Sunday, March 12, 2017

Summer Hours, Winter Hours, DST, EDT, UGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!

I am not the only one who blogs about Daylight 'Saving' Time.  I am not the only one trying to figure out how we are 'saving daylight'.  I am so tired of folks on the radio and in the news telling me to enjoy more daylight.  How does changing a clock create daylight?????

Anyway, after reading a post on DST this morning, I was inspired to relate a story about my first year working at the Township of West Bloomfield.  I was appointed to my position there starting on May 1, 1988.  Shortly after my appointment, I was informed about the change in work schedules after Memorial Day.

Apparently, it had been the practice of the Township to have summer hours and winter hours.  So, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, the offices were open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.  During the rest of the year they were open from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.  This was so folks could get out and enjoy the sunshine in summer - though likely they would just sit in traffic earlier.

I thought this was nonsense.  Since I was always one to cause a ruckus, I said we should set our hours and not confuse the public with when we are open.  So, I put a questionnaire on our counter asking residents and customers if they preferred the current set-up, the earlier start at eight or the later start at 8:30.  Overwhelmingly folks opted for 8 to 4:30 year round.

And that is where the hours are to this day.  It certainly  makes me wonder why we are all slaves to the clock.  During the energy crisis in the 1970's I adjusted my hours at the City hospital so that my husband and I could carpool to work.  And when I started at the township, I adjusted my time so that I could get my boys off to school.  I even had employees who came in early so that when the doors opened at eight we were ready to serve the public.  (This was something I had learned working in a retail environment in college.  A store that opens at nine needs to have its employees on the floor working, not arriving at work along with customers.)

Of course, I still know retirees who are slaves to the clock.  I'll never understand why.  As for now, I wish we could just leave the clocks alone - one way or the other.  Just pick a time zone and stick with it.  (BTW, Michigan and Indiana both have two time zones....)

12 comments:

  1. It seems like only a few weeks since we were discussing the time changes Denise, and in my mind, when I saw mention on the internet, I thought we had already changed this year. Duuh. I am retired and I guess I am something of a slave to the clock. Well if I don't get to bowling on time, I don't get to bowl for the team.

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    1. Bowling is a very good reason to have a clock. Worrying about sleeping in is not.

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  2. I am not sure what you are meaning by being a slave to the clock. I have to know the time and even though retired I still have obligations. So call me a slave!! I do wish they would stop with the time changes. But to put my two cents worth in I want whatever one allows me to have more daylight longer!!

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    1. I know someone who has to eat lunch at noon every day. That's being a slave to the clock.

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  3. Years ago, I lived in two states (Florida and Kansas) which has two time zones. Granted, both states had the majority of the state in one time zone. But traveling through Indiana years ago was far from a treat. As you wel know, Indiana is in both Eastern and Central time. And, when I lived in the midwest, most counties stayed on standard time and some went on daylight time. As a result, as you traveled, you literally didn't know what time it was. In just a few miles, you could lose two hours. At least, since 2006, all the state has been on daylight time, which I know many still oppose. Why do we punish ourselves like that?

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    1. I used to endure the "guess what time it is" question as my husband and I would have to pass through Indiana from when we lived in Kansas, to visit family in New York. Thankful we don't have to do that anymore, either.

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  4. I'm with you.Just pick one time zone and be done with it./

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  5. I honestly don't get it. So in mid summer it will get dark here about 9pm instead of 8pm. Big whoop! If you have a job, you have to be home and finished and clean and to sleep at a set time no matter if the sun shines or not. I cannot see a clear benefit to it anymore. Technically not ever since they could have just had school start an hour earlier so kids could get home in time to help parents on the farm. It really does not effect how I spend my time or my life one way or another. Now, hubby, when he usually don't get to moving well enough to even go outside until mid-afternoon, he'll keep going at something until it is dark. So for that reason, I'd prefer dark to be at 8 on my clock so we can eat and go on with preparations for bed without waiting another hour.
    Barbara from Life & Faith in Caneyhead

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    1. I've been known to go to bed when there is still light outside. If I am tired, too bad. But I can tell you from personal experience that most of my neighbors over the years are not out walking, gardening, fixing up their homes or doing anything else with that extra evening light in the summer except sitting in front of their TV sets.

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  6. The only detriment I have found to not turning the clocks is in the winter months it is dark in the morning hours; sunrise can come after 7:30 a.m. If one is used to more light earlier that can affect them. It was something I got used to. Its funny that Arizona doesn't change the time, but Nevada does. There are employees of some companies that live in Arizona that work in Nevada and have to compensate their schedules accordingly. I think that would drive me crazy!

    betty

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    1. I was vacationing once in Nevada, Arizona and Utah visiting National Parks. Keeping track of time was ridiculous. It is pitch black here at 6:45 am when the school bus picks up students. That's crazy. But it happens with standard time too. I really think schools should adjust their schedules instead of fooling with clocks.

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  7. I hate it..it's stupid and should be abolished....I guess that's it:)

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