Final answer:
Employees are given the authority to act independently through decentralized decision-making or workplace autonomy, which is a hallmark of the laissez-faire leadership style and reflects Theory Y assumptions of worker motivation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When employees are given authority to act without asking management for intervention, this is referred to as decentralized decision-making or autonomy in the workplace. This approach aligns with the laissez-faire leadership style, where leaders take a hands-off approach and trust employees to self-manage and make their own decisions. Such autonomy is vital for telecommuting employees who need to set their own hours and work independently. In contrast to Theory X, which suggests workers need close supervision, this concept is more aligned with Theory Y, which posits that workers are inherently motivated and capable of working productively without constant oversight.