Working across time zones has always been a challenge for international businesses. Time differences can disrupt smooth collaboration with partners or colleagues abroad, causing scheduling conflicts, extended wait times for responses, and ultimately slowing down projects and missing deadlines. This can be especially frustrating when a quick decision is needed, but you’re unable to reach a partner due to their local time zone. In this article, we’ll look at what you can do if your workflow is linked to Pacific Standard Time (PST) and, of course, what PST actually means.

What is Pacific Standard Time (PST)?

PST stands for Pacific Standard Time. It’s the time zone used across the US West Coast and parts of Canada and Mexico.

Millions of people in major cities in the US, Canada, and Mexico live and work on PST. This time zone is also significant for digital product updates, product launches, and major conferences.

Regions and Cities on PST:

• United States: California, Washington, Oregon, and parts of Nevada
• Canada: British Columbia and some northern areas of Yukon
• Mexico: Baja California, including Tijuana and Mexicali

Some of the world’s biggest companies are based in the PST zone, including Google, Apple, Facebook (Meta), Tesla, Intel, Cisco, Oracle, Amazon, and Microsoft.

PST is eight hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-8). From March to November, however, daylight saving shifts PST to Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), which is UTC-7.

PST and Productivity

Time zones can significantly affect employee productivity. For example, if one team is working daytime hours in PST and another team is on night shifts, communication between them can be tricky.

People working outside of typical working hours often experience fatigue more quickly and may make more errors. Studies show that people working frequent night shifts are more likely to lose focus and productivity. It’s a simple concept, but internal body clocks are vital for top-notch performance.

To prevent burnout and mistakes, it’s essential to consider the time zones your teams are in. You can follow a few straightforward guidelines to align schedules without requiring everyone to work in the same time zone.

Simple Guidelines for Working with PST

1. Rule One: Schedule Convenient Times for Both Sides
   When planning calls with colleagues or clients in PST, pick times that work for everyone involved. Decide on slots that fall within regular working hours for both sides. This saves time and shows professionalism.
2. Rule Two: Sync Up Working Hours
   Organise tasks so they align with PST working hours. For instance, if you’re in Europe, assign tasks to US colleagues at the end of your day. That way, they’ll receive the tasks at the start of their day and can begin work straight away.
3. Rule Three: Respect Personal Time
   Even if you’re in the middle of your workday, bear in mind that it may be late evening or early morning for PST colleagues. Avoid sending messages or calling them at those times. If it’s urgent, use scheduled messages on Telegram or other messaging platforms to ensure your message arrives during their working hours.

Consider Adopting a Flexible Schedule

Many companies now use flexible work schedules to manage time zones better, which is especially useful for remote teams in different countries. In such cases, PST often becomes a core time zone for planning and coordination.

Flexible schedules allow team members to choose their working hours based on their time zone, helping to reduce stress and increase productivity. This approach keeps teams in sync while giving everyone more control over their time.

All deadlines and key work points can still be set in PST to avoid confusion.

In Conclusion

Knowing the ins and outs of PST is crucial for businesses operating on a global scale. Companies that consider time zones can enhance team efficiency and reduce delays. Time is a resource, and using it well can make a big difference. By planning workflows carefully, using simple guidelines for communicating across time zones, and adopting flexible schedules, you can build a positive reputation for your company and even achieve business goals more effectively.