National cultures, performance appraisal practices, and organizational absenteeism and turnover: a study across 21 countries

J Appl Psychol. 2012 Mar;97(2):448-59. doi: 10.1037/a0026011. Epub 2011 Oct 31.

Abstract

Performance appraisal (PA) is a key human resource activity in organizations. However, in this global economy, we know little about how societal cultures affect PA practices. In this study, we address this gap by focusing on 2 complementary issues: (a) the influence of societal (national) cultural practices on PA practices adopted by organizations and (b) the contribution of the level of congruence between societal cultural practices and the characteristics of organizational PA practices to absenteeism and turnover. The results, based on a large data set across multiple countries and over 2 time periods, support the hypothesized effects of societal (national) cultural practices on particular PA practices and the interactive effects of societal cultural practices and PA practices on absenteeism and turnover. We discuss theoretical and practical implications of our findings.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absenteeism*
  • Adult
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison*
  • Culture
  • Employee Performance Appraisal / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Organizational Culture*
  • Personality / classification
  • Personnel Management* / statistics & numerical data
  • Personnel Turnover*
  • Power, Psychological
  • Psychological Distance
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Uncertainty