Remote work is the future!

Veronica Johansson still has her law firm in Sweden, but has moved the office to Norrtälje. Instead of commuting weekly to Falun, she now works remotely from Eckerö for a large part of the working week.
- I go over to Norrtälje every week, but it's possible to just go for the day if needed. When I have negotiations and meetings, I need to be at the office in person, but handling letters, emails, and phone contacts works well remotely. 

The remote life also means that Veronica can be home when the children finish daycare and school.
- The family's well-being is absolutely the most important thing, I have no problem commuting. My husband is a police officer with shift work, it's harder for him to be flexible. It's a bit of a puzzle, but it works out.

Interesting challenges

Commuting to and from Åland is something Veronica has been used to since childhood. Both parents are from Eckerö on Åland, but were living in Västerås when Veronica was born. 
- Even back then we commuted between Västerås and weekends on Åland, but we moved back when it was time for me to start school. I lived on Åland throughout primary school and upper secondary school.

The commuting started again when Veronica studied law in Stockholm. She would go home to her boyfriend, now her husband, who remained on Åland. After a gap year on Åland following her studies, her interest in tort law and personal injury regulation took her to a law firm in Falun, and life with weekly commuting began.
- For many years it went along smoothly, but having two homes and commuting every week with two small children eventually became too much. Even when my husband was on parental leave and we travelled between Åland and Falun together.

Finding new ways

The turning point came when it was time for the children to start daycare. 
- It was natural that we ended up on Åland in the end, both children were born here. The only question was – how can I live on Åland but continue working with what I do? 

The solution was Norrtälje.
- Nowadays there is a completely different acceptance in society for remote work. Personal contact is certainly preferable, but video meetings are a good alternative that saves time for everyone. Especially for me, as I have clients all over Sweden.

Between two countries

For Veronica, the challenges during her commuting and remote working life have primarily been administrative. It is, for example, not straightforward to divide parental leave days when one parent is registered in Sweden and the other in Finland. Tax matters, in turn, have been simpler given that Veronica continues to work full-time in Sweden. 
- My tip when contacting authorities is to find someone who specialises in international matters and really knows what applies!

Otherwise, the only downside of remote work is that it can get a bit lonely at times.
- I miss having colleagues, the social aspect disappears when you work on your own. I have a digital network of lawyers I can discuss things with, but it's rewarding to have someone in the office to bounce ideas off. Unfortunately, the confidentiality requirements in my profession make it difficult to share office space with businesses in other sectors.

One possible solution in the future is to establish a collaboration with an Ålandic law firm.
- I think a lot about knowledge sharing and how I can use my expertise across borders. I also appreciate that Hanna Saurén and Bengt Johansson, on behalf of the Åland Regional Government through Åland Living, have taken the initiative to create networks for remote workers on Åland. It's good that remote workers as a group are being highlighted and that there are plans to support and make the group visible in Ålandic society. 

Security and time savings

For the children and the family, Veronica sees the security and closeness as the great advantages of living on Åland.
- The children are doing really well. Distances are short and you never have to queue to get a spot in various activities. They are also seen and heard at school. My daughter has started first grade, there are 9 in the class. My son starts in the autumn, there will be 8 pupils in his class.

- It's also incredible that we can live the way we do. In five minutes we can get down to the boathouse and head out with the boat, find a rock on an islet, swim and have a picnic. It's the height of family time and a quality of life that I didn't appreciate in the same way when I was younger. Having wonderful nature experiences so close by is absolutely one of the great advantages of Åland. What I had when I was little, I now want to give to my children.

It's also no coincidence that Veronica's firm is called Advokatbyrå Roder (Law Firm Rudder). 
- To me, a rudder and the sea are symbolic of Åland, especially with a maternal grandfather, a paternal grandfather, and a father-in-law who were Ålandic seafarers. My maternal grandfather also worked as a guide on the museum ship Pommern at the Åland Maritime Museum when he got older – now it's my turn to stand at the helm and guide my clients.

Otherwise, Veronica enjoys getting involved in the community and local associations, such as the Martha association, the local heritage society, and the village association. So far she has done everything from weaving Midsummer wreaths and sewing parts of her own folk costume to being a host family for several Ukrainian families.

- I'm making up for the years away as much as I can!