Time to Fall Back: Embracing Australia's End of Daylight Saving Time - Is this good or bad?

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is a concept that many countries embrace to make better use of natural daylight during the warmer months. 

However, this time shift can create challenges for those working with international teams, especially when collaborating across time zones like Asia, the United States, and Australia. 

For someone like myself, managing teams across multiple countries, the complexities of DST affect both my work schedule and communication dynamics.

In this article, we'll compare the daylight saving schedules in Australia and Korea, discuss how these changes impact work-life balance, and dive into my own experience working with teams across different time zones. Along the way, we'll also look at other countries that observe DST and what it means for global teams.

Daylight Saving in Australia vs. Korea:

Australia and Korea take very different approaches to daylight saving time, and these differences can have a significant impact on professionals working in these countries. Let’s start with the basics.




Australia’s Daylight Saving Time: 

In Australia, daylight saving time is observed in the southern states: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

The clocks are set forward by one hour on the first Sunday in October and are set back again on the first Sunday in April.

For instance, last Sunday, on the 6th of April, Daylight Saving Time ended here in Australia, which meant that I could finally "sleep in" for an extra hour since my clock was set back, which was a pleasant surprise.(I know it could be confusing! 😝) 

The primary goal is to maximize daylight hours in the summer months, allowing people to enjoy longer evenings and, theoretically, reduce energy consumption.

However, did you know not all of Australia participates in daylight saving? Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia do not observe the time change.
This regional split can sometimes lead to confusion for businesses and individuals who need to coordinate across states.

Korea’s Time System: 

In contrast, Korea does not observe daylight saving time.
The country has remained on a standard time zone, Korea Standard Time (KST), year-round since it abandoned daylight saving time in 1961.

Unlike Australia, which shifts its clocks forward and backward twice a year, Korea sticks to a fixed time, creating a simpler scheduling environment for those working domestically.

The lack of DST in Korea means that there’s no need to adjust to seasonal time changes, making it easier for businesses to plan and communicate with other countries that do observe DST. 

The Global Impact of Daylight Saving Time (DST):

Though Australia and Korea have different policies on daylight saving, many countries across the globe observe DST, particularly in Europe and North America. In fact, nearly 70 countries use DST to adjust their clocks during the year, most notably in regions like North America, Europe, and parts of the Middle East.

Countries that observe Daylight Saving Time:

  1. United States – The U.S. observes DST from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November. The time shifts forward in the spring and back in the fall.

  2. Canada – Like the U.S., Canada observes DST, with similar start and end dates.

  3. European Union (EU) – Most EU countries observe DST, shifting clocks forward on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October.

  4. Mexico – Mexico follows a similar DST schedule to the U.S. in most regions.

  5. New Zealand – Much like Australia, New Zealand observes DST, shifting clocks forward in late September and back in early April.

The variations in DST schedules can create a chaotic environment for professionals working across different countries.
It’s crucial to be aware of these time changes when scheduling meetings or collaborating on projects. For those of us working with teams in various parts of the world, the time differences can either enhance or hinder productivity.

Personal Experience: Managing Multiple Time Zones:

As a marketing director managing teams across Asia and the Pacific, my schedule is heavily influenced by the time zone differences, especially the observance of daylight saving time. This challenge is exacerbated by my work with colleagues in the United States, particularly those working in South San Francisco, which adds another layer of complexity to my routine.

Working with Australia and Korea:
For me, the time difference between Australia and Korea is relatively minimal compared to the other regions I deal with.
However, the daylight saving time changes in Australia create some initial confusion. When Australia switches to daylight saving time in October, the time difference between Australia and Korea changes by an hour.
While this might not sound like much, for someone coordinating meetings across multiple regions, even a one-hour shift can affect scheduling.

Impact of the U.S. Time Zones:

When I work with the team in South San Francisco, U.S, the time difference becomes even more pronounced.
During standard time (when DST is not observed in the U.S.), the time difference between South San Francisco and Australia can be anywhere from 17 to 19 hours, depending on which part of Australia you're in.

When daylight saving time kicks in in the U.S. (March to November), the difference can be shortened to 16 hours, which seems like a small change, but it shifts the timing of our meetings.

This means that I often find myself setting morning calls with the U.S. team (around 8-10 AM), which is still a reasonable time for me, but often tricky. 

Especially in April, when South San Francisco (SSF), U.S.—where I have the most interaction with the global team—starts their Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) from March, the time becomes a 2-hour change between Melbourne and SSF.

Here with some examples to help you out. 

On Feb 9th, 9 AM in Melbourne (AEDT), it would be 2 PM on Feb 8th in SSF (PST). 

But on April 7th, today, 9 AM in Melbourne (AEST), it would be 4 PM on April 6th in SSF (PDT).


Challenges with India:
Of all the regions I work with, India is by far the most challenging in terms of time zones. India does not observe daylight saving time, and its time difference with Australia and other countries in the region can create scheduling headaches. 

For instance, India’s time zone is exactly 5.5 hours behind Korea and 4.5 hours behind Australia, and during the day, I might be juggling between calls with teams in both countries. This makes coordination even trickier, especially when a specific team is only available for a few hours a day due to their local working hours.

A Fun (and Sometimes Exhausting) Work Routine:

With all these time zone challenges, my workday is anything but predictable. Here’s a fun breakdown of how my week typically looks:

Monday: Monday is a bit of a relief because, for my U.S. colleagues, it's still their Sunday evening. I often use this morning to catch up on internal planning and prep and team meeting within the Asian team for the week ahead.  

Tuesday to Friday: From Tuesday to Friday, I find myself in back-to-back meetings with U.S. colleagues in the early mornings, followed by interactions with my Asia team during the afternoon. These calls with the U.S. team are crucial for ensuring alignment on global marketing strategies, product launches, and customer insights. Afterward, I dive into my Asia team's needs, tackling projects and initiatives that are more region-specific.

Friday: By Friday, I often feel the strain of these time differences, but I do try to wrap up the week with strategy reviews and team discussions. 



Conclusion:

Daylight saving time, while beneficial in certain regions, can present a unique challenge for those of us working across multiple time zones.

The time shifts that occur in Australia, the U.S., and other countries can create scheduling conflicts, but they also add a level of complexity that makes global collaboration all the more interesting. Whether it's dealing with a 19-hour time difference or juggling calls with India, understanding how DST impacts your schedule is crucial for seamless international communication. 

As someone who works across Asia, the U.S., and with global teams, these time differences have become a part of my routine—but with careful planning and adaptability, they’re definitely manageable.  

As Daylight Saving Time ended here in Australia yesterday, transitioning into fall, it’s amazing to feel how the day shortens and the evening arrives much earlier.
This change can feel abrupt, as the daylight fades quicker, making the transition to evening happen faster than usual. It’s a shift that takes some getting used to.

So, how about you? Have you already adjusted to the time change? 😊

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