Working Time Directive: 5 things you didn’t knowPublished {$created} by Tina BlumIf you live and work in the EU, the Working Time Directive affects your work life. The Working Time Directive is meant to protect workers from overwork, unsafe schedules, and burnout. Let’s have a look at what the Working Time Directive is, why compliance matters, and 5 things most teams overlook. The Working Time Directive (Directive 2003/88/EC) is an EU law that sets limits on working hours, mandates rest periods, and ensures workers well-being. 5 facts about the EU Working Time Directive most teams overlook1.