MORE than three in five human resources professionals are backing measures to restrict working hours.

A new survey by business information company Croner has found that 61 per cent of respondents thought that employers should not be able to ask employees to work more than the set limit of hours.

At present, the Working Time Directive allows UK employees to opt out of the 48-hour weekly working limit imposed in 1998.

Robert Smith, employment law expert at Croner, said: "It's perhaps surprising to find that a large proportion of businesses we surveyed are happy to see a wholesale limit imposed on the length of time they can ask their employees to work.

"A lot of companies tell us they feel they need to be able to ask certain essential staff groups to work more than the suggested maximum number of hours in order to keep the business viable, and the EU consultation document itself suggests that this happens most often within the UK.

"The directive does state that the 48-hour week should be 'on average' and employees are usually aware that, in today's business world, a degree of flexibility can be required.

"If the requirement for extra hours becomes a regular or permanent occurrence, it could indicate that employers need to reassess their staffing needs or working procedures."

The EU has started a three-month consultation with a view to revising the Working Time Directive -- especially the clause which allows workers in the UK to opt out.

Croner's survey shows that many firms are keen to support the rights of employees to go home at a reasonable time.

Mr Smith said: "This is a positive indication that work-life balance is being taken seriously by employers."

Although many employers will ask, and accept if employees refuse, Mr Smith says this is not always satisfactory. "Even if employers aren't consciously exerting any pressure and would accept workers rejecting the request, employees could easily feel that they would lose status if they didn't agree and would look uncommitted."