The comments below about productivity are interesting. One person works 30 and not more, another is happy to do 55 hours a week for years. For others, it depe

The comments below about productivity are interesting. One person works 30 and not more, another is happy to do 55 hours a week for years. For others, it depends on how interesting the work is. You salaried folks are fun to watch. The reason why the debate between 30 and 55 hours continues, and from the perspective of the bosses, how to steer you (in the U.S. at least) towards 55, or even higher, is because you don't get paid in proportion to what you work. I'm on 40 hours a week in my current contract and (with full consent) soliciting more work on the side with other clients. I promise you, when you're paid hourly, putting in longer hours and doing more work is far more 'rewarding' because the rewards are less philosophical, psychological and political - they're material. Edit: come to think of it, I am FAR more productive in my 40 hours now than in the 50, 55, etc. hours I was 'putting in' in my salaried years. But maybe I'm just an old cynic who doesn't drink the same kool-aid as those who run the company or own significant shares in it.