Comment EU's working time directive (Score 5, Interesting) 70
The Working Time Directive was instituted in the 1980's. Margret Thatcher was very upset that the UK had to follow this directive to remain in the EU.
The Working Time Directive limits weekly working time to an average of 48 hours per week over and 17 week reference period. Companies sometimes get exemptions from key employees, but there can't be no coercion to sign such an agreement. The exemptions are usually for key employees.
Since the UK left the EU, there has been no substantial changes to the regulation. Instead, the original domestic legislation implementing it—the UK's Working Time Regulations—was converted into UK law to maintain legal continuity, and core worker protections regarding maximum working hours and paid holiday remain active
In contrast to the United States, there is no limit on working time, and the only option the employee has is to quit (Employment-at-will). There are also 2 distinct classes of workers. Those which are non-exempt get overtime pay after 40 hours of work in a week, while those which are "exempt" only get their base salary regardless of how many hours they have to work. There is a dividing line which lists certain job requirements as those falling under exempt, and those which are non-exempt. Managers,Engineers, Accountants, and a lot of indirect labor positions are usually exempt.
With so many people in the USA living paycheck to paycheck, quitting due to excessive overtime is very unlikely