Many companies i know you just sign a letter if you work over the hours. I did it a few years ago. But we had to work something like 13 weeks before anything would register if i recall correctly.
Always a way around it if it was in place for both employers and employees.
The rest of europe manages to get around the rules when they need, i have noticed.
Anyway in all workplaces i have seen several hours a day are taken up chinwaging or skiving.
I know my company although customer (internal and external are tied to set hours) many of us are able to be flexible with our hours i.e once the work is done and not needed you can slink off. But when its all hands to the pumps its stay as long as needed. Same in many companies and workplaces.
The ruling from what i see is more to protect the employee if they feel they are being forced in to working long hours.
Im sure many on here who have to travel for work especiallly longer distances will agree its impossible to not go over the hours set. Many from Europe who I work with break the rulings all the times.
