Culture plays a crucial role in shaping individuals’ thought processes and their appraisal of the working environment. In this research, we integrate the construct of cultural norms with cognitive appraisal theory to examine how cultural norms influence employees’ perceptions of time-related stressors. Specifically, we conceptualize normal working hours at different levels—national, state, and organizational—as a form of cultural norm. We propose that working hours moderate the relationship between stressors and work outcomes, such that employees in cultures where long working hours are widely accepted will exhibit weaker associations between stressors and outcomes. Using multilevel modeling analysis, we tested our hypotheses with a cross-national sample from 26 countries and a cross-state sample from 42 U.S. states. The findings support our hypothesis, demonstrating that national-level working hours function as a cultural norm that buffers the link between stressors and work outcomes.
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