Clocks Go Back This Weekend – But Workplace Experts Say the Real Productivity Loss Starts Monday Morning
When UK clocks go back by one hour at 2 am on Sunday (October 26), millions will enjoy an extra hour of sleep. But workplace experts warn the real loss could be in confused meetings, missed calls, and repeated decisions once the workweek begins.
“Every time the clocks change, we see a spike in missed or duplicated meetings, especially across global teams,” says Ryan Zhang, workplace productivity expert and founder of Notta, an AI meeting assistant platform. “People think they’ve gained an hour, but in reality, many lose far more in misaligned schedules, late starts, and the time spent reclarifying what was decided.”
Survey shows the average UK employee is productive for just 2 hours and 53 minutes of an eight-hour workday. With the end of Daylight Saving Time, that figure may dip further as teams juggle shifting calendars and time zones.
“Even one wrong time entry in a shared calendar can throw off a full day of collaboration,” Zhang adds. “The Monday after clock changes, we often see an increase in ‘what did we decide last time?’ messages, because half the team missed or rejoined meetings at the wrong hour.”
To help avoid the chaos, Zhang shares three simple ways to stay on track this week:
- Double-check meeting times on Friday. Confirm recurring events, especially those involving international participants.
- Keep a written or AI-generated meeting record. Tools like Notta can auto-transcribe and summarize key decisions, saving hours of backtracking.
- Set a team-wide reminder. A simple Slack or Teams post noting “clocks go back Sunday” helps prevent Monday morning surprises.
“The clock change might seem small, but for fast-moving teams, even a 30-minute mix-up can cost more than the hour we ‘gain,’” says Zhang. “Preparation is the real productivity booster.”
