A longtime public servant reflects on an unexpected shift in their professional experience, describing how freedom-of-information requests have become a recurring part of their work after two decades without encountering them. The change highlights growing public scrutiny and transparency demands in government operations, prompting a firsthand account of how such requests can reshape daily responsibilities. The piece offers a personal perspective on the evolving role of open records in administrative duties, contrasting past stability with recent challenges. Readers curious about the impact of transparency laws on public employees will find insight in this candid look at shifting expectations.
For twenty-five years I never had to think about freedom-of-information requests, but in the last year I have been the subject of two such requests.
