Much as I hate Yelp as a product, I gotta give huge props for this decision. So much so that I'd consider jumping to them if my current employer ever forced RTO on me.
Work Reform
A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.
Our Philosophies:
- All workers must be paid a living wage for their labor.
- Income inequality is the main cause of lower living standards.
- Workers must join together and fight back for what is rightfully theirs.
- We must not be divided and conquered. Workers gain the most when they focus on unifying issues.
Our Goals
- Higher wages for underpaid workers.
- Better worker representation, including but not limited to unions.
- Better and fewer working hours.
- Stimulating a massive wave of worker organizing in the United States and beyond.
- Organizing and supporting political causes and campaigns that put workers first.
I'm glad to see a company speaking out the other way (even though I don't really care about Yelp).
The writing is on the wall in my view. A company not being remote-first is a company bogged down by middle management, real estate obligations, and an oblivious c-suite.
It seems like such a no brainer. When you’re in-office you’re regionally limited in the talent you can hire. Full remote means you can get anyone from anywhere, often times for cheaper than if you are forced to hire in a metropolitan area. You also have workers who aren’t arriving to work tired and frustrated from a commute and that are generally able to be more well rested. I honestly find there to be fewer distractions (though typically more compelling distractions) than in the office, and I get to save money on gas, insurance, food (while eating healthier), and have less risk of getting sick and missing work.
As always to state the obvious:
The commute time is time spent for work, but having no productivity. A one hour commute on a 40 hour week means 20% of time wasted unproductively. The employee needs to calculate the commute in his salary options, even if the company isn't directly paying for it.
So a rational company would only reject remote work, if the on site productivity is so much higher than the remote productivity, that it offsets the commute loss. For the shop floor that is a no brainer. For office work it is indicative of terrible management.
I recently heard a department head from my work word it well "in today's workforce you're silly to not embrace remote work. If you require entirely in office work you're limiting your talent pool only to those willing to live in your local area"
My work literally has more employees at the main office than desks thanks to remote work, saving on an expensive building expansion or buying/leasing a new building. Remote work options are great for everyone!