diff --git a/crates/tui/src/tui/goldens/config_panel_120x32.txt b/crates/tui/src/tui/goldens/config_panel_120x32.txt
index 77f7e57f03..e5b1087e12 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/tui/goldens/config_panel_120x32.txt
+++ b/crates/tui/src/tui/goldens/config_panel_120x32.txt
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
                     │                                                         │                                         
                     │                                                         │                                         
   system | terminal | shoreline | shoreline-light | underwater | underwater-retro | dark | light | grayscale |…         
-  Preview:  ● ask   agent                                                                                               
+  Preview:  ● ask   work                                                                                                
   type=filter, Up/Down=select, Enter=edit, Esc=close                                                                    
  ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 
                                                                                                                         
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/tui/goldens/config_panel_80x24.txt b/crates/tui/src/tui/goldens/config_panel_80x24.txt
index fa426f5ede..34b00b13bd 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/tui/goldens/config_panel_80x24.txt
+++ b/crates/tui/src/tui/goldens/config_panel_80x24.txt
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
   system | terminal | shoreline | shoreline-light | underwater |…               
   Enter or click again: Enter opens choices · Theme: current terminal · saved   
   terminal · applies on save                                                    
-  Preview:  ● ask   agent                                                       
+  Preview:  ● ask   work                                                        
   type=filter, Up/Down=select, Enter=edit, PgUp/PgDn=scroll, Esc=close          
  ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 
                                                                                 
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/tui/underwater.rs b/crates/tui/src/tui/underwater.rs
index 690492ac34..904c42287c 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/tui/underwater.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/tui/underwater.rs
@@ -687,7 +687,7 @@ impl ShellPhase {
 
 /// Exhaustive on purpose: a new [`AppMode`] must be handed a Policy ink
 /// deliberately rather than inheriting act's by falling through a wildcard.
-fn header_mode_ink(mode: AppMode) -> ChromeInk {
+pub(crate) fn header_mode_ink(mode: AppMode) -> ChromeInk {
     match mode {
         AppMode::Plan => ChromeInk::PolicyPlan,
         AppMode::Operate => ChromeInk::PolicyOperate,
@@ -695,7 +695,7 @@ fn header_mode_ink(mode: AppMode) -> ChromeInk {
     }
 }
 
-fn header_permission_ink(mode: ApprovalMode) -> ChromeInk {
+pub(crate) fn header_permission_ink(mode: ApprovalMode) -> ChromeInk {
     match mode {
         ApprovalMode::Suggest | ApprovalMode::Never => ChromeInk::PermissionAsk,
         ApprovalMode::Auto => ChromeInk::PermissionAutoReview,
@@ -900,7 +900,7 @@ pub(crate) fn phase_marker_with_activity(
     }
 }
 
-fn mode_label(locale: Locale, mode: AppMode) -> Cow<'static, str> {
+pub(crate) fn mode_label(locale: Locale, mode: AppMode) -> Cow<'static, str> {
     match mode {
         AppMode::Agent => tr(locale, MessageId::ChipModeAct),
         AppMode::Plan => tr(locale, MessageId::ChipModePlan),
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/tui/views/mod.rs b/crates/tui/src/tui/views/mod.rs
index 267baa786f..51571847a3 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/tui/views/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/tui/views/mod.rs
@@ -5300,25 +5300,26 @@ impl ConfigView {
         let context_percent = self.snapshot.context_budget.as_ref().map_or(0, |budget| {
             u8::try_from(budget.percent_basis_points / 100).unwrap_or(100)
         });
-        let mode = value_of("default_mode").unwrap_or_else(|| "agent".to_string());
-        let mode_ink = match mode.as_str() {
-            "plan" => palette::ChromeInk::PolicyPlan,
-            "operate" => palette::ChromeInk::PolicyOperate,
-            _ => palette::ChromeInk::PolicyAct,
-        };
-        let permission = value_of("approval_mode")
+        let mode = value_of("default_mode").map_or(codewhale_config::AppMode::Agent, |value| {
+            codewhale_config::AppMode::from_setting(&value)
+        });
+        let approval = value_of("approval_mode")
             .or_else(|| value_of("permission_posture"))
-            .unwrap_or_else(|| "ask".to_string());
-        let permission_ink = match permission.as_str() {
-            "auto-review" => palette::ChromeInk::PermissionAutoReview,
-            "full-access" => palette::ChromeInk::PermissionFullAccess,
-            _ => palette::ChromeInk::PermissionAsk,
-        };
+            .and_then(|value| codewhale_execpolicy::ApprovalMode::from_config_value(&value))
+            .unwrap_or(codewhale_execpolicy::ApprovalMode::Suggest);
+        let mode_label = crate::tui::underwater::mode_label(self.locale, mode);
+        let permission = crate::core::authority::permission_label_for(self.locale, mode, approval);
         let footer = crate::tui::phase_strip::TidelineFooter::new(
             &theme,
-            (permission.as_str(), permission_ink),
+            (
+                permission.as_ref(),
+                crate::tui::underwater::header_permission_ink(approval),
+            ),
         )
-        .mode_chip(Some((mode.as_str(), mode_ink)))
+        .mode_chip(Some((
+            mode_label.as_ref(),
+            crate::tui::underwater::header_mode_ink(mode),
+        )))
         .context_percent(context_percent);
         crate::tui::phase_strip::render_tideline_footer(
             Rect {