Yelp Data Shows Continued Positive Impact of Remote Work

For more on the methodology for this report, click here

If 2020 was the year that work moved into our homes, then 2023 will be remembered as the year that companies called workers back to the office. Organizations cited concerns around productivity and collaboration in the push to a hybrid or fully in-office model and remote work roles were in short supply. Following the call to return to office (RTO) in 2023, Yelp saw an increase in consumer interest for categories such as dry cleaning (up 30%), public transportation (up 26%), and child care / daycare (up 19%) when compared to 2020, suggesting a link to the increased costs and barriers associated with RTO mandates – especially for caregivers or individuals who may have moved farther away from the office while working remotely.

*Read about the methodology here

While other companies have called workers back to the office, Yelp has remained unwavering in its commitment to remote work. Four years into operating as a remote company, Yelp has seen increased employee satisfaction and strong business results.

Remote work promotes an engaged and inclusive workforce

With employees residing in 49 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., as well as Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland and the UK, Yelp's remote workforce continues to remain geographically diverse – allowing the organization to better understand the unique needs of its users and customers around the world. In 2023, Yelp’s U.S. employees were spread across 1,344 unique cities, a 4% increase from 2022, indicating that the pandemic population reshuffle has eased.

Yelp survey data from 2023 shows that employees continue to thrive in a remote work environment, with data that reflects the initial trends Yelp found in its 2022 survey data. Though Yelp has employees spread across multiple continents, 90% of employees stated that they found effective ways to collaborate remotely and 86% said they found small ways to connect as a remote team. In the same survey, Yelp also found that 88% would recommend Yelp as a great place to work.

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The survey also highlighted that Yelp’s remote employees are confident in their ability to grow, with 91% stating they are confident that they can make career progress in a remote environment – despite concerns from experts that early career workers may miss out on feedback and growth opportunities while remote. In another 2023 survey conducted during employee onboarding within the first 30 days, 93% of employees stated they had access to good resources and training to help develop in their roles while 93% stated they have opportunities for development and growth.

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Yelp’s commitment to designing its employee experience around remote work creates an environment where individuals feel that they belong. The vast majority of respondents in Yelp’s internal survey stated that Yelp promotes an inclusive environment (96%) and that their manager is considerate of them as a person (95%). Diversity, inclusion and belonging are woven into Yelp’s core values, and this strong data highlights Yelp’s intentional efforts to create a culture that is truly aligned with its values – one where individuals are valued and respected, no matter where in the world they work.

*Read about the methodology here

Remote work has also helped Yelp employees make time for life outside of work. According to Yelp’s 2023 survey, 89% stated that they feel equipped to manage both personal and work-life demands and 89% of employees said they are able to make necessary changes in how they work to improve their well-being. Yelp also found that 92% of its employees globally used its wellness stipend in 2023, highlighting how the remote work experience allows employees to prioritize their health and wellbeing. Yelp also saw employee satisfaction reflected through an increase in average global tenure from 2.8 years in 2022 to 3.5 years in 2023.

It’s not just employee listening data that shows remote work is working for Yelp. Over the past 12 months, Yelp has accelerated the velocity in which it brings new products to market, releasing nearly 60 new product features and updates, and reported strong business results for 2023.

Remote work leads to greater interest from prospective talent

Many organizations have forced employees back to the office, but the demand for fully remote opportunities continues to increase. In 2023, Yelp saw a 183% year-over-year increase in views to the Yelp Careers page. Compared to 2021, when Yelp began its remote-first posture, Yelp saw a significant increase in the total number of applicants for general and administrative (G&A) and sales roles in 2023 (52% and 103%, respectively). Yelp also saw a shortened recruiting process for these respective roles compared to 2021, with the average time to hire reduced by 9% in 2023.

Intentionality key to Yelp’s remote work success

Yelp has intentionally rethought the office paradigm, reducing its real estate footprint and related costs and investing resources into its employee experience and the growth of the business. This includes investing in intentional in-person gatherings throughout the year to allow teams to collaborate, learn and strengthen their interpersonal connections face-to-face. The company has refined and introduced a number of benefits that range from professional development and wellness reimbursements to healthcare benefits to support equitable opportunities for success.

This report was revised to reflect updated employee location data on March 19, 2024.

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