How to Handle Former Employee Online Bashing the Right Way CareerMetis.com

How to Handle Former Employee Online Bashing the Right Wayâ€" CareerMetis.com Original Image Source â€" Depositphotos.comLet’s be real â€" most of us have complained about our job from time to time. Whether it be about that annoying co-worker or a more serious grumble regarding the leadership structure within the organization, all of us can probably find something to criticize about the company we work for.Unfortunately though, when these complaints become public after being published online, it can severely hurt that business’s reputation. Oftentimes, disgruntled former employees will take any chance they can to tarnish your business’s name. But these moments of frustration can have a long-term effect on those companies and even stunt their growth.According to Glassdoor’s report, 83% of job-seekers will search for a company’s reviews during the application process, and 84% say that a business’s reputation weighs heavily in their decision for job acceptance.evalHaving a few negative employer reviews can make recruiting new team members that much mo re difficult. Furthermore, the negative comments can also influence the overall work environment even after that employee has left.Thankfully though, it is possible to turn things around by handling things the correct way â€" and you can do it in just three simple steps.Publicly Respond and Take ResponsibilityevalThe best way to de-escalate the situation of online employer bashing is by showing that your company respects that employee’s opinion. Taking the time to craft a careful and courteous response shows that person At the end of the day, a well-crafted response to a bad review can say much more about the company than the review itself!Share Feedback and Look for LessonsAlthough disgruntled employees may certainly exaggerate, there is likely some truth to their comments that can be useful information.When you are looking at reviews, try to note any repeating patterns regarding similar pain points that former employees keep bringing up.Do multiple people mention an issue with m anagement?Do people complain about limited vacation days or difficulty in maintaining a good work/life balance?Just as companies should be reviewing negative customer reviews, managers should also be taking a look at these former employee comments to identify the weakest points in the current employee experience.evalFor example, many former employees for Nestle Purina stated that internal promotions seemed to never actually happen, even when a person was with the company for long periods of time. This caused lots of frustration and was often the reason why some employees left the company.The HR team at Nestle Purina took this feedback to heartand created new initiatives to clarify the promotional process within the company while also revamping their advancement process to help leaders cultivate talent for better experiences. In 2018, the company was the Employee’s Choice Award winnerfor best company to work for!SourceAlthough it is far easier to dismiss negative sentiment, it is i mportant to take the time and consider what each person has to say. Chances are that their negative experience is stemming from a major issue within the organization that needs to be addressed.Encourage Current Employees to ShareArguably the best way to help balance out negativity is with positivity. So, rather than dwelling on negative reviews, look for ways to boost morale and build engagementwith your current staff.One great way to get the ball rolling is by creating engaging employee review templates. Unfortunately, many companies rarely or never ask employees to share feedback regarding their current experiences â€" which can lead to built-up frustration that results in online bashing.Furthermore, employees say that they are four times morelikely to stay with a company that regularly asks for feedback and actively makes changes based on their reviews.Managers should take the time to regularly meet with their team members to discuss both the pros and cons about the employee’s current work situation. It is important to encourage full transparency here by creating a safe environment so people feel comfortable enough to share their honest opinions.Image Source â€" UnSplash.comYou may also want to ask employees to share their sentiments online as well, specifically when it comes to sharing positive aspects about your company. However, you do need to be careful here â€" no employees should ever be required to create a positive review.When you build out employee review templates, make it clear that these can be 100% anonymous. If you don’t do this, iqualtrics.comt can be tough for employees to share their true feelings â€" as they might think it will result in getting blackballed or compromising their job security.ConclusionevalReceiving a negative employer review is never fun â€" but it does not need to be the end of the world, either. The secret is to turn the experience into a positive one as best as you can.Start by taking the high road in your response by acknowledging the person’s feelings and experiences. Then take the time to reallyconsider what they are saying. Always be on the lookout for ways to proactively engage with current employees to make the changes that result in the most meaningful impact.