In the US, "work" is split into "exempt" and "non-exempt" status. "Non-exempt" workers are paid by the hour and have mandatory benefits if they work 40 hours and overtime pay if they work more than 40, so most employers will aim for 35 or so.

"Exempt" workers, which is most of us in the tech industry, are paid a salary and have essentially no limit to the hours that may be asked of us.

> and have essentially no limit to the hours that may be asked of us.

You may be asked, but do you really have to accept? (I'm asking from Europe) It sounds insane to sell 24 of your hours per day for any typical salary?

Nobody HAS to accept the working hours required by their employer. You're always free to quit and try to find another job that requires fewer hours.

But how can you make the contract (even if it's not formal) in which the employer pays X dollars fixed and the employee "has to work as much unspecified amount of work"? If the employee sells his work, he's selling without the possibility to measure how much he sells? Isn't it absurd? Or is it specified as "after 50 hours per week you can really go home?"

Welcome to "at will" employment. Besides some very specific exceptions, including race, gender, etc., employers are free to fire you for any reason or for no reason. Similarly, you are free to quit for any reason or no reason.

That's why we need reform of the Fair Labor Standards Act to do a number of things including, but not limited to the following:

1. Abolish "At-will" employment and replace it with "Just Cause". This will bring the US in line with the rest of the developed world.

2. Implement working time restrictions similar to the European Working Time Directive for both exempt, and non-exempt employees.

We have been in a race to the bottom with regard to labor law over the last 30 years.

I'm amazed that the apparent "high skilled professionals" are satisfied with such vague conditions under which they sell themselves. It doesn't sound professional at all not having the limits and not organizing the protection of the profession. Please excuse me, that's how it appears in some European countries where what the rights are protected by the organizations of professionals (or even workers) and at the latest level by the laws.