What to Do When a Former Employee is Bad Mouthing You?

It was just another day for a small business owner running a high-end package service for entrepreneurs—until it wasn’t.

Three years after letting an underperforming employee go, they woke up to a nightmare: fifteen scathing one-star reviews attacking their company’s reputation. Not one or two—fifteen.

And the worst part? The former employee had waited years to strike, ensuring the attack felt unexpected and devastating.

The business owner was blindsided. Sales slowed, trust wavered, and their once-stellar online presence took a hit. Frustrated, they struggled to find a way to restore their reputation and move forward.

The Problem: A Bad Review Blitz Can Destroy Your Business

Many business owners believe negative reviews come from dissatisfied customers. The truth? Some of the most harmful attacks come from former employees with a grudge.

They wait until your guard is down, knowing exactly how to hurt your business. A few well-placed, exaggerated, or outright false reviews can:

• Tank your online ratings overnight
• Shake the confidence of potential customers
• Push your business lower in search results, making it harder for new clients to find you

And if you think platforms like Google or Yelp will just remove them at your request, think again. The process is tedious, time-consuming, and often ineffective—unless you know exactly how to approach it.

A Smarter Approach to Protecting Your Reputation

Instead of reacting to an attack after the damage is done, the best approach is a proactive one. Business owners can take control of their reputation by implementing a strategy that:

• Identifies and removes non-compliant reviews using expert knowledge of platform guidelines
• Engages directly with Google and other review platforms to challenge false or malicious reviews
• Prevents future attacks by establishing a system that monitors and addresses negative feedback before it escalates

How to Safeguard Your Business Going Forward

Waiting until a crisis hits can be costly and stressful. Instead, businesses can put protective measures in place to ensure their online presence remains strong and resilient.

Download our free booklet to learn:

• What types of reviews can actually be removed
• A step-by-step system to protect your business from reputation attacks
• How to handle bad reviews—before they impact your business

Get your free guide today and safeguard your reputation before it’s too late.