Time Zone Etiquette

Working across time zones requires thoughtfulness and respect. Here are essential do's and don'ts.

Do's

1. Always mention the timezone when proposing meeting times
2. Use the recipient's local time in communications
3. Set "Do Not Disturb" hours in your messaging apps
4. Be flexible about meeting times
5. Send agendas in advance so people can prepare async

Don'ts

1. Don't assume everyone is in your timezone
2. Don't schedule meetings outside 8 AM - 7 PM local time without asking
3. Don't use timezone abbreviations (they can be ambiguous)
4. Don't forget about DST changes when scheduling recurring meetings
5. Don't expect immediate responses from people in different time zones

The Async-First Approach

For global teams, defaulting to asynchronous communication reduces timezone friction:

• Use shared documents instead of live meetings for updates
• Record video messages instead of requiring live attendance
• Set realistic response time expectations (24 hours, not 1 hour)