Time change: winter time 2024 has arrived, a throwback this weekend

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Time change winter time 2024 has arrived a throwback this

The 2024 time change was scheduled for this weekend, during the night from Saturday to Sunday. Our questions/answers to fully understand the transition to winter time.

The time change of October 2024 marks, this weekend as every year, the arrival ofwinter. During the night from Saturday to Sunday, a big rewind was scheduled, pushing the country into cooler and above all shorter and less bright days. The time change was introduced in France in 1976, following the oil crisis, with the aim of saving energy by making the most of daylight. Thus, by moving the clocks forward by one hour when spring arrives, we reduce the need for lighting in the evening, before going back in the fall. This system was harmonized at European level in the 1990s, in order to facilitate trade between Member States.

If the end of the time change was outlined in 2019, with several European decisions going in this direction, this double seesaw still has a bright future ahead of it within the EU. A pandemic, a war and endless discussions to harmonize the time among the 27 seem to have diverted attention and ultimately got the better of the initiative. One thing is certain, the changeover to winter time has indeed arrived this Sunday, October 27 and a new changeover to summer time will also take place next March. Here are all the answers to the questions that arise about this much-maligned time change.

Questions/Answers

06:07 – Can changing time affect productivity at work?

The time change, especially during the transition to winter time, can temporarily alter productivity at work. Some employees may experience fatigue or difficulty concentrating for a few days while their body clock adjusts to the new routine. However, winter time also offers the advantage of allowing better synchronization with daylight in the morning, which can improve alertness from the start of the day. Additionally, studies have shown that sleep quality may improve slightly with Standard Time because it is closer to natural solar time.

00:00 – Are winter and summer time changes coordinated at European level?

Since 1998, the time change, winter and summer, has been coordinated on a European scale. This harmonization measure aims to facilitate transport and communications between the different EU countries at the time of the time change. Result: at “les 27”, we return to winter time every last Sunday in October (this weekend), at three in the morning. A few days before All Saints’ Day, all EU citizens therefore “win” an hour of sleep. As for the changeover to summer time, also harmonized within the EU, it takes place every last Sunday in March, at two o’clock in the morning and in the opposite direction.

10/25/24 – 8:40 p.m. – How does the time change affect children?

The time change can be disruptive for children, because their biological clock is often more rigid than that of adults. When winter time changes, they may have difficulty falling asleep earlier or getting up in the morning, which can affect their mood and concentration at school. Parents can mitigate these effects by gradually adjusting bedtime and maintaining a steady routine around meals and activities to help children adjust to the new time more easily.

10/25/24 – 3:35 p.m. – Does the time change have repercussions on mental health?

The time change, particularly during the transition to winter time, can influence mental health by increasing the risk of seasonal depression, also called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This disorder is linked to reduced exposure to natural light, which can disrupt the production of melatonin and serotonin, hormones that regulate sleep and mood. Some people experience decreased motivation, irritability, or a lack of energy during this time. To counter these effects, light therapies (luminotherapy) or outdoor activities during sunny hours are often recommended.

25/10/24 – 2:38 p.m. – How does the time change work in the French Overseas Territories?

The French overseas departments and territories (DOM-TOM), located mainly in tropical and equatorial regions, do not practice time changes. In fact, these areas do not experience large seasonal variations in light like in mainland France. The days are relatively constant throughout the year, making time changes unnecessary. For example, in Martinique or Réunion, the length of the day remains practically stable, which makes it possible to maintain a fixed time throughout the year.

25/10/24 – 11:28 – Does the time change have an impact on the salaries of night workers?

Night workers will work an extra hour if they keep their usual hours during the time change. The Labor Code does not specify anything on this subject. You must then refer to the collective agreement to find out the terms of your company and whether this hour will be paid in addition or may be subject to compensatory time off.

Learn more

The transition to winter time, with an hour of “gained” sleep, is often perceived as smoother than that to summer time. It allows our body to return to a more natural rhythm, where sunrise coincides more with waking up. Studies have shown that winter time is closer to the majority of people’s internal body clocks, which can contribute to better sleep quality and more restful rest.

The change from winter to summer time as we know it today was introduced by decree in 1975, following the oil crisis. It is then a question of establishing a summer time at GMT+2, i.e. two hours difference with natural time, from the following March. Objective: to better align natural lighting and human activities from spring onwards, to save energy.

The end of March is then chosen to coincide with the spring equinox, synonymous with the return of sunny days and longer days. The return to “normal” time (evening GMT+1) is logically set inversely as the autumn equinox approaches, i.e. at the end of October. The weekend and in particular the night from Saturday to Sunday will quickly appear to be the time when the immediate impact of the time change will be the most limited.

It was the Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) which initiated the seasonal time change, as the government agency responsible for ensuring the optimization of the energy bill. In a summary of 2010the organization still estimated the savings made the previous year thanks to the time change at 440 GWh.

The time change was harmonized at European level in 1998 and is today applied by all EU member states and 70 countries in total. However, it has been highly controversial for years. Its detractors point above all to energy gains that are too limited, especially with the evolution of technologies and uses, as well as negative effects on health, sleep and road safety.

No, the winter time change is not the last. In March 2019, after consultation, the European Parliament adopted a majority project to end the time change, but it will not be implemented for several years. The said draft directive provided for the abolition of rapid time change: to do this, each Member State had to decide between remaining on winter time or remaining on summer time. The European Parliament had also called for coordination between the Member States and the European Commission so that the application of permanent hours (winter and summer) in the different countries does not disrupt the functioning of the internal market.

The directive was to be adopted by the Council at the end of 2020, then transposed by the member states, underlines the official Vie Publique website. However, because of the health crisis linked to Covid-19, Brexit, then the upheavals caused by the war in Ukraine, without forgetting the hesitations of European leaders, the text in question on the end of the time change is not no longer on the agenda “and should not be discussed in the near future”, concludes the French administration website. And once put back on the table, the debates should be long: “It is up to each Member State to decide the legal time it wishes to adopt” confirmed the European Commission at Euronews in the fall of 2022. While the majority of French people have expressed their weariness with the time change and their desire to put an end to it, the debate on the time zone to adopt remains open. According to the consultation carried out by the National Assembly in 2019, 59% of respondents expressed their preference for permanent summer time, which would allow them to benefit from longer bright evenings. However, some public health experts caution against this option, arguing that permanent DST could disrupt sleep cycles and have health consequences.


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