Working 9 to 5? 'Out of Office' author says maybe it's time to rethink that; NPR, Fresh Air, December 13, 2021

Terry Gross, NPR, Fresh Air; Working 9 to 5? 'Out of Office' author says maybe it's time to rethink that

"In the new book Out of Office, Petersen and her partner and co-author, Charlie Warzel, make the case that the pandemic has created a rare opportunity to rethink the shape of work life — including the 9-to-5 workday. 

"The status quo of us being in offices from a certain time to a certain time every day ... [is] very arbitrary," Petersen says. "It's based on rhythms that are no longer ours. It's based on an understanding that there is a caretaker at home for most families in the United States, and that's not necessarily the case."

Now, as workplaces begin to reopen, it's a good time to revisit what she calls "arbitrary understandings of how many hours your butt should be in a chair in the office." After all, she says, "You don't need to be in an office to answer emails.""