Clock Changes for Business and IT: Systems, Rotas and Schedules
Twice a year the UK clock change catches out software, scheduled jobs and rotas. A little planning prevents lost data and double-booked staff.
Software and scheduled jobs
Store timestamps in UTC and convert to local time only for display. A job scheduled for 01:30 local time runs twice in autumn and not at all in spring, because that hour repeats or is skipped. Use UTC schedules, or avoid the 01:00 to 02:00 window on change nights.
Make sure servers and containers have the correct time zone database, because a stale version can apply the old rules.
Rotas and customer-facing hours
Overnight rotas should state whether times are BST or GMT. For international customers, publish opening hours in UK time and link to a converter, because many customers will compare them with their own clock.
Invoices and contracts that run to a clock time, such as a service window from 00:00 to 06:00, should say how they treat the hour that is lost or gained.
Frequently asked questions
Should servers use UTC or UK local time?
UTC is the safer choice. Convert to UK local time at the edges, for display and for scheduling that must follow the clock.
Clock change guides
- What Is Daylight Saving Time (DST)? A Plain-English GuideWhat daylight saving time is, how it works in the UK, Europe and the US, why it exists, its history, who uses it and the argument over scrapping it.
- Why Do the Clocks Go Back in October? The Real ReasonThe clocks go back in autumn to return the UK to GMT, so winter mornings are lighter. The history, the rule, what time it happens and what changes for you.
- When Do the Clocks Go Forward Again After Going Back?When the UK clocks go forward again after the autumn change, how long the UK stays on GMT, when evenings get lighter and how to remember to reset your clocks.