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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.
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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, between the hours of 2pm and 5pm, effecting a pause in business hours, and resuming business in the evenings. La siesta is a Spanish language term, which literally translates as a short nap of 15–30 minutes.
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.
Non-traditional business hours
Many businesses and organizations have extended or unlimited business hours if their business takes place continuously. For example, hotels, airports, and hospitals are open 24 hours a day, and transactions can take place at any point in time, thus requiring staffing and management availability at all times. Recent communications technology such as smartphones has also extended the working day.
Restrictions
In some jurisdictions, legislation or regulations may require businesses to limit their trading hours. For example, some Western countries prohibit certain businesses from trading on Sundays, this being traditionally considered a day of rest. Businesses which serve hot food or alcoholic drinks are also frequently restricted in their trading hours.
United States
In the United States, the U.S. Department of Labor has mandated that companies must pay overtime to individuals who work over 40 hours a week. Businesses often do not schedule their employees to work more than 40 hours per week because they want to avoid paying their employees overtime.
Greece
In Greece, business hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are usually from 9 am to 3 pm, while on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays are usually from 9 am to 2 pm and after the siesta from 5.30 pm to 9 pm. Large stores and supermarkets follow an extended business hours schedule and are open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 9 pm and on Saturdays from 9 am to 8 pm. All stores are normally closed on Sundays, but there are several exceptions throughout the year. Banking and civil services hours are usually Monday to Friday from 8 am to 2 pm, with minor variations but are always closed at weekends. All stores and offices are closed on public holidays.