Yelp

Yelp, the online review platform, announced in August 2020 that it would lay off an additional 63 employees as part of its extended office closures into 2021. This comes after the company had previously laid off 1,000 workers and furloughed about 1,100 in April due to the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which drastically reduced consumer activity and business for local services. While Yelp is recalling nearly all furloughed employees and restoring pay, the ongoing uncertainty in the economy led to these further job cuts. The layoffs reflect the broader challenges faced by the tech and local business industry during the pandemic, as companies adjusted to shifting consumer behaviors and prolonged remote work arrangements.

Yelp, the prominent local business reviews platform, announced significant layoffs last week, affecting 1,000 employees, which represents 17% of its workforce. The company also placed an additional 1,100 staff on furlough. This move comes as Yelp faces a sharp 64% decline in customer interest for restaurants since March 10, highlighting the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its core business. The layoffs spanned all departments, including engineering, underscoring the broad restructuring effort by the San Francisco-based tech company to navigate the economic downturn.