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American culture of time
American culture of time
Individualism and flexible schedule management
In the United States, people have an individualistic sense of time and tend to respect the freedom and schedules of others. There are many situations in which "flexibility" is more important than strict time management.
Results-oriented sense of time
Time usage is evaluated based on "how much results you have achieved." It is considered good to focus on results rather than the process, and to work efficiently even in a short amount of time.
Meetings are short and conclusion-oriented
American meeting culture is concise, and it is good to reach a conclusion as quickly as possible. Long, drawn-out discussions are not preferred, and the awareness of using time effectively is deeply rooted.
American values regarding time
Time is viewed as a "resource"
In the United States, time is considered a limited and valuable resource, as symbolized by the phrase "time is money." Wasting time is synonymous with damaging one's own and others' values.
A culture that values efficiency
People hate wasting time, and are expected to act rationally and quickly. Meetings and work that have clear objectives and are well organized are highly valued.
Self-management is a given
How you use your time is often left to the discretion of the individual, and self-management is emphasized. It is common to think that you are free to work when and how you want as long as you meet deadlines.
Things foreigners should know about time when traveling or immigrating to the United States
It is common to be "exact" or "a few minutes later" for appointments
Unlike in Japan, you are not expected to be five minutes early, and it is common to be exactly on time or a little late. However, in business situations, it is expected that you will be punctual.
Daylight Saving Time System
Daylight Saving Time is implemented in the United States, and it is customary to move the clocks back by one hour twice a year. Immigrants and travelers should be aware of the time difference change.
Time zones vary by state
Because the United States has a vast land area, it is divided into more than four time zones. Even when traveling within the country, you need to plan your schedule assuming that there will be a time difference of more than an hour.
Interesting trivia about time in the United States
American TV programs are announced based on "Eastern Time"
National broadcasts in the United States are scheduled based on "ET (Eastern Time)". Therefore, many programs are broadcast three hours late on the West Coast.
Isn't lunchtime exactly at 12 o'clock?
Lunch does not necessarily mean 12 o'clock, and people tend to take it freely between 11:00 and 13:00. In particular, people who start work early may take lunch in the 10:00s.
Evaluation is based on results rather than time divisions
Since the emphasis is on "what you accomplished" rather than "how many hours you worked," there is an environment where telecommuting and flextime are easy to take root. This is one of the big differences from Japan.