Flexible schedules are here — but only sorta. People quietly head home earlier after wrapping up, especially once they've flashed face time with the boss. What’s unchanged? Arrival times. Showing up late still gets judged, even if you logged your hours from home later. It’s “productivity theater,” where visibility still trumps actual results.
Welcome to the era of “work-life balance… but only if you play the visibility game.” Productivity hasn’t changed so much as perception has. Flexible work feels possible—if you still perform the ritual of presence. Everyone’s figuring out how to manage deadlines and day cares, with one eye on the clock.
Work flexibility isn’t disappearing—it’s being gamified. If you're leaving early, just make sure your morning presence still says, "I'm here, I'm in." Otherwise, you're on a performance stage you didn't audition for.
