Negative Company Review and NDA

[SmellyBelly2002]

This is not really an AIBU but What would you do.
I left a company I was working for and had to sign an NDA...
As part of searching for a new role, I have started using Glassdoor to read company reviews. Out of curiosity I looked at my previous company, and another ex-employee who was let go after only 3 months, has left a very damning review. Despite not knowing the ex-colleague well, I can identify her from what has been written due to references made about issues she discussed prior to leaving.
My concern is that what has been written is very similar to what happened to me, but with some of her own experiences added in. I am not saying this did not happen to her or she is not entitled to leave a review, but it is very subjective and emotive.
This is an issue as I am worried that HR or their legal team will believe this is something I wrote. I do not know whether to get ahead of the situation and contact HR to make them aware, or wait to see if anything happens.
I am hoping they would realise I am not that stupid, and that it is not how I would write - how the entire review is written is not how I would communicate.
Any advice much appreciated.

I think they would need to be able to prove it was you. I would contact ACAS and ask the question. They may not be aware of the review left and if this other colleague also signed NDA it could open up a whole can of worms for them - although, if she had an NDA she will already be aware of the consequences.

Did they use underhand tactics?

As far as I am aware, they had no NDA. They were let go during probation and not the same situation, although experiencing similar issues, it was not the same situation as my own.
I think I would also be a bit mortified if other people see it and assume it is me.

If you think they had no NDA I would still speak to ACAS before proceeding and get some professional advice. I do understand how you want to cover your own back. I am sure the company would have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that you were the one to leave the review before actioning anything on the NDA.

Thank you.
ACAS have said my options would be to seek independent legal advice, but not to contact the company directly. I am hoping they would realise it was not me, I would not take that risk after going through a drawn out process and potential ET. I am still nervous though, how would I prove it wasn't me and I had nothing to do with it.

You wouldn't have to prove it wasn't you. They would have to prove it was.

Def don’t contact them
They’ll probably be aware of the review - my HR team monitored Glassdoor fairly closely
They will know better than you that there were other employees with similar issues to you
It would be on them to prove it was you, not you to prove it wasn’t. But if it came to it presumably you can show that it hasn’t been posted from your Glassdoor account. For now I wouldn’t worry.

If it’s factual, they can’t do a lot about it anyway!

Ok I will hold off doing anything, I am pretty certain the company would have seen it, although they have not replied to any reviews since 2024.
I guess if they contact me I can then respond via solicitor if required.
The overlap to what happened in my situation has just made me quite paranoid and I feel like it has reignited the anxiety I was hoping could be left in 2025.