Yelp shuts down offices, CEO calls hybrid work "hell"

Yelp is closing its offices in New York, Chicago and Washington, DC as part of the company's move to double down on remote work. In an interview, Yelp co-founder and CEO Jeremy Stoppelman called hybrid offices “the worst of both worlds." He also said that two things have become increasingly clear since the pandemic: workers want to do their jobs remotely and the company benefits from meeting the demand.

He also acknowledged the growing popularity of hybrid work plans but called them “the hell of half measures.” Stoppelman says about hybrid work, "It’s the worst of three options." Yelp is also reducing its office space in Phoenix. All closures and reductions of offices, which Yelp says are the most consistently underutilized, will be effective July 29. 

The company's decision to double down on remote work comes after Yelp told its 4,400 employees last year that they could work from anywhere indefinitely. The company also downsized its San Francisco headquarters to opt for a “hoteling” model, in which employees reserve their desk spaces for the day. Yelp is one among many companies like Twitter, Airbnb and Slack that have indicated that the future of work is remote. Meanwhile, others move forward with hybrid work and a five-day-in-office workweek. 

Source: The Washington Post