Business Safety Concerns Arise After Yelp’s Posting Policy Sparks Controversy

WOODSTOCK, Ga. — A local business in Woodstock is raising concerns about a policy on Yelp that they believe could compromise employee safety. Jessa Slaven, the owner of Jessa’s Tea Parlor, was shocked to discover that in order to respond to a negative review on Yelp, she would have to use her own personal picture and name, rather than a picture of the business.

The one-star review that prompted this discovery claimed that the business had given the reviewer attitude about having a service dog with them. Slaven explained that they had simply asked the customer to keep the dog off the table, as it was eating off their China without any indication that it was a service animal.

While Slaven was eager to respond to the review and provide context, she was taken aback by Yelp’s policy that required her to use her personal information. She expressed concerns about the safety of putting personal information and pictures out there, especially for a small, all-women-owned business like hers.

Yelp defended their policy, stating that it is meant to foster connections between businesses and consumers. They noted that it is uncommon for business owners to face hostility or negative scrutiny when responding to reviews. However, Slaven remains firm in her belief that sharing personal information in this way is not safe.

This policy, it turns out, only applies to small businesses. Larger businesses with more than 10 locations are allowed to use logos in place of personal photos when responding to reviews on Yelp.

Despite the potential risks of speaking out about this issue, Slaven felt it was important to advocate for the safety and privacy of small business owners. As the debate over online review policies continues, businesses like Jessa’s Tea Parlor are left grappling with the balance between transparency and safety in the digital age.