Ethics Newsline®

LONDON
Fourteen percent of U.K. workers who voluntarily opted out of legal provisions limiting the length of their workweek felt compelled to do so because of employer pressure, according to a new poll released last week.

The findings have sparked renewed criticism of government plans to relax provisions limiting the U.K. workweek, according to the BBC.

Under current law, the European Working Time Directive limits the workweek to 48 hours, but allows employees to voluntarily opt out of the program.

The U.K. government is considering steps to make such opt-outs easier, a move criticized by Trades Union Congress head John Monk.

Monk says that easing the restrictions would make it harder for U.K. workers to withstand employers’ pressure and the long-hours culture of the British workplace.

The Confederation of British Industry countered by noting survey results showing that of those who had opted out, 80 percent were happy with their decision, according to the BBC.