The Cost Of Control In A World That Wants Freedom

The idea of work has evolved dramatically but many of the systems we use to manage people haven’t.

In an era where technology allows us to connect from anywhere, people still feel boxed in by outdated structures that value presence over purpose. Across sectors, countries and income levels, the rhythm of work is changing, yet many organisations continue to operate by standards shaped decades ago.

The irony? While AI is speeding ahead, reshaping what’s possible in how we work, many leaders are still operating with a playbook written in the 1950s.

We’re not just facing a logistical problem. We’re facing a crisis of imagination and of leadership.

A Global Moment Of Reflection

From cities to rural towns, from hourly wage workers to knowledge professionals, the demand for more predictable, respectful and human-centred work is growing.

Take Alicia, for example, after seven years in retail, her schedule changed week to week and even paid time off was unpredictable. When she became pregnant and flexibility wasn’t an option, the job simply became unsustainable. She had no choice but to leave.

Her story isn’t rare. A Gallup and Family and Workers Fund study found that nearly two-thirds of American workers experience volatile and inflexible schedules, often without autonomy or stability. And it’s not just in the U.S. Across Europe and Australia, workers are voicing the same need: a job isn’t “good” unless it also respects their time and humanity.

So the question is not just...
“How do we schedule better?”

The question is:
Why are we still making work harder than it needs to be?

Our Brains Are Wired For Control But The World Has Moved On

At the heart of this conundrum is brain science. Leaders often cling to outdated time structures not because they’re effective, but because they offer control. Certainty. Power.

The 9-to-5 model isn’t just a schedule, it’s a psychological safety blanket, rooted in a time when work was linear, output was measured in hours and authority was rarely questioned.

But today, we’re living in a reality where people can work from anywhere, AI can handle repetitive tasks, and teams thrive on trust and autonomy. Our survival brain may crave control, but our modern workplace demands adaptability and influence.

How Various Countries Are Handling This

Some cultures have already begun to lead from this more expansive mindset, recognising that flexibility isn’t a perk, but a foundation for performance and well-being.

Australia

Employees can request flexible working arrangements as a legal right. Hybrid roles, part-time leadership and ‘Rostered Days Off’ are normalised.

Scandinavia

These countries embed trust into how work is structured: autonomy, reduced hours and generous leave are part of a system built for life, not just labour.

The Netherlands

Part-time roles are common even at senior levels, and employees are trusted to manage their workload without compromising results.

These aren’t indulgences. They’re strategies, grounded in mutual respect and clear expectations.

Atlassian’s “Team Anywhere”: Leading By Letting Go

One company showing what’s possible is Atlassian, the Australian tech firm behind tools like Jira and Trello.

Through its Team Anywhere policy, Atlassian allows employees to work from wherever the company has a legal presence and to structure their schedules based on outcomes, not hours.

This approach doesn’t rely on micromanagement. It relies on:

• Shared purpose
• Autonomy
• Clarity over control

And the result?

Teams are distributed, yet deeply connected.

Productivity is high, not because people are monitored, but because they’re trusted.

What Needs To Change?

To move toward true flexibility, we must address both the systems we use and the leadership cultures that shape them.

System Design

Predictable, stable scheduling should be a standard, not a luxury, especially for hourly and frontline workers.

AI scheduling tools should be used to support human needs, not to squeeze more labour out of already stretched teams.

Leadership Culture

• Rethink productivity: judge by results, not hours.

• Shift from command-and-control to co-creation and trust.

• Equip leaders with the emotional intelligence to inspire instead of monitor.

Final Thoughts

We’re not just being asked to modernise schedules. We’re being asked to evolve how we lead.

If we believe people are capable of great things, we must build systems that reflect that belief. Not systems that make them prove their worth through presence. The future of work is flexible. 

It’s distributed. It’s human. The only thing holding it back… is our fear of letting go.

Let’s stop building policies that punish people for being human.

Let’s lead like we trust them, because that’s how people thrive.

Sources:

• Atlassian. Team Anywhere. Atlassian. https://www.atlassian.com/company/careers/teamanywhere
• Australian Government Fair Work Ombudsman. (n.d.). Flexible working arrangements. Fair Work.
• Business Culture. (n.d.). Sweden - Work-life balance. BusinessCulture.org
• Gallup. (2024). The American Job Quality Study. Gallup & The Family and Workers Fund.
• Harvard Business Review. (2023, October). Research: Flexible work is having a mixed impact on employee well-being and productivity.