Indeed is a network where job seekers not only find job listings to apply but also gain insights about companies from reviews by current and former employees. Similar to other review sites, it provides an average star rating and ranks companies accordingly. All job posters remain anonymous. Indeed company pages rank high in search engine results and is used not only by job seekers, but also recruiters, hiring managers, customers, and even investors. While many see it as a recruitment tool, Indeed reviews can also significantly impact a company’s reputation, marketing efforts, and even sales. In this post, we’ll explain how companies can address and remove negative Indeed reviews.

Importance of Indeed Reviews on Company’s Online Reputation

A lot of companies see Indeed as job posting and talent search network and often overlook the importance of Indeed reviews posted by current and former employees and people who interviews for jobs. Indeed reviews can significantly impact a company’s online reputation in several ways.

Indeed breaks down reviews and rates different categories about working for a specific company. These categories can include company culture, management, pay and benefits, job security, and more. This information is valuable not only for potential employees but also for clients or investors. In addition, low rankings and negative reviews can be seen by current employees and can lower the overall morale in the company.

Positive Indeed reviews can enhance trust and make a company more attractive to top job candidates. Over 70% of job candidates are unlikely to accept a job offer from a company with poor ratings on job networks like Indeed, especially if the company has numerous 1 and 2-star reviews that raise significant “red flags.”

The Impact of Indeed Reviews on Search Engine Rankings and AI Assistants

Indeed ranks prominently on search engines and AI assistants like ChatGPT, Google Generative AI, Bing Copilot and others. With positive reviews and high ratings, your company can appear higher in Google or Bing search results or be suggested by AI assistants for specific questions about your company.

From example above, Bing Copilot often uses Indeed as a reference link when answering questions about a company’s work culture and if it’s a good place to work.

At the same time, Indeed reviews and star ratings are featured directly on Google as a search snippet, allowing people to get a quick overview of your company reputation based on star ratings and reviews without even clicking it.

These facts demonstrate how Indeed presence on search engines and AI assistants can significantly impact your company reputation management.

Difference Between Indeed and Glassdoor

Indeed primarily serves as a job search engine, collecting job listings from various companies and sources. On the other side, Glassdoor is more focused on providing insights into companies and their workplaces. At the same time, current and former employees, can rate companies and share reviews on both networks. While many companies mostly focus on handling Glassdoor reviews, it’s important not to forget about Indeed and how it can impact the company’s overall reputation.

Both Indeed and Glassdoor operate as separate entities under the same ownership of Recruit Holdings.

Who Can Post Reviews on Indeed and What They Can Share

Both current and former employees can share reviews on Indeed about companies they’ve worked for. In addition, job candidates can provide their insight about their job applying and interviewing process.

• Current employees talk about their job experience, things like the work culture, feedback about management, pay and benefits, and the overall satisfaction.
• Former employees share their past experiences, covering similar topics.
• Job candidates might provide insights on their interactions with the company while going through application and interviewing process, response from recruiters and hiring managers, and the overall feedback.

Information Shared on Indeed

When people write reviews on Indeed, they can write about pros and cons of working for a company. Reviewers rate their overall experience on a scale from 1 to 5 stars and provide ratings for various categories such as work-life balance, pay, benefits, management, and company culture. Satisfied employees sometimes give 5 stars across the board, while dissatisfied ones might rate everything with 1 star. But, the most useful reviews are those that offer a balanced feedback, providing different star ratings for different categories based on their real genuine experiences.

Additionally, reviewers are asked to share their salaries and benefits, which is a popular feature on Indeed as both job candidates and current employees are interested in potential earnings or compare their salaries.

Another section on Indeed is the Q&A, where reviewers answer specific questions asked by Indeed, such as “Does your company offer parental leave?” or “What is the drug testing process?”… These answers are published if they are complete and informative.

Finally, interviewees can share their experiences regarding the interview process, including the difficulty of questions, what to expect, the number of interview rounds, responses from the team, and their overall genuine experience.

These reviews give job seekers a real insider information to help them decide if a company is right for them.

Need Expert Help Removing Negative Indeed Reviews?

Types of Reviews and Content Can Be Removed From Indeed

Indeed offers several review sections and companies can flag and report reviews they believe violate Indeed’s Community Guidelines in all those sections. If Indeed’s moderators agree with the appeal, they will take action to remove the review.

Companies can first flag reviews themselves. Additionally, they can flag Q&A answers that they believe are inaccurate or misleading. Also, companies can report interview reviews and questions, abut it’s important to note that removing interview questions does not impact star ratings, as these average ratings are not influenced by interview reviews.

What Are the First Steps to Consider After Getting Negative or Unjust Indeed Review?

Here are the first steps to consider after receiving a bad review on Indeed:

• Employers Must Claim Your Company Listing. You can flag and report as a user, but it’s better to take control and ownership of your Indeed profile.
• Avoid Immediate Action. Unless the review is clearly fake, refrain from taking immediate action. Take time to analyze the feedback and build the strategy and gather evidence to address it effectively.
• Resolve Offline. If a former employee left the negative review, attempt to resolve the issue offline. Contact this person respectfully to understand concerns and see if a resolution can be reached.
• Challenges with Current Employees. Engaging with current employees who might have left the review anonymously can be challenging. They may feel threatened and it will lead to more negativity.
• Flag and Report the Review. If you belive the review is not genuine and fake, or violates Community Guidelines and Rules, youshould flag and report it.

Follow these steps focusing on understanding, diplomacy, and avoiding actions that could worsen the situation.

Can Indeed Reviews Be Removed? How to Address Negative Indeed Reviews.

Similar to other review platforms, a negative review on Indeed can harm a company’s reputation and lower morale among current employees. Some reviews, particularly those from unhappy or disgruntled employees or even “trolls”, might be fake and unfair and go against Indeed’s policies. If you report reviews that break Indeed’s guidelines, moderators can take them down.

You can also try to resolve the problem offline. Sometimes, the reviewer may reconsider and take down the review.

Another way to deal with Indeed reviews, and the network encourage it, is to write company response that shows that you care and open to resolve the issue.

And as a last resort, you can use the “Contact Us” form on Indeed to provide a detailed explanation of how the review violates Indeed’s rules.

All of these actions can be handled either by the business owner or in-house team, or by hiring a professional reputation management company or an expert.

Which Types of Indeed Reviews Can Be Reported and Removed?

Indeed’s Best Practices, Policies, and Guidelines page gives clear information on what types of reviews employees can post. Reviews that contain any of the following content can generally be challenged:

1. Multiple Reviews from the Same Employee. While the same person can post multiple photos on a company’s Indeed profile, they can’t write multiple reviews.
2. Original Content. Reviews must be original and not copy-paste from other networks and review websites.
3. Abusive or Aggressive Language. Disrespectful language, profanities, insults, or threats are not allowed.
4. Threats. Any review that raise safety concerns, looking for retaliation, personal attacks, or express wishes for violence or harm to individuals or the organization are prohibited.
5. Discriminatory Content. Reviews containing stereotypes or reference race, gender, age, religion, nationality, or other personal traits are not allowed.
6. Personal Information. Reviews that reveal other employees names or personal information are prohibited.
7. Misinformation and Gossips. Reviews spreading misinformation and lies about the company, its products, services, gossips, rumors, or trolling intended are not allowed.
8. Confidential Information. Reviews discussing private company information, financials, trade secrets, customer database, source code, etc., are not allowed.
9. Accusations of Illegal Activity: Reviews alleging any illegal activity by the company or employees, such as scams, fraud, theft, or regulatory violations, should be reported to appropriate authorities, and not to Indeed network.
10. Spam and Irrelevant Content. Reviews discussing or promoting competitors or containing irrelevant information are not allowed.

From our experience, there are additional review categories not covered in Indeed’s guidelines but which can still be still disputed. These include reviews posted from different accounts within a short period of time, which may suggest “review bombing”, a tactic used by individuals or groups to submit fake reviews and damage a company’s reputation. Another type includes reviews generated by bots or AI programs, which often appear generic and can be identified by AI detectors or simple scrutiny.

How to Report Negative Review on Indeed:

Step By Step Guide To Report Indeed Review

Simple steps to report Indeed review:

1. Find review in question
2. Click “Report” button below it
3. Chose the right category in the pop up window “”How does this review violate our guidelines?”
4. Click “Submit”
5. Check later to see if the review was removed

You Can Also Report Reviews From Your Indeed Account, Employer Page:

1. Sign-in to your Indeed business employer account
2. Find the review in question you want to report
3. Flick “Flag” icon next to it
4. Select the reason why you believe this review violates Indeed rules and should be removed
5. Hit submit
6. Follow up after several business days to check if the review has been removed

How Long Does It Take for Indeed Moderators to Review My Report?

Typically, if a review is found by moderators to violate Indeed’s guidelines or policies, it will be removed from the company page within 1 to 2 business days. Indeed does not send a confirmation email regarding the outcome, so you will need to check back to see if the review has been removed.

Our best advice to save the URL of the review for future reference, especially if your company has multiple reviews and you are reporting several, including those from the past. If the review removed, the URL will take you to 404 page not found.

What Is the Success Rate of Removing Negative Indeed Reviews After Flagging?

From our experience, Indeed seems less strict about taking down flagged reviews compared to other platforms like Google Maps or Glassdoor, resulting in a slightly better success rate.

The success rate for removing an unjust review from Indeed after flagging it can vary. It depends on factors such as the specific reasons for the appeal and how the review violates Indeed’s rules and guidelines. Simply, reviews that clearly violate the rules have a higher chance of being removed.

Different services that help with review removal sometimes promise their estimate success rate, but none can guarantee 100% removal. If someone promise a special relationship, employment or connection to Indeed’s moderators, they are likely running a scam.

Tips on Improving Your Chances of Reporting and Removing Negative Indeed Reviews.

Here are some advice on how to improve your chances of reporting and removing fake, inappropriate, and negative reviews from Indeed:

• Understand Indeed Guidelines, familiarize yourself with Indeed’s review guidelines for valid reasons to flag reviews before taking action.
• Choose the right category, when reporting a review, select the appropriate category that best fits the issue with the review, this helps Indeed moderators assess your request.
• Timing, avoid rushing to report a review right when it appeared online. Give the situation some time, as this can allow the reviewer to reconsider and potentially avoid posting new negative feedback if the original review was successfully removed.

Again, from our experience, selecting the right category is crucial for increasing the chances of successfully removing a review from Indeed. Unlike other platforms where writing a compelling explanation and providing evidence is critical, Indeed does not offer a field for detailed explanations. That’s why, choosing the correct category is the primary factor that can maximize your success in having a review removed.

By following these easy steps, you can approach the process of managing negative reviews on Indeed more effectively, increasing the likelihood of a successful appeal.

Will My Indeed Rating Change After a Negative Review Is Removed?

Yes, if Indeed removes a negative review, especially one with 1, 2, or 3 stars, your average rating will be updated. The impact on your total rating depends on the number of reviews your business has.

However, removing interview reviews or Q&A answers will not affect your average star rating, as these sections are primarily for informational purposes and do not impact the overall ranking. Still, it is important to review and flag incorrect information or questionable content in these sections, as they can still influence potential job candidates and impact your company’s overall reputation.

RetainTrust Offers Expert Help in Removing Negative Indeed Reviews

Can a Successfully Removed Negative Review on Indeed Reappear in the Future?

When you appeal a review on Indeed and moderators determine it violates community guidelines, they delete it forever.

Indeed handles review status differently by not providing updates on whether a review has been removed or remains on the site. Similarly, the reviewer is not notified of any changes. If a review is taken down, the URL will be taken down as well and will show 404 error page, indicating that it no longer exists. Unlike other platforms, this lack of notification means that the reviewer might not realize their review has been removed and may not post another one.

Still, it is not recommended not to report a bad review on Indeed immediately. Give it some time, allowing the person to “cool off” and move on. This approach can reduce the likelihood of them writing another bad review.

What to Do if Indeed Denies Your Request to Remove a Negative or Fake Review

Moderators may not always agree with you when you flag and report a review, even if it violates Indeed’s community guidelines, as there is room for interpretation. If your appeal to remove an Indeed review is denied, there are always a few next steps you can take.

First, patience is a key. Try waiting and report again. Sometimes it takes several attempts for a successful removal. Allow a few weeks to pass before appealing the review once again, choose different category when appealing second time. But be carefull not to do this too often, as it may be perceived as spamming by the network.

Another option is to use the “Contact Us” form under the Indeed Help Center. While this may not significantly increase your chances of success, it’s worth a try for an appeal.

If the review stays despite several attempts to remove it, consider replying on behalf of your company. Responding to the review demonstrates that you value feedback, take it seriously, and are willing to address the issue publicly.

Why Do Reviews That Violate Indeed’s Rules Still Get Approved and Appear on the Network?

With the high volume of new reviews submitted to Indeed daily, the network can not manually approve or deny all of them. As a result, some reviews that violate community guidelines manage to appear on company profiles. This makes it crucial for businesses to closely monitor new reviews and report them when necessary.

For example, when a new client, a transportation company, asked us to audit their Indeed reviews, we reported eight reviews on the first day. Seven of them were removed, and the company’s ratings immediately improved from 4.2 to 4.7 stars. One can only wish it’s always that easy, but it’s not always the case.

Example of Inappropriate Review on Indeed

The review on Indeed pictured above contains inappropriate language and was approved by the network some time ago. It remains live because the company never reported it. This highlights the importance of companies monitoring their Indeed reviews and reporting any inappropriate or questionable content they come across.

Is Indeed a ‘Pay-To-Play’ Platform? Can Sponsorship Help Remove Negative Reviews?

No, even if a company sponsors Indeed, the platform applies the same content moderation rules to all its clients, regardless of their sponsorship status. Indeed’s sponsorship program is designed to enhance job postings and increase their visibility, not to influence or remove reviews on the network.

Here are Some Common Mistakes to Avoid When Handling Negative Reviews on Indeed

When addressing negative or even fake reviews on platforms like Indeed, it’s crucial to avoid several common pitfalls:

1. Prohibiting employees to write reviews, it can backfire.
2. Avoid confrontation as it can worsen the situation.
3. Avoid being defensive in replies when responding to negative reviews.
4. Threatening legal action against employees or the platform is counterproductive.
5. Don’t post your own reviews, fake reviews damage trust and credibility and can ultimately backfire.
6. Don’t anyone to write positive reviews, dishonesty in paying for positive reviews can also backfire.
7. Submit removal requests one at a time to avoid spamming the platform.

We once worked with a company that received a negative review from an employee. The person who managed the Indeed company profile responded in a defensive and undiplomatic manner, essentially blaming the employee. This response was noticed by other current and former employees, who took the side of the reviewer and then proceeded to post their own negative reviews on Indeed and other networks like Glassdoor. This example underscores the importance of handling Indeed reviews with respect and empathy, even if you believe the criticism is unwarranted. A professional response can help maintain a positive reputation and prevent further backlash and escalation.

Examples of Real Reviews That Were Removed for Violating Indeed Guidelines

Here some real examples of reviews we were able to remove for our clients for violating Indeed’s rules:

1. A reviewer on Indeed criticized long term coworkers for not understanding the latest technology, prompting a report for ageism and unfair stereotyping based on age. Indeed removed the review due to these concerns.
2. A reviewer called the company a “scam” and compared the sales team to a “pyramid scheme,” prompting a report for accusing the company of illegal activity. Indeed agreed to remove the review based on these allegations.
3. A review appeared on Indeed appeared to be immature, possibly from an entry-level employee. It used unprofessional slang to criticize coworkers as “basic” and “uncool,” and also commented negatively on their taste in music and daily routines. Due to these violations of professionalism and guidelines, the review was promptly removed by the network.
4. A former employee mentioned their supervisors job titles, making them easily identifiable. As a result, the review was flagged and successfully removed from indeed.

These examples show the importance of careful evaluation when considering whether a negative review can be removed from Indeed.

Turning Negative Indeed Reviews into Opportunities

Having a few negative reviews on job sites like Indeed or Glassdoor can benefit your company, especially if they provide constructive criticism and real feedback. Responding professionally to these reviews demonstrates your dedication to improvement.

Negative reviews won’t significantly harm your overall reputation in the eyes of job candidates as long as they don’t highlight serious issues such as safety concerns on job site, bullying, harassment, discrimination, toxic work environment, or other red flags.

Is it Ethical Reporting and Removing Bad Reviews and Content from Sites Like Indeed

When it comes to reporting and removing negative reviews on networks like Indeed, ethics can be a concern, some might say it violates free speech. However, most review platforms, including Indeed, offer options to respond or flag content that businesses find unjust and violating guidelines. Appealing negative reviews is common practice for companies looking to protect their online reputation. Think of it like hiring a lawyer in a legal dispute.

Also, many questionable reviews that violate Indeed’s rules can appear simply because Indeed doesn’t have enough resources to manually review and approve all submissions. That’s why it’s important to watch your reviews, proactively manage reviews, and report them. Additionally, there is no place for fake reviews on Indeed, and reporting them benefits not only your company but also the entire Indeed community.

Why Companies Struggle to Manage Indeed Profiles and Respond to Negative or Even Fake Indeed Reviews

Many companies struggle to actively manage their Indeed reviews. Businesses face issues such as lacking a clear strategy or resources for monitoring and responding to reviews. Internal conflicts between departments like PR, Marketing, and HR also complicate matters. For example, there can be disagreements over who should handle responses from former and current employees, HR may prioritize confidentiality, while Marketing and PR focus on digital visibility.

For example, we frequently work with marketing or PR departments on online reputation and visibility, and it is not uncommon to see surprised reactions when we mention Indeed reviews. Many are puzzled as to why marketing or PR should handle this issue rather than HR or internal recruitment departments. This misunderstanding often becomes a significant challenge.

Also,, large volume of online feedback can be overwhelming, and many businesses lack consistent policies for responding. These challenges point to the advantages of hiring a person to manage online reputation, or a reputation management company to help navigate these processes.

Seeking Assistance with Removing Negative Indeed Reviews?

Benefits of Hiring Review Removal Services for Handling Negative Indeed Reviews

Getting help from professional review removal services offers companies multiple advantages. First, it saves a lot of time in tackling negative review issues “in-house”. These services have experience in navigating the removal process and understanding all the rules by the networks, increasing the chances of successful appeals.

Some business owners can try to monitor Indeed reviews and request removals themselves, but navigating each appeal and understanding Indeed’s rules can be complex and might need multiple attempts. In reality, many business owners often find themselves busy juggling various tasks, leading to neglect in addressing negative reviews.

Indeed is a unique platform, and managing reviews can be a delicate process because they come from current or former employees. Additionally, responding to or managing Indeed reviews can become personal and potentially hurt feelings, and it leads to escalations, loss of morale, and the overall team performance. Therefore, Indeed reviews should be handled by trained professionals who know how to address sensitive issues effectively.

Outsourcing this review removal responsibility to professional reputation management services offers peace of mind, giving business owners and opportunity to focus on operations without the stress of managing online reputation issues.

How Much Professional Review Removal Services Cost?

When using review removal services, many companies only charge you after successfully removing a review from platforms like Indeed. Some may also add a small service fee regardless of success. At RetainTrust, we charge only after successfully removing negative Indeed reviews, without any extra fees. We believe in paying for actual results, not just promises.

Why It Makes Sense to Hire RetainTrust for Managing and Removing Negative Indeed Reviews

If you need professional assistance with managing and removing Indeed reviews, RetainTrust is ideal company. We specialize in handling, managing, and responding to reviews on Indeed. Our services include monitoring your web presence across various platforms, especially when it comes to reviews from current, former, and disgruntled employees who may use multiple sites to post content. With our tools and expertise, we help businesses minimize online negativity, integrate review removal across different platforms, provide 24/7 monitoring, and apply the best practices to each review situation. Additionally, for straightforward, one time review removal requests, you only pay for success. Feel free to contact us.