From Amazon products to restaurants, you can find crowd sourced recommendations in an instant. This includes employee reviews for current or previous employers. Employee reviews are crucial in shaping your company’s reputation and attracting top talent for your work force. A positive review can highlight a healthy work environment or outstanding company culture. But there are two sides to every coin, and negative reviews can turn away potential employees. At Labor Solutions, we understand the importance of cultivating positive employee reviews to build your brand identity and showcase your company values.

Why Employee Reviews Matter
Often, a candidate’s first stops when researching a company are websites like Glassdoor, Fairygodboss, and Indeed. These sites offer a place for current or former employees to share their experiences with your company. Positive reviews may showcase a good work environment or a healthy work/life balance. However, a negative review could deter quality applicants from even applying. It is important to actively monitor these sites and encourage positive feedback from employees when possible to attract top talent.

Encouraging Positive Reviews
So, how do you get your employees to share their positive experiences online? You have to create a culture where feedback is encouraged and appreciated. This can be done through seeking input through surveys and meetings or celebrating positive reviews internally as a way to reinforce a culture of appreciation. And remember, reviews mean very little if they are disingenuous. A positive work environment leads to happy employees and happy employees are more likely to leave positive reviews. Make sure to regularly assess workplaces issues through anonymous surveys and feedback channels. Show initiative to implement changes based on feedback and foster a supportive work environment that boosts morale.

You Received a Negative Review, Now What?
Hopefully, your company never receives a negative employee review on one of these sites. But effectively handling negative reviews is crucial. The keys to a good response are:

  • Timeliness: Try to respond within two to three days of the review.
  • Professionalism: Don’t get confrontational or defensive, regardless of the tone of the review. 
  • Empathy: Acknowledge the reviewer’s experience and offer to discuss matters in private to find a resolution
  • Feedback: Offer constructive feedback and outline the steps your company may be taking to address the issues raised in the review.

By adhering to these four cornerstones of addressing a negative review, you can mitigate its impact and turn it into an opportunity to showcase your company’s commitment to improvement and employee satisfaction. 

Overall, employee reviews are a critical part of your company’s reputation and can influence your potential new hires. While positive reviews show off your company’s culture and supportive work environment, negative reviews can deter quality candidates. Labor Solutions is here to help you recruit top talent and maintain a strong employer brand.