I must take issue with Philip Lewis's views on staff attitudes to working hours (Give and ye shall receive, letters.computing.co.uk).

Everyone accepts that on occasions all staff, regardless of grade, have to work beyond their contracted hours to meet deadlines and deliver projects. But the key is in his sentence, "I often have to ask my staff...". If staff are often being asked to work beyond their contracted hours, it suggests to me that the projects are being under-resourced and the employer is relying on, and abusing, the goodwill of the staff to deliver projects.

Under these circumstances, I have to agree with Keith Woollacott's original letter, and say that employees should refuse.

Keith Lyall