly.
• The U.S. Department of Transportation found in 2021 that DST reduces traffic deaths by 1%. Safer roads mean fewer disruptions for manufacturing and retail deliveries.
• A 2023 story from GoBankingRates discusses businesses seeing dollar signs in DST.

Even as the public groans, it can be proven that DST can help businesses.

The Flip Side: Public Resistance

People complain about the time change. Sleep gets messed up. Mornings turn dark. Many want to “lock the clock” or ditch DST entirely. States like Colorado and Alabama push for permanent DST, but Congress stalls. Others, like Maine, test standard time year-round. The debate drags on. Still, businesses see the upside.

Make DST “Springs” and “Falls” More Pain Free

One complaint that can be eased around the changes with Daylight Saving Time is the labor involved with changing clocks through Synchronized Clock Systems. The manual task of changing multiple clocks for a business or organization can be costly and cause disruptions. Solutions from companies like Pyramid Time Systems can make the installation of clocks that automatically update easy and affordable. This includes those that are installing clocks for the first time or replacing a legacy system. Pyramid offers digital and analog synchronized clocks that use PoE networked, RF wireless, or wired connections for all types of building configurations.

DST’s Bottom Line for Business?

DST sparks mixed feelings. Workers and families adjust twice a year. Businesses, though, cash in. Retail thrives. Healthcare adapts. Education and manufacturing save. Data backs this up. The time change isn’t perfect, but it keeps industries humming. For now, “spring forward” and “fall back” remain the rhythm of American life—and profit.