Imagine starting your day by waking up and grabbing a coffee without leaving your home. Doesn’t it sound like a fantasy? For many Yelp employees, this is the reality. Remote work has changed the way people work, both for good and bad. What’s it really like to yelp work from home?
Let’s start with flexibility. Working from home offers the flexibility to create your own schedule. You need to pick your kids up from school. No problem. You want to attend a yoga class in the middle of the day? You can do it! This freedom allows employees the ability to better balance their professional and personal lives. It’s not all rainbows and sunshine; staying disciplined is a challenge with Netflix at your fingertips.
Communication has also taken on new forms. Water cooler chats are a thing of the past, as well as impromptu visits to your desk. Everything is done through Slack and Zoom calls. This might appear impersonal, but it opens up new opportunities for collaboration and creativity. Virtual brainstorming sessions, for example, can often lead to more innovative and creative ideas as people feel less under pressure.
Working remotely can be isolating at times. We are social animals by nature. We thrive on interaction. It’s easy to become disconnected from colleagues without those daily interactions. Yelp uses virtual team-building exercises like cooking classes and online game nights to combat this. These activities foster a feeling of community, even when people are miles apart.
Yelp is known for its commitment to the well-being of their employees. The company has launched mental health resources, including counseling services and wellness programmes aimed at reducing employee stress. The focus on mental wellness is not just lip service. It’s actually making a difference in the way employees deal with the stress of remote work.
Let’s talk about tech! When you work from home, a reliable internet connection is your best friend. Yelp offers its employees all the equipment they need to create a productive workspace at home, from ergonomic chairs to laptops. Technology isn’t perfect. There will be times when you feel like pulling your hair out because of Wi-Fi problems or software issues.
It can be difficult to maintain productivity without an office. When no one is looking over your shoulder, procrastination can be a constant temptation. Many Yelpers swear that time-blocking techniques or productivity apps can help them stay on track.
We’ll also discuss career development opportunities for remote workers at Yelp. You’re not out of the picture or out of mind just because you aren’t physically present. Remote work has made it possible for anyone to access training and workshops, which were previously restricted by geography.
What about job satisfaction? I think it’s a win-win situation that many people find that eliminating their long commutes increases their happiness. There’s also something very satisfying about working while wearing pajamas, or as some people call it: “business casual”.
What’s your two cents? Yelp’s work from home program has its pros and cons, but it offers a lifestyle that is hard to beat today in a fast-paced environment.
Adaptability is the key, whether you are already a remote worker or thinking about making the change. Every day is filled with new challenges, but also opportunities for personal and professional growth.
You’re not alone if you feel lonely at Zoom meetings. There are probably thousands of Yelpers out there who share the same feelings.