United States
Working Hours
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Varies significantly by coast—East Coast starts 3 hours earlier than West Coast. Many tech companies have flexible hours.
Lunch Break
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
30-60 minutes, often eaten at desk or during meetings
Business Etiquette
- •Direct communication style is preferred—get to the point quickly
- •Punctuality is highly valued; being late is seen as disrespectful
- •First names are commonly used even with senior colleagues
- •Email and Slack are primary communication channels
- •Work-life boundaries are increasingly respected, especially post-pandemic
Major Holidays
- Thanksgiving — Late November (4th Thursday)
- Independence Day — July 4
- Christmas-New Year — December 24 - January 1
- Memorial Day — Last Monday of May
- Labor Day — First Monday of September
Communication Style
Direct and results-oriented. Americans value efficiency and clear action items from meetings.
Meeting Culture
Agendas are expected, discussions are time-boxed. Video calls have become standard. Meetings often start with brief small talk.