body: According to the [working time directive](https://www.gov.uk/maximum-weekly-working-hours/overview):
  
  
  
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  > You can’t work more than 48 hours a week on average
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  Suppose that an employee has been coerced into working more than 48 hours a week. According to the same page:
  
  
  
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  > Your employer can ask you to opt out, but you can’t be sacked or treated unfairly for refusing to do so
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  Suppose also that:
  
  
  * The employee is not in a profession exempt from the working time directive
  * The employee has not signed an opt out clause
  * The amount of hours worked is not in question, e.g. is logged in a timesheet system
  
  
  My question is, **what action can the employee take in a case like this?**
  
  
  
title: What action can I take if an employer asks me to work more than 48 hours per week?