Should You Post A Negative Employer Review?

By Mark Swartz

Reviews of employers are proliferating on the web. Current and former employees can voice their opinions about what it’s like to work at their organization.

This is usually done via social media, especially on a new breed of sites where employees critique their workplaces.

If you have complaints, how great it would be to finally voice them publicly, right?! Outsiders might learn about the real corporate culture and internal issues.

But is it worth the risk, even if you mask your identity?

Why Write A Negative (Or Neutral) Review

Employers love to see loyal workers boast about them. You can score points by praising your workplace online. Negative commentaries, on the other hand, may not be welcome.

Perhaps you’ve got a complaint about your employer and want the world to know it. Here are some reasons why you might feel like going public:

• To pressure the employer into fixing problematic issues.
• To warn outsiders about what’s really going on internally.
• To vent your anger or frustration to a broad audience.
• To get vengeance for (real or perceived) maltreatment by the employer.

When A Negative Review May Be Justified – As A Current Employee

It is dicey to expose your employer’s flaws publicly while still working there. They might retaliate against you subtly (or flagrantly). So why do people do it?

There’s at least one productive reason to post a negative review. If you do so thoughtfully – sticking to the facts, after exhausting internal processes – the employer will see how seriously you take your criticism. Think of it as a form of whistleblowing.

By making matters public it adds pressure on the employer to act promptly. They may want to resolve the problem and report that they’ve responded to your grievance.

As A Former Employee

If you’ve left an employer that treated you shabbily or has big internal problems, your conscience may incline you to warn others. You wouldn’t want innocent people to walk unknowingly into a nightmare.

Uploading an honest review that outlines the issues also gives back to the community of review posters. Will you be seeking comments about your possible next employers? If so, consider doing a solid by returning the favour.

Beware The Risks

There can be unintended consequences when posting non-positive employer reviews. Make sure to take them into account.

If you comment identifiably, your boss might not appreciate this external candidness. The employer could take measures that interfere with your job. Or find a reason to send you off gently into the night. Future employers might pause when thinking about hiring you; maybe you’ll expose their underside someday too.

Does posting anonymously on third-party sites protect you 100%? Not if you inadvertently identify yourself. Revealing insider knowledge of your division and management style, or complaining about an incident that involved just a handful of people, makes it easier to narrow down suspects.

Tips On Doing It Right

If you’re still convinced that proceeding is the best option, prepare your review so that it’s effective. And reduce the odds of saying something that will haunt you.

Do the following if you’re still employed there:

• Read the Employee Manual and follow its social media policies.
• Draft and publish on your own time using your own devices. Employers can use it against you if you’re writing about them disparagingly while at work.
• Avoid mentioning any secret or intellectual property issues in your review. That's cause for the employer to investigate and perhaps prosecute legally.
• Be absolutely truthful in what you say (make sure you can support it with evidence if asked).
• Point to several positives about working there as well.

For ex-employees:

• Don’t be shrill: griping wildly portrays you as a disgruntled former staffer with little credibility.

• Keep the review impersonal. Stick to criticizing the employer, not specific people. Never use real names of employees because you could get sued for libel or invasion of privacy.
• Wait a while after leaving before posting. Otherwise you make yourself more identifiable.

Is There A Better Way To Achieve Your Objectives?

You might be justified in posting a negative review of your employer online. Outing the truth may lead to setting things right or preventing further damage.

Note though that regardless of your intentions or anonymity, risks remain. Ask yourself if there are more effective routes to accomplish your goals. If not, post cautiously.