How to Remove Negative & Fake Reviews from Indeed

Negative and fake reviews on your Indeed company page can devastate your employer brand and recruitment efforts. In fact, 55% of job seekers abandon an application after reading negative reviews online. If disgruntled ex-employees or unethical competitors are targeting your Indeed presence, it’s crucial to take swift action. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the exact steps to identify and remove fraudulent reviews, protect your reputation, and attract top talent.

To remove negative and fake reviews from your Indeed company page:

• Check if the review violates Indeed’s Community Guidelines for inappropriate content, conflicts of interest, or irrelevance.
• Flag the review through your Indeed employer account, selecting the most relevant violation.
• Provide a detailed explanation of how the review breaches Indeed’s policies.
• Escalate to Indeed’s support team if the review remains active after flagging.
• Consider professional removal services or legal action for persistent, damaging fake reviews.

In this guide, we’ll dive deeper into each of these steps, providing you with the knowledge and tools needed to protect your employer brand and maintain a positive online presence on Indeed.

The Impact of Negative and Fake Reviews on Your Indeed Presence

Your employer brand is one of your most valuable assets when attracting top talent. A strong, positive reputation can be the deciding factor for candidates considering multiple job offers. However, just as genuine positive reviews can boost your appeal, negative or fake reviews can significantly damage your ability to recruit qualified candidates.

Indeed is one of the most authoritative and highly-ranked sites for company reviews. This means your Indeed page is likely to show up at the top of search results when candidates research your company. Negative reviews, whether legitimate or false, can leave a lasting impression and deter job seekers from applying.

While some negative reviews may raise valid concerns and provide valuable feedback for improvement, fake or defamatory reviews posted by disgruntled ex-employees or competitors can unfairly tarnish your reputation. Indeed’s anonymous review policy, which allows anyone to post without verification, makes it easier for bad actors to “settle a score” with exaggerated or completely fabricated claims.

Although Indeed has a review process aimed at filtering out false submissions, the system isn’t perfect. Fake negative reviews can slip through and mislead potential applicants about your company culture and employee experience.

What Types of Reviews Violate Indeed’s Guidelines?

Indeed maintains Community Guidelines that define what is and isn’t acceptable review content. Reviews that violate these policies may be removed if reported. Common violations include:

• Reviews of the company’s products/services instead of the employment experience
• Reviews with inappropriate content like threats, harassment, hate speech, or illegal activities
• Promotional or irrelevant posts, like advertisements
• Personal information such as individuals’ names, contact details, or sensitive data
• Conflicts of interest, like reviews from current employees or competitors
• Off-topic content not related to working at the company

Indeed also has Photo Guidelines prohibiting images that:

• Contain individually identifiable people, including selfies
• Show anyone other than the reviewer
• Display confidential information like contracts or client details
• Include marketing or promotional elements like logos
• Are not original photos taken by the reviewer

If you see reviews on your Indeed page that meet any of these criteria, you have grounds to report them and request removal. Be sure to thoroughly document how the content violates Indeed’s policies before submitting your claim.

Step-by-Step Guide to Reporting Reviews on Indeed

To report a suspicious or fake review on your company’s Indeed page, follow these steps:

Step 1: Sign in to Your Employer Account on Indeed

Sign in to your employer account on Indeed to access your Company Page and manage your reviews.

Step 2: Locate the Review You Want to Report

Navigate to your Company Page and find the review you want to report.

Step 3: Click the Flag Icon to Report the Review

Click on the flag icon located in the upper-right corner of the review you want to report.

Step 4: Select the Most Appropriate Reason for Reporting

Choose the most appropriate reason for reporting the review from the list of options provided by Indeed, such as inappropriate content or conflict of interest.

Step 5: Provide a Detailed Explanation of the Violation

In the text box provided, give a clear and detailed explanation of how the review violates the specific guideline you selected. Include as much evidence as possible to support your claim.

Step 6: Submit the Report to Indeed’s Content Moderation Team

Click the “Submit” button to send your report to Indeed’s content moderation team for review.

After reporting, keep an eye on the status of the review. Indeed typically evaluates flagged content within 1-2 business days. If they agree that the review violates their terms, it should be removed.

To build the strongest possible case, be sure to cite the exact policy the review violates and include any available documentation to back up your claim. For example, if you believe a reviewer was never an employee, you could submit records showing no one by that name has worked for your company.

The more specific and thorough your complaint, the higher the likelihood of Indeed taking action. If you’re not sure how to optimize your request, consider consulting with an experienced defamation attorney like those at Minc Law.

Legal Options for Fake Indeed Reviews

If Indeed declines to remove a blatantly false or defamatory review, you may need to escalate the matter and pursue legal action. Defamation attorneys can help in several ways:

Cease and Desist Letters

The first step is often sending a strongly-worded demand letter to the person behind the fake review. If their identity is known, your attorney can send a cease and desist letter outlining the false statements and demanding they remove the post or face legal consequences.

In many cases, receiving an official letter from a law firm is enough to scare the reviewer into taking down their review voluntarily. They may not have realized the gravity of making false claims online.

John Doe Lawsuits

If the reviewer is anonymous or using a pseudonym, your attorney can file a “John Doe” lawsuit against them. This involves suing the unknown defendant and then obtaining a court order to force Indeed (or the internet service provider) to unmask their identity.

Once you have the person’s real name and contact information, you can proceed with sending a demand letter or serving them with a defamation lawsuit. Often, simply receiving the unmasking subpoena is sufficient for the reviewer to delete their post.

Defamation Lawsuits

For egregious cases where a fake Indeed review has caused significant damage to your business and the poster refuses to remove it, you may need to escalate to a full-blown defamation lawsuit. To win a defamation case, you’ll need to prove:

• The statements made in the review are false
• The reviewer knew or should have known they were false
• The statements caused you financial loss or harm to your reputation

Defamation lawsuits can be costly and time-consuming, but they are sometimes necessary for holding fake reviewers accountable and recovering damages.

Unlike review platforms like Indeed, which have immunity under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, individual reviewers do not have this protection. They can be sued for the defamatory content they post.

Choosing whether to pursue legal action is a decision that should be made carefully with the guidance of an experienced internet defamation attorney like those at Minc Law. We can help you understand your rights, options, and likelihood of success.

Proactive Strategies to Prevent Negative Reviews

While knowing how to remove fake or negative reviews from Indeed is essential, it’s even better to prevent them from being posted in the first place. Here are some proactive strategies to help maintain a positive online reputation:

Monitor Your Indeed Presence Regularly

Consistently monitor your company’s presence on Indeed to quickly identify and address any negative or suspicious reviews. Here’s how:

• Set up Google Alerts for your company name to get notified whenever you’re mentioned online
• Check your Indeed Company Page frequently and flag any suspicious reviews promptly
• Respond to all reviews, both positive and negative, in a professional and timely manner

Encourage Satisfied Employees to Leave Reviews

Actively encourage your satisfied employees to share their positive experiences on Indeed. Here are some tips:

• Regularly ask current employees to share their honest feedback on Indeed
• Make it easy for them to post reviews by providing direct links or instructions
• Highlight positive reviews on your website, social media, or internal communications to show appreciation

Address Issues Internally Before They Escalate

Proactively address any issues or concerns raised by employees before they escalate into negative online reviews. Consider the following:

• Provide clear channels for employees to voice concerns or complaints, such as anonymous surveys or HR hotlines
• Take all feedback seriously and investigate any issues thoroughly
• Communicate openly with employees about steps being taken to resolve problems and improve the workplace

By proactively monitoring your online presence, encouraging positive reviews, and addressing concerns early, you can help maintain a strong employer brand and minimize the risk of negative or fake reviews appearing on Indeed.

Addressing Valid Concerns Raised in Negative Reviews

While some negative reviews may be fake or malicious, others may raise valid concerns about your workplace. It’s essential to differentiate between the two and address legitimate issues promptly and professionally.

If you receive a negative review that highlights real problems, take the following steps:

Investigate the Issue Thoroughly

When a negative review raises valid concerns, investigate the issue thoroughly to gather all relevant information. This may include:

• Collecting information from relevant parties, such as HR, managers, or coworkers
• Looking for patterns or similar complaints from other employees
• Determining if there are any systemic issues or areas for improvement

Respond to the Review Professionally

After investigating the issue, respond to the negative review in a professional manner. Your response should:

• Thank the reviewer for sharing their feedback and acknowledge their concerns
• Apologize for any negative experiences they had, even if you disagree with their perspective
• Outline steps you’re taking to address the issue and improve the situation
• Invite the reviewer to discuss further offline if appropriate

Take Action to Resolve the Problem

Once you’ve investigated the issue and responded to the review, take concrete actions to resolve the problem. This may involve:

• Implementing necessary changes to policies, procedures, or management practices
• Communicating updates to employees and stakeholders
• Monitoring the situation to ensure improvements are sustained over time

By taking negative feedback seriously and demonstrating a commitment to improvement, you can show current and prospective employees that you value their opinions and are dedicated to creating a positive work environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it typically take for Indeed to remove a fake review?

Indeed typically reviews flagged content within 1-2 business days. However, the process may take longer if they require additional information or investigation.

What should I do if Indeed doesn’t respond to my removal request?

If you haven’t heard back from Indeed within a week, try reaching out to their support team directly via email or phone. You can also consider escalating the issue to legal action if the review is defamatory and causing significant harm to your business.

Can I sue Indeed for hosting fake reviews about my company?

No, Indeed is protected under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which provides immunity to online platforms for user-generated content. However, you may have legal recourse against the individual poster of a fake review.

How can I tell if a negative review on Indeed is fake?

Fake reviews often contain false or exaggerated claims, lack specific details about the workplace, or are posted by profiles with no other activity. If you suspect a review is fake, investigate further by checking the reviewer’s identity and employment history.

Should I respond to every negative review on Indeed?

In most cases, yes. Responding shows that you value feedback and are committed to addressing concerns. However, if a review is clearly fake or contains inappropriate content, it’s best to focus on reporting and removal rather than engaging with the poster.

If you have any other questions or need assistance with handling fake reviews on Indeed, don’t hesitate to reach out to the experienced digital reputation management team at Minc Law. We’re here to help you protect your online presence and attract top talent to your organization.

How Minc Law Can Help

At Minc Law, we’ve seen first-hand how fake Indeed reviews can tarnish a company’s hard-earned reputation and hinder its ability to attract top talent. Indeed’s reporting process isn’t always enough to get defamatory content removed.

Fortunately, you have legal remedies outside of Indeed. Our experienced defamation attorneys help clients like you deal with false and malicious attacks every day. We can help you identify anonymous reviewers, send effective demand letters, and file defamation lawsuits if necessary. The goal is to remove the content permanently and hold the poster accountable.

If you’re dealing with fake Indeed reviews that are hurting your employer brand and recruitment prospects, don’t hesitate to reach out. The longer harmful content stays online, the more damage it can do. Schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your options today.