Does your working week drag on? Are you spending more time with your boss than with your family and friends?

Employees in the UK are the hardest workers in Europe. 47% of Brits spend more than 40 hours each week at the office compared to 17% of the French.

So there should be cries of glee at the arrival of the European Union's Working Time Directive.

This long-awaited piece of legislation declares a maximum working week of 48 hours, four weeks paid annual leave (from 1999) and no more than six days work per week.

However, not everyones hours will be restricted. Junior doctors, senior managers, fire service workers, transport workers, police and the self-employed are all exempt.

How many hours do you work a week? How many hours do you think you should be working?

The directive allows everyone the right to work more than 48 hours if they sign a waiver. What would you do if your boss asked you to sign one?

Industry could be looking at a bill of £2bn if all employees were to take up their new rights.

But the directive is vague and employment lawyers predict that the number of industrial tribunals will go through the roof.

What do you think?

Are 48 hours too much?

Your reaction in full

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