That's how the capitalists getcha. Back in granddads day, they just made sure you lost enough fingers in the machinery to keep from counting. Nowadays they gotta keep you too busy to realize they stole two hours instead of one.

This is mostly an American problem. Here in the EU it's less of an issue. Even here in Spain, where we work 9 to 6 or 9 to 7, is always because, either we have a big break in the middle of something. And regarding kids, I don't have them, but those who do in my company usually take the time off to go, pick then up and get them home or something if the school is nearby. Otherwise they arrange some home delivery or something, as I recall.

It's all on a state by state basis. So 'right to work' states like Alabama, Texas, Virginia, etc, there are very few regulations. There the employer is viewed as the owner of the job and can basically tell the employee to work anytime. States with stronger regulations like California have much more stringent policies and there it's if not less likely to work a lot of overtime people are likely to be paid for it.