[00:00] Interviewer: Thanks for agreeing to take part. To start, can you tell me how long you've been working from home?

[00:06] Participant 1: Sure. Four years now. I started during the pandemic, like everyone, and when the company called people back I asked to stay remote.

[00:15] Interviewer: What tipped that decision?

[00:20] Participant 1: Mostly time. My commute was an hour and a half each way. That's three hours a day I now spend sleeping better and picking my son up from school. [laughs] He complains that I show up too early now.

[00:34] Interviewer: You mentioned before we started recording that the beginning was hard. What was the hardest part?

[00:41] Participant 1: Keeping things apart. My desk was the kitchen table, so work never really ended. I was answering messages at ten at night. It only got better when I set up a corner just for work and agreed on a stopping time with my team.

[00:59] Interviewer: And did your relationship with the team change at all?

[01:04] Participant 1: It did. We talk less by chance, those hallway conversations are gone. On the other hand, meetings got shorter and more focused. I miss some people, but I don't miss the office.

[01:22] Interviewer: If you could change one thing about your work today, what would it be?

[01:27] Participant 1: Meeting the team in person at least once a month. Not as an obligation, just to keep the bond. I think remote works better when people already know each other for real.

[01:42] Interviewer: Perfect. Thank you so much for talking with me.