Each year on the second Sunday in March, Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins in most of the United States. The time change can have implications for payroll, DOT minimum rest periods, and sleep health.
FLSA/Payroll
Nonexempt employees who are working on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 2:00 a.m.—when clocks will "spring forward" to 3:00 a.m.—may be entitled to one fewer hour of pay for their shifts because, essentially, they would not have worked from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. For example, if an employee is scheduled to work a shift from 11:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., he or she will have worked only seven hours. Employers may adjust their nonexempt employees' schedules for that day to give them an additional hour of work.
DOT Minimum Rest Periods
The lost hour could require you to change your workers' schedules to meet U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements for maximum work hours or rest periods and to change the way you log certain transportation workers' hours that day.
While there is no official DOT guidance, that day in March will last only 23 hours, which can be noted with a "DST" in the 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. hour slot on the grid. It is important to keep this in mind when calculating required rest periods for covered transportation workers. If they're scheduled to be off, they will get only 23 hours of rest that day.
Supporting Sleep Health
Employees' work and home life can influence the amount and quality of sleep they get. As a result, getting enough sleep can be a problem for anyone, no matter what the job. People who work in industries that require shift work or spend long hours on the job are at a higher risk for sleep-related disorders and report getting the least amount of sleep. By addressing sleep as part of a workplace health program, companies can increase safety and make employees healthier and safer at home.
Sleep Awareness Week Mar 9-15, 2025
National Sleep Foundation
Supporting Sleep Health
Workplace Napping
SHRM Express Requests
Tools
Example Daylight Saving Time Procedures
University of Florida
The Official U.S. Time
Time.gov
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Daylight Saving Time | State Legislation
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