> At my previous jobs in the US I wouldn't even think about reducing my hours... a 32 vs 40 hour contract is pointless if you're expected to work 50-60 hours a

> At my previous jobs in the US I wouldn't even think about reducing my hours... a 32 vs 40 hour contract is pointless if you're expected to work 50-60 hours a week, better to take as much money as you can. The difference between less-than-full-time and full-time employment is the issue here. If you're a "full time" employee, depending on your local cultural values, you stay until the job is done, within reason. If you're on less than full time, in, I would wager, the vast majority of cases, the position is very closely regulated time-wise, ensuring the employee works their hours and very little more, if any.