{"id":252720,"date":"2025-05-22T21:51:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T21:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/business\/real-estate\/an-ex-employee-slammed-us-online-now-what\/"},"modified":"2025-05-22T21:51:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T21:51:11","slug":"an-ex-employee-slammed-us-online-now-what","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=252720","title":{"rendered":"An ex-employee slammed us online\u2014now what?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Every month, Kate Teves, HR consultant, recruiter and founder of The HR Pro, answers Realtors\u2019 questions about anything and everything related to human resources. Have a question for Kate? Send her an email<\/a>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Question:\u00a0 <\/b>What do I do when an ex-employee or agent leaves a negative and untruthful online review?<\/span><\/p>\n

Kate: <\/b>In the world of instant posts, influencer marketing and reviews, a company\u2019s reputation can be built or dismantled in a matter of clicks. For real estate brokerages and businesses alike, online reviews from clients, agents and employees shape public perception, influence recruitment efforts for years to come and naturally impact business outcomes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While constructive criticism can be a catalyst for positive change, untruthful or exaggerated reviews, particularly on platforms like Google, Indeed, Glassdoor and social media, can create lasting reputational harm without the necessity of proving the validity of these detrimental statements.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The hard reality<\/b><\/h2>\n

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If you received an undesirable review, let\u2019s first answer these five questions:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. I<\/span>s there any truth (partial truth) in the feedback, even if it was delivered harshly?<\/b>
    <\/span>If you were in the review writer\u2019s shoes, would you see the situations similarly?\u00a0 What could have gone smoother in order to avoid this moving forward?<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. What part of the experience may have led to this response?<\/b>
    <\/span>This encourages evaluation of the employee\/agent journey to find potential weak points.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Have I seen similar feedback before, or is this an isolated incident?<\/b>
    <\/span>This helps determine whether it\u2019s a pattern that needs addressing or a one-off situation.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. How can I respond professionally and constructively to show I value all feedback?<\/b>
    <\/span>If the answer to the question above is \u201cno\u201d, I suggest taking more time to assess the next steps and not jumping into response mode.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. What specific action can I take to prevent this issue in the future?<\/b>
    <\/span>Now you move from analysis to action, promoting improvement and resilience and a culture of learning from past setbacks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    The real cost of a negative review<\/b><\/h2>\n

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    As an HR professional, I\u2019ve seen how a single disgruntled employee or agent can affect morale, recruitment and client trust by posting a scathing and sometimes misleading review online. These reviews may allege toxic workplace culture, unethical practices, or managerial incompetence, claims that may be unsubstantiated, or even entirely false, after all, they are an interpretation of someone\u2019s experience at the workplace, not necessarily the reality.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    What to do when reviews escalate<\/b><\/h2>\n

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    If a negative review appears, the first response should not be panic. After answering the questions below and hopefully gaining further insights, your next steps should be the following:<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Respond professionally (always!)<\/span><\/h3>\n

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    Some platforms allow public responses. Use neutral language and avoid defensiveness. Acknowledge the feedback and, if applicable, invite the individual to contact HR directly to resolve matters offline.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Flag inappropriate content<\/span><\/h3>\n

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    If the review violates platform guidelines (e.g., defamatory language, personal attacks, or confidential information), flag it for removal. Most sites have a process for reporting reviews that are inappropriate or false.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Document everything<\/span><\/h3>\n

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    Keep records of the review, any internal investigations or communications related to the reviewer, and actions taken. This becomes essential if legal steps become necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Engage with current team members<\/span><\/h3>\n

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    Address the review internally. Reaffirm your values, and open the floor for feedback. Negative reviews can create internal unrest\u2014silence can be misinterpreted as guilt.<\/span><\/p>\n

    When to get a lawyer involved<\/b><\/h2>\n

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    Sometimes, a review crosses the line into defamation. Here\u2019s when you should consider involving a lawyer:<\/span><\/p>\n

    False and harmful claims \u2013 If the review contains provably false statements that damage the company\u2019s reputation or imply illegal conduct.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Breach of confidentiality or NDA \u2013 If an employee or agent violates contractual obligations by disclosing confidential or proprietary information<\/span><\/p>\n

    Ongoing harassment or smear campaign \u2013 If a former employee or agent is posting a series of vexatious reviews or targeting individuals within your company repeatedly.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Legal counsel can help you:<\/span><\/p>\n