glassdoor review and threat of being sued

[thelonelyones]

I wrote an honest negative review on glassdoor about a company I interviewed with. I used an email address which is not my normal one although I know glassdoor doesn't show your name and their site says they don't tell the organisation if the organisation asked. My review was accurate and professional, no swear words or anything like that. They are a small organisation. Lots of people warned me against applying but I did and didn't enjoy the interview experience. There aren't many glassdoor reviews due to their size. They work with, and mostly employ, people who have backgrounds of homelessness, addiction etc.
I've since received a nasty email from the owner along the lines of "we know it was you who wrote the review, take it off or we'll sue". I've not responded.
I am worried though. Should I take it off? Can they sue me? And what if they contact my current employer (I got a better job offer almost immediately afterwards). My company is a similar employer in a sector where most organisations know each other. I love my job. its a bigger organisation with lots of (positive) glassdoor reviews. I'm just worried that they will ruin it.
What do I do? Do I just ignore or do I give in and remove the review - bearing in mind other potential employees, including vulnerable people, could then have a similar experience.
Any lawyers, HR experts who can advise?
YABU - remove the review
YANBU - ignore the threat

That’s outrageous considering their line of work. I imagine it’s a hollow threat. Are you able to expand about what was so negative about the interview experience? I’m intrigued now.

They can only sue for deformation if what you said wasn't true and it had a significant impact on their business. Do not admit to it being you, just ignore them. If it starts to progress most solicitors will offer a 30 mins consultation for free. Doubtful they could prove it was you and that it genuinely had an impact on them.

I'd assume they're taking a punt and writing to everyone they have interviewed recently?

I'd say ignore it. But I'm not an employment or libel lawyer. I would guess, though, that if you haven't replied to them at all, they will drop it.

I reply back very confused and claiming not to know what they’re talking about but your interview experience with them was bad so you can understand someone else writing a negative review. Them never respond again.

Folk, it's not rocket science. They have probably written to anyone who has been interviewed but not offered a position over the last 18 months or so. They have OPs email address from her application, it isn't sleuthing or anything more exciting than just going through their list of candidates.

And like junk mail: if you reply they know they have a live one. If you don't reply they'll ignore you. Keep ignoring.

I was interested in an advertised role recently so checked out Glassdoor reviews. Based on that I saw multiple reviews of just interviews, some good/some bad but learned they had offered ~20 people roles earlier in the year and just before they started rescinded the offers citing cash problems. That is VERY helpful to know! People were quite angry in their reviews (understandably). I did end up talking to the company as I have a connection. They acknowledge there’s nothing that can be done as it’s all true and how they handled it was v bad.

This is why Glassdoor exists.

@CaroleSinger I think I was careful to share that I had a negative experience and avoid anything that would identify me. I think they are just guessing.

@Nimblesandbimbles they said some horrid things in the interview about the people they work for, their key client group, outdated offensive language. I couldn't wait for the interview to end. My review basically said the organisation does not appear to practice what they preach and I would not feel comfortable working there.

They can only sue you and win if they can prove that what you said was false.

If it was false then you should remove the review.
If it wasn't then you have nothing to worry about so just ignore the email.

I think if every company who receives negative reviews, threatens legal action against all its employees - past and current - then Glassdoor would not exist.

Companies cannot threaten to sue without causing more harm to their own reputation if word got out. I'd be inclined to lie low for awhile and spread the word verbally within your own sector - word gets around and this will damage their reputation far more than what you wrote.

YANBU

Although I do find it odd that you’d leave a review based on the interview alone, know matter how bad they were.

Else I can see many people not being successful at interview and then writing a bad review as sour grapes.

It's one of the purpose ps of the site. Check it out

How horrible @thelonelyones . I have worked in the same sector as you & I would feel the same. You had a lucky escape! It’s also very revealing how they’ve come after for writing that review. How worrying that an organisation supporting vulnerable people can behave like that. Good on you for writing it!

I think they can write to Glassdoor asking for the details and can get them if you won't remove the post. You may find that Glassdoor asks you to agree to remove it anyway in case they get caught up in any legal action.

The problem with libel actions is that the burden of proof is on the defendant if they are saying that what they said was true. This is likely to be a matter of your word against theirs. In your shoes I wouldn't want to risk it - even if I were sure of winning I just wouldn't want the stress.

Leave it. And update it to say they emailed you to threaten you.

Double down.

Write a new review from a new email account saying you recently had a bad interview with them and they contacted you about someone else's glass door review threatening to sue you.

Also you can probably presume they didn’t interview many people, and with the timing figured out it was you. For all you know, they interviewed three people and sent the same email to all three.

Anyway, fear no libel, your defence is ‘honest opinion’, and as a review, it is clearly such.

Leave it - if it’s true, and you express your opinion based on those facts, they don’t have a leg to stand on. My workplace often tries to get reviews taken down but they don’t succeed. Only if eg junior staff are named.

And it’s very normal to use Glassdoor to comment on the interview process. Very helpful for potential applicants.

Sounds like a lucky escape OP, they sound awful.

reviewing interviews is really valuable. The number of companies recently who have asked me to prepare a presentation on a very specific topic that it’s amounted to free consultancy (in my line of work). I’ve withdrawn myself from interview processes at 2 companies who were then surprised and asked why.

Reviews are one of the ways companies are held accountable and an attempt to redress the power dynamic for potential employees.

On a balance of probabilities, which is the burden of proof, a review that is reasonable, is clearly ‘honest opinion’. The OP would have a solid defence.

You are allowed to write negative things about people as long as it’s true/your true opinion and clearly written as such, or you heard it in certain legally ‘safe’ arenas (press conference, court, parliament, tribunal etc) and report it accurately and contemporaneously.

Any solicitor would advise them to save their money and suck it up, as they’d be mad to risk being liable for the OP’s costs, especially if they’re only a little outfit.

As long as what you said is true, they have no grounds on which to sue you.

This is a really good idea.

Surely they have broken GDPR by using your email address for a different purpose (threats) than the one it was authorised for (in connection with the original job advertisement).

@Fairowing that's an interesting point actually and one to keep in mind. At present, I think I will just ignore.

In the UK at least, they wouldn't go against Glassdoor, they'd go against OP.

But as long as her review was honest and in good faith and didn't say anything factually inaccurate, I'm pretty sure she's safe. Fair comment is allowed and if it weren't, nobody could ever leave a bad review.

I would just totally ignore