Wie sich die Sommerzeit auf Meetings auswirkt
Der vollständige Artikeltext ist unten auf Englisch verfügbar.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the quiet disruptor of global meetings. Twice a year, clocks shift — and for a week or two, teams on opposite sides of the change are suddenly an hour off from what their calendars said. Here's how DST actually affects your meetings and how to avoid the chaos.
Why DST Breaks Schedules
Most of North America and Europe observe DST, but they switch on different dates: the US changes in early March and early November, while the EU changes in late March and late October. For the gap weeks, the usual offset between, say, London and New York is off by an hour.
The "Limbo" Windows
| Period | London–New York gap | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Early March (US springs forward, EU hasn't) | 4 hours | EU meetings run 1h late for US |
| Late March (EU springs forward) | 5 hours (normal) | Resolved |
| Late October (EU falls back, US hasn't) | 4 hours | US meetings run 1h early for EU |
| Early November (US falls back) | 5 hours (normal) | Resolved |
How to Protect Your Meetings
- Always schedule in UTC or a named zone. "9 AM ET" is unambiguous; "9 AM local" is not during transitions.
- Send calendar invites with timezone embedded. Google/Outlook handle the conversion — but only if the timezone is set on the event.
- Flag the transition weeks. Add a note to recurring meetings in March and October/November.
- Verify with a planner. Our Meeting Planner uses real DST rules, so it won't lie during the limbo weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do US and EU DST dates differ?
Each region sets its own law. The US (Energy Policy Act 2005) and the EU Directive 2000/84/EC chose different start/end Sundays.
How long is the "wrong offset" period?
About 1–2 weeks in spring (March) and autumn (October–November), until the second region also switches.
Do all US states observe DST?
Most do. Arizona (except Navajo Nation) and Hawaii do not. So a US internal meeting can still hit a 1-hour mismatch.
How do I avoid DST meeting errors?
Schedule in a fixed zone (UTC or ET), set the timezone on the invite, and double-check during transition weeks.
Which countries don't use DST at all?
Most of Asia, Africa, and parts of Oceania skip DST. See our list of places without DST.
Use our world clock and meeting planner to navigate DST correctly.
Warum unterscheiden sich die Sommerzeitdaten in den USA und in der EU?
Jede Region setzt ihr eigenes Gesetz. Der US (Energy Policy Act 2005) und die EU-Richtlinie 2000/84/EG wählten unterschiedliche Start-/End-Sonntage.
Wie lange dauert der "falsche Offset" Zeitraum?
Etwa 1–2 Wochen im Frühjahr (März) und Herbst (Oktober-November), bis auch die zweite Region wechselt.
Halten alle US-Bundesstaaten die Sommerzeit ein?
Die meisten tun es. Arizona (außer Navajo Nation) und Hawaii tun es nicht. So kann ein internes Treffen in den USA immer noch zu einer 1-stündigen Diskrepanz führen.
Wie vermeide ich DST-Meeting-Fehler?
Planen Sie in einer festen Zone (UTC oder ET), legen Sie die Zeitzone auf der Einladung fest und überprüfen Sie sie während der Übergangswochen.
In welchen Ländern gibt es überhaupt keine Sommerzeit?
Der größte Teil Asiens, Afrikas und Teile Ozeaniens überspringen die Sommerzeit. Sieh dir unsere Liste der Orte ohne Sommerzeit an.