Legal Definitions - solar day

In a legal context, a solar day refers to the standard calendar day, which is a continuous 24-hour period beginning at midnight and concluding at the following midnight. This is the most common understanding of a "day" when calculating time periods, deadlines, or durations specified in laws, contracts, or regulations, unless a different definition (such as a "business day" or "working day") is explicitly provided.

• Example 1: Contractual Deadline

  A construction contract stipulates that the contractor must complete the first phase of a project by the end of the "solar day" on June 15th. This means that all work for that phase must be finished and ready for inspection by 11:59:59 PM on June 15th. The term "solar day" ensures that the entire 24-hour calendar day is considered, not just the hours of daylight, for meeting the deadline.

• Example 2: Statutory Compliance Period

  A new environmental regulation requires companies to submit their compliance reports within 90 "solar days" of the regulation's effective date. If the regulation became effective on January 1st, companies would have until the end of March 31st (11:59:59 PM) to submit their reports. Each "solar day" here represents a full calendar day, ensuring a consistent and easily calculable period for all regulated entities.

• Example 3: Notice Period in Employment

  An employee's contract states that they must give their employer at least 14 "solar days" notice before resigning. If an employee decides to resign on October 1st, their last day of employment would be no earlier than October 15th, assuming they provided notice on October 1st. The "solar days" ensure that the notice period is counted using full calendar days, providing clarity for both the employee and the employer regarding the transition period.