Clocks go back in 2026: what it means for work and wellbeing – pros and cons

On the night from Saturday to Sunday, the clock on your phone will go back one hour by itself. Mornings will be lighter, but it will already be dark by 4:30 pm. For some it means an extra hour of sleep, for others a few days of feeling tired and out of sorts. And for people working that night, the night shift will be longer than usual.

When do the clocks change in 2026?

The clocks go back one hour, which means we sleep one hour longer. Phones and computers change the time automatically. Wristwatches, the oven or the clock in your car need to be changed by hand.

Calls with family in Ukraine will not shift: both countries change the time on the same night, so the difference stays at 1 hour.

The time change and work

The night shift lasts one hour longer. If you are at work at 3:00 on the night of 24–25 October, you will work one hour more than usual, because the clock goes back from 3:00 to 2:00. Your KONO coordinator or recruiter will explain how this hour is counted in your schedule and pay, so it is worth asking in advance.

The Monday after the change can be hard. The body usually needs a few days to adjust to the new time. In the first days it is easier to lose focus, and concentration matters when working with machines, forklifts or in a warehouse.

Going to and from work in the dark. After the change it gets dark earlier, so people finishing their shift in the afternoon travel home in the dark. If you walk or cycle, wear reflective items.

The time change and wellbeing

Moving the clock by one hour seems like a small thing, but many people feel it for several days:

• it is harder to fall asleep, or you wake up earlier than usual,
• more tiredness and sleepiness during the day,
• a lower mood, because days are shorter and there is less light.

How to make it easier:

1. A few days before the change, go to bed 15–20 minutes later.
2. In the morning, get into daylight as soon as possible, even for a short walk.
3. In the evening, limit your phone and bright screens.
4. In the evening, avoid coffee and energy drinks.
5. After a night shift, sleep in a darkened room at a regular time.

Pros and cons of changing the clocks

Is this the last time change?

Probably not. The European Union has been discussing ending the clock changes for years. The European Commission’s 2018 proposal stalled in 2019 because member states could not agree which time to keep: summer or winter. In 2026 the Commission commissioned an analysis of several options, with results expected at the end of the year. The schedule of clock changes has already been published up to 2031.

In Ukraine, parliament passed a law in 2024 to stop changing the clocks, but it has not come into force because the president did not sign it. That is why the clocks there change just as in Poland.

What do you think?

Should we keep changing the clocks? Vote in the stories on our Instagram @kono.jobs. We will share the results after the weekend.

Work in Poland with KONO

KONO helps you find legal work in Poland in warehouses, production and retail, with a clear schedule and the support of a coordinator. See current vacancies in our Job offers section.