A single upset former employee can harm your online reputation more than a hundred satisfied customers can help it. Maybe they were fired, had a disagreement at work, or just hold a grudge, but former employees often know exactly where to hit.
They know how your business works and where you’re vulnerable. And when they start posting on places like Glassdoor, Reddit, Trustpilot, or social media, their comments can spread fast, stay online for years, and strongly influence how people see you.
When you’re in the middle of building something important, whether it’s a company or a personal brand, this type of negative press can feel like a torpedo to your momentum. But the good news is you can repair your reputation, even when the attack comes from the inside. That’s exactly why many businesses turn to reputation repair companies to help them take back control.
Why Former Employee Attacks Hurt More Than Random Complaints
It’s not just what they say; it’s who they are. People tend to believe former employees because it seems like they have inside information, even if what they’re saying is old, twisted, or completely untrue. That’s what makes their reviews so harmful. A Glassdoor post from someone claiming they used to work for you often feels more believable to strangers than a random, angry customer review on Yelp.
These attacks don’t just impact hiring. They affect everything—client trust, partner negotiations, investor conversations, and even local media sentiment. When Google surfaces these reviews on the first page of your brand name, you’re no longer in control of your narrative. And worse, if you stay silent, hoping it blows over, you only reinforce their version of the truth.
Silence Doesn’t Fix the Damage
When a former employee posts negative reviews, articles, or social media rants, your first instinct might be to ignore them. After all, engaging publicly can feel like pouring fuel on the fire. But if you don’t respond, people start making up their own stories, and they’re usually negative.
Instead, take a strategic, layered approach. Start by keeping an eye on everything being said about you online, so you know where the problems originate, how visible they are, and why they’re attracting attention. Then create a response plan that does three things at the same time:
- Suppresses negative content in search engines using SEO and positive asset promotion.
- Rebuilds trust by creating and distributing content that reflects your current values and achievements.
- Protects your digital identity from future attacks with monitoring tools and security measures.
The goal isn’t just to fight back; it’s to rise above the negativity and reclaim your narrative.
How to Handle Reviews that Can’t be Removed
Getting a negative Glassdoor or Trustpilot review removed is notoriously difficult. Unless the content clearly violates platform guidelines like harassment or hate speech, you’re unlikely to succeed with a takedown. That’s why negative reviews suppression is a smarter approach. Instead of chasing one review, you invest in elevating other content that search engines and users find more relevant and trustworthy.
This could include fresh press releases, SEO-optimized blog content, client testimonials, team member interviews, and third-party media mentions. These assets help push harmful reviews off the first page of Google, where 92% of users never click past. As a result, the former employee’s smear campaign loses visibility and power.
Use Negative Press to Strengthen Your Brand
Reputation repair isn’t just damage control. It’s a moment to clarify your values, highlight your progress, and reinforce what makes you stand out from the competition. That’s especially important when the negative reviews come from former staff. You’re not just patching holes, you’re building a stronger foundation.
Let’s say a former employee criticizes your company culture. Instead of arguing, you can showcase the positive experiences of your current team. Publish leadership spotlights. Share employee success stories. Promote your community involvement. All of this creates a contrasting and credible counter-narrative that doesn’t rely on direct confrontation.
By leaning into transparency and consistency, you make it clear that the past doesn’t define your future, and neither does one person’s version of events.
Where Reputation Repair Matters Most
If you work in a field where trust really matters—like law, healthcare, finance, or tech—bad reviews from former employees can hurt even more. However, this isn’t just a problem for large companies or senior executives. Almost anyone can benefit from reputation repair services, including:
- Small businesses dealing with ex-managers posting harmful Reddit threads
- Startups hit with anonymous Glassdoor reviews
- Professionals whose former assistants are sharing private information or spreading rumors online
No matter who you are or what industry you’re in, if people can search your name online, your reputation can be affected. And if it can be affected, it can also be fixed, with the right team helping you.
Control the Narrative Before It Controls You
The most challenging part of any reputation repair journey is often simply taking the first step. It can feel overwhelming, personal, and even a little embarrassing. But you’re not alone. Online Reputations has helped businesses and individuals from every background navigate internal backlash and come out stronger.
Our team of branding experts, SEO strategists, content creators, and digital security specialists will tailor a plan for your situation. No cookie-cutter fixes. Just smart, sustainable solutions that put you back in control of how you’re seen online.
