I’m fortunate enough to work in an office that’s old-school and trusts us enough to get my work done unmonitored. I work in media, so it’s a deadline-driven environment, and we’re all given flex time and open PTO provided we meet all our deadlines. My boss is very hands-off, but happy to jump in and help when asked, and I like that a lot.

I work hard and appreciate their goodwill, while not trying to take advantage. I work from home and sometimes I’ll run errands or go outside for a short walk as I mentally outline an article. I’ve never missed a deadline, and I don’t plan to.

A pet-peeve of mine is when an office starts forcing people to use specific technology, like a smartphone or a non-SMS authentication app. I also prefer when office communication is open and tactful, but also deliberate without a lot of pointless meetings. I’m not really a fan of office gossip and try to change the subject if a coworker starts ranting about someone else in the office.

I hear a lot of office workers are spied on through their work computers and have to use productivity software these days. It sounds really awful and counter-productive. I’m at my most productive when there isn’t someone watching over my shoulder all day.