Although Indeed has grown to become a place where many people look to research and learn about potential employers, it is also becoming an increasingly popular source for candidates to understand who they are applying to work for and ultimately make decisions based on reviews. Many times, reviews, both good and bad, will ultimately sway candidate decisions in addition to significantly impacting employer branding. Given this importance, many people are wondering if employers can remove Indeed reviews – whether the review is completely false, a negative review was left due to anger after a poor experience, or simply a review that violated Indeed’s review policies.
As you would imagine, there are different paths to deleting reviews depending upon who you are. Reviewers can delete their own reviews. Employers, however, cannot delete reviews themselves. Employers must delete reviews through a review takedown process, file a complaint explaining why the review violates content guidelines, and then wait for moderation. Below is a full overview of the process that will outline the full path to deletion using simple terms along with some additional resources for managing negative reviews in cases where deletion is not available.
How Deleting Indeed Reviews Work
The one simple rule is:
Only the reviewer can delete their review.
Employers do not have a tool to delete reviews and can therefore only report reviews that violate content guidelines, including misleading content, impersonation, inappropriate content, violations of applicant/employee privacy, or posting a fake review. If the review does not violate content guidelines, it remains on the website.
Knowing this helps establish expectations before embarking on the review removal process.
How Reviewers Can Delete Their Own Reviews on Indeed
If you posted a review and now want it deleted, the process is easy.
Steps to Delete a Review (for the Reviewer)
- Log in.
- Go to “My Reviews” located at the top right side of the page and click.
- Find the review you want to delete and scroll down until you locate it.
- Click on the three dots next to the review and select “Delete.”
Once a review is deleted, it is no longer visible on the employer’s page.
If you want to edit your original review or write a new review, you must first delete your old review. After deletion, you can wait up to 48 hours to write and publish a new review. Once written, you will not be able to edit your original review.
How Employers Can Respond to Negative Reviews
While employers cannot delete a negative review directly, they can submit a report to Indeed.
Steps to Respond to a Negative Review (as an Employer)
- Sign in to your employer account.
- Access your company page.
- Locate the negative review.
- Select either “Report” or the three dots and select “Report.”
- Choose the reason for submitting the report.
- Submit the report and await the decision of the Indeed Moderation Team.
Reasons to Report a Review May Include
- Offensive reviews
- Violation of privacy
- Posting inappropriate content
- Posting a fake review
- Posting misleading content
- Posting a review including a personal name
- Posting a review including proprietary business information
Upon submitting a report, the review will enter the moderation queue. The Moderation Team will evaluate the review and compare it to Indeed’s Terms of Service and Content Guidelines. If the review meets the criteria for removal, it will be removed. If the review does not meet those requirements, it will remain on the website.
Eligibility for Deleting Reviews
Indeed deletes reviews only when they violate certain rules. Understanding eligibility will assist in identifying whether a review meets deletion criteria.
Reviews May Be Eligible for Deletion If They Contain
- Inappropriate content
- Profanity
- False reviews
- Reviews containing harassing language
- Misleading content presented as fact
- Reviews violating applicant/employee privacy
- Reviews containing information that could cause harm to an individual or organization if released
- Violations of Indeed’s Terms of Service
When filing a report, please select the most applicable reason, as the Moderation Team relies heavily on the report’s context. The more clearly you state the reason for reporting, the higher the chances that the Moderation Team will take action.
Indeed Review Takedown Process
Many employers believe that Indeed guarantees the removal of reviews. That is not how Indeed operates. All requests must go through the same review takedown process.
Below Outlines the Process That Takes Place Behind the Scenes
- Your report is placed in the moderation queue.
- The Moderation Team at Indeed will review the content.
- They will compare the review to the content guidelines for reviews.
- The Moderation Team will determine whether the review should remain on the site, be edited/redacted, or be removed.
- The Moderation Team’s decision is final, and there are very few options for appeal.
Employers cannot communicate with the reviewer through Indeed’s platform. Any communications between the employer and the reviewer must occur separately and follow all applicable laws and professional standards. If you have a situation that involves multiple reviews, an online reputation management tool or a review rescue service may be beneficial.
What to Do When Removing a Review Does Not Work
Unfortunately, not every request will result in the removal of the review. When a request is denied, it is common to feel frustrated. A negative review can damage your brand’s perception, affect candidates’ decisions, and slow your recruiting efforts. However, employers have other options that can actually help even when review removal is not possible.
Options That May Be Helpful in Managing Negative Content
- Respond professionally to negative comments.
- Clarify any misinformation provided without attacking the reviewer.
- Highlight any changes made to improve the employee experience.
- Encourage happy employees to leave reviews.
- Monitor for additional negative comments to help prevent them from escalating.
- Improve your employer brand on other social media sites.
Even a well-written response from an employer can provide reassurance to candidates and help maintain your hiring funnel. Often, addressing issues openly demonstrates maturity and transparency.
Ways to Prevent Negative Reviews
The best way to manage negative reviews in the long run is to prevent the type of reviews that violate your company policies. When your company culture is healthy and employees feel like their voices are being heard, the amount of positive reviews grows naturally.
Here Are Ways Employers Prevent Negative Reviews
- Conduct exit interviews to gather confidential feedback.
- Identify and resolve workplace complaints/harassment quickly.
- Protect confidential and proprietary business information through clear policies.
- Train managers on communication and conflict resolution.
- Provide adequate support to limit the risk of angry or threatening comments.
- Recognize and celebrate internal successes to grow your employer brand.
- Increase the number of positive reviews from happy employees.
These methods help create a more positive and supportive work environment and reduce the likelihood that someone will post a negative review that could negatively impact your employer brand.
Third Party Services to Assist With Review Removal
There are third-party companies that can help employers with the review removal process. These companies do not have access to Indeed’s systems, so they focus on:
- Dispute strategies
- Evidence collection
- Online reputation management
- Guidance for employer brands when a platform denies requests
Review removal services can be especially helpful if:
- You continue to receive fake reviews
- You want to minimize negative content
- You require assistance beyond what is available through Indeed Support
Costs associated with review removal services vary; however, many businesses consider the cost worth it if a false review impacts their ability to recruit.
Contact NewReputation
If you need help with removing misleading reviews, organizing reports, or improving your employer brand online, we’re here to help.
Contact NewReputation today to get started.