Cómo afecta el horario de verano a las reuniones
El texto completo del artículo está disponible en inglés a continuación.
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.
¿Por qué difieren las fechas del horario de verano de EE. UU. y la UE
Cada región establece su propia ley. Los Estados Unidos (Ley de Política Energética de 2005) y la Directiva 2000/84/CE de la UE eligieron diferentes domingos de inicio/final.
¿Cuánto dura el periodo de "compensación incorrecta"?
Aproximadamente 1–2 semanas en primavera (marzo) y otoño (octubre-noviembre), hasta que la segunda región también cambia.
¿Todos los estados de EE. UU. respetan el horario de verano?
La mayoría sí. Arizona (excepto la Nación Navajo) y Hawái no. Por lo tanto, una reunión interna de EE. UU. aún puede llegar a un desajuste de 1 hora.
¿Cómo evito los errores en las reuniones del horario de verano?
Programe en una zona fija (UTC o ET), establezca la zona horaria en la invitación y verifique durante las semanas de transición.
¿Qué países no usan el horario de verano en absoluto?
La mayor parte de Asia, África y partes de Oceanía omiten el horario de verano. Consulta nuestra lista de lugares sin horario de verano.