Business hours are the hours during the day in which business is commonly conducted. Typical business hours vary widely by country. By observing common informal standards for business hours, workers may communicate with each other more easily and find a convenient divide between work life and home life.
In the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, the hours between 9 am and 5 pm (the traditional "9 to 5") are typically considered to be standard business hours, although in the United States this varies by region due to local tradition and the need to conduct business by telephone with people in other time zones. For instance, business in Chicago is often conducted between 8 am and 4:30 pm, while in New York City, business hours tend to be later—for instance, from 10 am to 6 pm. On Saturdays businesses are usually open from 8 or 9 am to noon or 1 pm.
In Mexico, the standard business hours are from 7 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 6 pm.
In Finland, government agencies and other institutions follow the hours 8:00–16:15. Banks are usually open to 16:30. Common business is done from Monday to Friday, but major shops are usually open on Saturdays 9:00-18:00 and on Sundays 12:00-21:00, with exceptions.
Other countries have different business hour patterns. Many workers in warmer climates observe siesta during the afternoon, effecting a pause in business hours, and resuming business in the evenings.
Business hours usually occur on weekdays. However, the days of the week on which business is conducted also varies from region to region in the world.
Read more about Business Hours: Non-traditional Business Hours
Famous quotes containing the words business and/or hours:
“Now, in my opinion, a woman has no business with Power—Power admits no equal, and dismisses friendship for flattery. Besides, it keeps the men at a distance, and that is not always what we wish.”
—Edward Moore (1712–1757)
“Some hours seem not to be occasion for any deed, but for resolves to draw breath in. We do not directly go about the execution of the purpose that thrills us, but shut our doors behind us and ramble with prepared mind, as if the half were already done. Our resolution is taking root or hold on the earth then, as seeds first send a shoot downward which is fed by their own albumen, ere they send one upward to the light.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)