The Cultural Meaning of Time Mismatch at Work: Contrasting Asian and White New Zealanders

Working-hours mismatches occur when people want to spend less or more time at work. Conventionally, the desire for more time is interpreted as a sign of under-employment and precarious work, and the desire for more time is interpreted as a sign of overwork. Culture may also influence mismatches, however, and we posit an Asian-White contrast due to the different meanings of work across low- and high-relational-mobility groups. When relational mobility is high, the desire for more work time may be dampened by the desire to make a good impression on one’s romantic partner. When relational mobility is low, such impression management is less important. Using data from a large representative New Zealand survey (N = 3,854), we found support for this hypothesis. Asian New Zealanders (low mobility) were approximately twice as likely as White New Zealanders (high mobility) to express the desire for more time at work, even after controlling for working hours, perceived deprivation, and several other confounds. Having a family diminished the desire for more work time among White New Zealanders, but slightly enhanced that desire among Asians.