Interestingly, I have found this varies by region.
The major employer in my area (that I work at) has 15,000 people. The unions (factory workers and draftsmen) have to show up between 6am and 7am depending on their specific project (everyone has an exact time, and can actually be 'late').
Engineers can show up anytime they want and leave whenever they want, but typically 9-3 is encouraged as 'core hours' so there is overlap, but other than that we can set our schedules. Thus, I come in at 9am on most days. Most engineers come in more like 7:30-8am.
Because the main employer sets the tone, a lot of other companies in the area run an earlier pace. My girlfriend works at a completely unrelated company and started work before 8am. Most of the schools start very early (because the parents are probably out of the house really early). All the union guys are leaving work at 2:30 or 4 in the afternoon, so restaurents open early and close early.
Coming from an NYC office where 10am-6pm was the norm, 6:00am-2:30pm seems strange. But it does have some advantages.
First off, did you know the sun comes up EARLY. Holy crap was I missing a lot of daylight on the 10-6 schedule. I was up at 5:30 this morning and it was basically broad daylight out there. I went surfing before and after work yesterday while also putting in 9 hours at the office. That only happens if you wake up at 5 in the morning.
I personally like to maximize my outdoors-in-the-sun time so getting up at 530 in the summer and 6-630 in the winter has been a revelation. Yes, you have to go to bed earlier. But my girlfriend and I ditched the habit of watching TV before bed we both had from college (and don't have a TV in the bedroom) and that helps a lot. It also helps to go to the gym right after work.
The major employer in my area (that I work at) has 15,000 people. The unions (factory workers and draftsmen) have to show up between 6am and 7am depending on their specific project (everyone has an exact time, and can actually be 'late').
Engineers can show up anytime they want and leave whenever they want, but typically 9-3 is encouraged as 'core hours' so there is overlap, but other than that we can set our schedules. Thus, I come in at 9am on most days. Most engineers come in more like 7:30-8am.
Because the main employer sets the tone, a lot of other companies in the area run an earlier pace. My girlfriend works at a completely unrelated company and started work before 8am. Most of the schools start very early (because the parents are probably out of the house really early). All the union guys are leaving work at 2:30 or 4 in the afternoon, so restaurents open early and close early.
Coming from an NYC office where 10am-6pm was the norm, 6:00am-2:30pm seems strange. But it does have some advantages.
First off, did you know the sun comes up EARLY. Holy crap was I missing a lot of daylight on the 10-6 schedule. I was up at 5:30 this morning and it was basically broad daylight out there. I went surfing before and after work yesterday while also putting in 9 hours at the office. That only happens if you wake up at 5 in the morning.
I personally like to maximize my outdoors-in-the-sun time so getting up at 530 in the summer and 6-630 in the winter has been a revelation. Yes, you have to go to bed earlier. But my girlfriend and I ditched the habit of watching TV before bed we both had from college (and don't have a TV in the bedroom) and that helps a lot. It also helps to go to the gym right after work.