Jillian Richardson

All UK homes built from 2022 onwards would be carbon neutral under a Labour government, according to a recent election pledge by the party. Labour has also promised to guarantee “warm homes for all,” by retrofitting the UK’s 27 million houses with insulation, double-glazed windows, heat pumps, and solar panels, to help them save and produce at least as much energy as they use, effectively neutralizing their contribution to the climate crisis.

I recently interviewed Dr. Zev Eigen, the global director of analytics at Littler, for an article about artificial intelligence and workplace communication. About halfway through the conversation, I jokingly asked, “Do you think my writing job could be taken over by AI?” I was sure he’d say no.

A few weeks ago, I was typing on my laptop at a co-working space in New York City when a fellow freelancer approached me. “I was worried you weren’t going to come in today,” he said. “I couldn’t find you! You should be by the window. That’s where the pretty people should sit.”

As a freelancer, I’ve found that where I work changes the kind of person I am. In coffee shops, I’m easily distracted by friendly chatter and people scrolling through Facebook. An office filled with serious-looking workers in suits, however, makes me switch into professional mode and buckle down.

Earlier this week, I was walking in my New York City neighborhood, talking to a potential employer on the phone. Suddenly two men appeared on the sidewalk in front of me, blocking my way. When I refused to stop and talk to them, they began to follow me, screaming curses at me for blocks—words like “cunt” and “bitch.” It was 1pm on a busy street. I was surrounded by witnesses. Yet no one intervened or tried to get help.

Kaila Prins was excited when her office held a fitness challenge using the Nike Plus app. Employees would compete to see who could log the most miles—and Prins was determined to win.