Having worked at an employer that mandated 50hr weeks, bullshit.
Mmmmm yeah. I'm gonna have to ask you to work on Saturday.
To this, you respond "fuck you."
And they fired several people who did (including a manager who refused to ask it of his employees). Several people left. In the middle of a bad job market finding new employment isn't easy.
Scott - your statistics are exchange rate based, denominated in US $. Mine are at PPP, and as such less reflect the vagaries of monetary policy.
Did you read them? They are PPP as well.
so what? shitty boss; leave. bad job market simplt means that you can't get the wage you want for the job you want. you can find a job if you want one. just because you don't like the wage/job and think you are too good for it doesn't mean its not there.
I suggest that people in this position either shut up about it or do something about it.