Flex-time as a moderator of the job stress-work motivation relationship A three nation investigation

Purpose - It has been known for some time that job stress has a wide-ranging, negative impact on employees. It has also been known that providing employees with autonomy and/or control over their work environment reduces the deleterious consequences of job stress. The purpose of this study is to examine whether control in the form of flex-time (i.e. allowing employees to create their own work schedules) moderates the impact of stress on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation among Russian, Canadian, and Israeli Arab employees (n = 933). Design/methodology/approach - Archival data that was obtained from employees (n = 933) residing in three different nations was analysed via hierarchical moderated multiple regression. Findings - In relation to extrinsic motivation, a significant interaction was observed between job stress, flex-time, and country of residence. Although flex-time and country of residence were significant predictors of intrinsic motivation, no significant interactions were observed. Originality/value - This is one of few papers to examine flex-time from an international perspective. In terms of value, human resource managers are made aware that the impacts of flex-time on employees' motivation depends, in part, on the nation in which they are employed.