Posted By Frank Hallett Anne - I shall reserve my comments as by the implication of the wording you have only addressed the employed and excluded those who are self- employed. Frank Hallett

Posted By TBC It is simply the world we live in. Technology has a lot of good points and a lot of bad points. Look around at what's going on - simple things (or maybe not so simple) like the mobile phone and laptops. Stop in at a service station and what do you see people walking about seemingly talking to themselves with little dangly bits hanging out or stuck in their ears cyber beings or is it a body abduction (sci-fi) ? - no chatting to bosses contacts etc. Others drinking coffee (to keep them going) and working/playing on their laptops at the same time. Perhaps we could do with a timer switch on ourselves that won't let you work until you've had that break. We are all guilty - I was standing next to another guy in the gents when a phone began the ring in one of the cubicles and the guy was in there having a conversation whilst 'doing the business' we both commented on it - when my phone began the ring before I was finished. I now switch off at service stations and take that short break. If I'm the offices I go for a cuppa in another dept (networking!) and I always carry some papers or a folder - looks good.

Posted By Anne Smart Frank, Comments from anyone who is self-employed are welcome. Please don't feel restricted by the questions, as they are intended to get people talking about the general subject. Anne Smart IOSH media and marketing assistant

Posted By Joe Ridley Hi there, Interesting, my role is currently going though a restructure and part of that has included an 'open' condition to be available 7 days a week between the hours of 7am - 11pm to meet the needs of the company. This would not be the norm, so I have been told. I have not agreed to this yet. But what sort of example does this set? I accept my role involves health and safety and occasionally I may be required to work hours outwith 9 - 5, but I certainly don't need it as a condition of employment. I think agreeing to this would would endorse the work till whenever scenario. Joe

Posted By TBC Maybe we should have something that enforces us to record the hours we work. I know let's call it the 'Working Time Directive'. Think it will work?

Posted By Mark Talbot We are all working hard towards being recognised as a profession of professionals. What that means in reality is that we have to be responsible and responsive. A response of "I finish at five" to a request for help by those still at work on the late shift is repulsive. A response of "This is my weekend" to a call that a serious accident has occurred is likely to result in a P45 (rightly). So what is so different between me taking that stance, and a director working past five on some account she needs to win? Or a manager doing the employee reviews over the weekend? To balance, if I work excessive hours, my director acknowledges that and I take some back to achieve the balance ... Working the lunchtime is usually a personal choice taken out of wanting to take it a little easier at other times. I have never been told to work my lunch. I have never heard my colleagues being told to work lunch. Maybe someone needs to better understand the office dynamics, let's not leave it to the media to report what we are doing (no-one is going to tell the reporter "oh yeah, I work my lunch, but I slope off to the shops three times a week, I surf the 'net for three hours a day, I chat about the TV every hour, on the hour...") Anne - isn't it really up to us to research this properly and then report to the media a definitive account? Oh, and sorry but why do you think we should be fighting to restrict people to agreed hours? What is so magic about 9-5 restrictions? Part of the balance is self determination and control (see HSE's stress management ideas) so if I want to get there early and leave late, who should have the right to stop me? Flexi-time is great, unless you are trying to arrange a meeting/training for ten people, eh? In my experience frustration at not being allowed to do our jobs is far more of a problem than the extra few hours a week we spend trying.

Posted By J Knight If I'm not talking about driving, I would say that I try and keep within my hours, as I feel that I should set an example in this, but like Merv I don't, especially when I'm away from home, John

Posted By Merv Newman We limit driving time to about 6hrs per day, breaks about every 100 miles. Working day, including any driving time, should not excede 10hrs. OK, monday was almost 11hrs with the client (doesn't time fly when you're having fun !) but that included a decent lunch (no alcohol, save that for dinner when driving and work are finished for the day) So, after a long day's work, don't drive home. Relax in the hotel and have a shower and a decent meal. (quite often billed to the client anyway)