When the world went into lockdown in 2020, millions of people found themselves part of an unexpected experiment—remote work. What began as a temporary measure quickly became a new way of life, with all its advantages and drawbacks. Some struggled, others adapted, and for some—like Daniel Reeves—it was a complete career transformation. Once an office employee, he is now a digital strategist working remotely with TAMGA, leading key projects in the fintech and digital solutions industry.
But his journey wasn’t easy: unreliable internet, chaotic schedules, and constant self-doubt. Over a virtual cup of coffee, we discussed how the pandemic changed the way we work, the unexpected challenges he had to overcome, and why returning to the office is no longer an option.
Interviewer: Let’s go back to March 2020. Where were you when the world started shutting down?
Daniel Reeves: I remember that day in vivid detail. I was working in an office, living a routine and predictable life—morning coffee, meetings, coffee breaks, Friday dinners with colleagues. Just an ordinary routine.
And then, one day, an email from HR arrived:
“Starting Monday, the office will be closed for two weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please prepare for remote work.”
We joked: “Two weeks? Sounds like a mini vacation!” Yeah, right… Months passed, and the office never reopened. That email marked the point of no return.
At first, I thought nothing would really change. “Okay, I’ll work from home for a bit. How hard could it be?” But I had no idea just how drastically my life was about to shift.
Interviewer: What were the biggest challenges in the first months of remote work?
Daniel Reeves: Oh, pretty much everything!
First of all, I hated working from home. I didn’t have a proper workspace—just a tiny table in the corner of the living room, a stiff chair that made my back hurt by noon. The internet was weak, and if my girlfriend and I were both on Zoom at the same time, one of us would inevitably freeze.
The workday never seemed to end. In the office, you close your laptop, go home, and your day is over. But at home? The laptop is always there, notifications pop up even at night, and managers assume you’re always available.
But the worst part? Endless video calls. Things that used to be solved in a quick hallway chat suddenly required a mandatory 30-minute Zoom meeting. In my first week of remote work, I had five to six calls per day—half of them completely pointless. Once, my manager scheduled a meeting just to say, “I’ll email you about this.” I was ready to explode!
Interviewer: When did you realize that remote work wasn’t just a temporary phase?
Daniel Reeves: In the summer of 2020, when companies started abandoning their office spaces.
A friend of mine in real estate told me, “Businesses are canceling leases in large numbers; they’re not planning to come back.” That’s when I knew—this was the new reality.
I started setting up a real home office—bought a proper chair, a good monitor, upgraded my internet. Most importantly, I created boundaries between work and personal life, because otherwise, work would take over everything.
But the biggest realization? I never wanted to go back to an office again.
How remote work changed the job Market
Interviewer: Is that when you started looking for fully remote projects?
Daniel Reeves: Exactly. That’s when I joined TAMGA, a company developing AI-powered fintech solutions.
One of the projects I worked on was EarlyWage—a fintech solution providing early access to salaries. During the pandemic, millions of people faced financial difficulties, and traditional payroll cycles didn’t always meet their needs.
Interviewer: How did the idea for EarlyWage come about?
Daniel Reeves: EarlyWage launched in 2021, but the idea was born in 2020 when financial instability hit people hard.
Millions of employees lived paycheck to paycheck, and the pandemic made it even worse.
EarlyWage offered a simple solution—early access to already earned wages. If you’ve worked but payday is still two weeks away, you can withdraw part of your salary immediately—no loans, no interest.
In 2021, we launched EarlyWage in Spain, bringing flexible payroll solutions to a new market. It was a major milestone, proving that salary flexibility is not just a convenience—it’s a necessity for millions of people.
The future of work
Interviewer: In your opinion, how has the pandemic permanently changed office work?
Daniel Reeves: I think the biggest shift is realizing that a one-size-fits-all approach to work no longer works.
Yes, some companies have returned to their offices, but office life isn’t the same as before. Many have adopted hybrid models—three days in the office, two from home, or fully flexible schedules. Employers now understand that not every task requires physical presence, and employees value flexibility.
At the same time, some companies have tried to enforce strict return-to-office policies, which wasn’t great news for many employees. I’ve seen top professionals leave for companies that offered remote or hybrid work instead.
The job market has changed: it’s no longer just companies choosing employees—employees now choose where and how they want to work. Employers who ignore this will struggle to attract top talent.
Conclusion
What started as a temporary crisis measure has become a permanent shift in the way we work.
Offices still exist, but the future of work is flexibility. If there’s one thing we’ve learned in the past few years, it’s that we will never work the same way again.
EarlyWage is part of a new wave of fintech solutions that help employees gain better control over their finances. Daniel Reeves turned the uncertainty of the pandemic into an opportunity, building a career on his own terms.
We now live in a world where work is no longer confined to office walls. The key is to adapt, embrace technology, and create conditions where work brings not just income—but fulfillment.
