Yes, companies can reply to Glassdoor reviews through Employer Center, as long as responses follow site rules and protect privacy.
Reader question first: can a company write back on its Glassdoor page? Yes. Employers can post a public reply beneath a review through the Employer Center. That reply shows under the original post and becomes part of the profile a candidate sees. Done well, a response can clear up confusion, signal that leadership listens, and even nudge ratings upward over time. The rest of this guide shows the exact steps, guardrails, and writing moves that help you answer with confidence.
What Responding Actually Means
On this platform, a response is a short public statement tied to one review. It sits below the reviewer’s text and displays a responder label such as HR, recruiting, or leadership. You can reply to both praise and criticism. Reviews and responses pass through a moderation system that checks for guideline issues before they appear on the site. Glassdoor outlines that two-touch moderation includes automated checks and, at times, human review, and both reviews and employer replies must follow the same rules to publish (review moderation process).
How To Reply To Glassdoor Reviews Safely
Here’s the fast path from login to publish. These steps track the official workflow in the Employer Center.
- Sign in to the Employer Center.
- Open Community Reviews, then choose Employee Reviews or Interview Reviews.
- Find the post you want to address and click into the response box.
- Write a short reply that thanks the reviewer, addresses points, and proposes a next step if needed.
- Select Add Comment to submit. Your reply goes through moderation before it appears. Steps mirror Glassdoor’s own guide to responding (step-by-step guide).
First 30% Snapshot: Which Response Style Fits?
Pick the move that fits the situation. Keep each reply short, factual, and human.
| Situation | Best Response Move | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Positive shout-out | Thank, echo the win, mention one concrete action you’ll keep doing | Reinforce strengths and show you listen |
| Mixed review | Acknowledge both sides, clarify one point, invite offline follow-up | Show balance and next steps |
| Sharp criticism | Stay calm, address facts, share one fix in motion, offer contact | Reduce friction and display accountability |
| Policy complaint | Reference public policy page, share context, offer to discuss specifics | Clear up the record without sharing private data |
| Serious claim (harassment, safety) | Express care, avoid details, list the reporting channel, escalate internally | Protect people and route to the right process |
| Outdated info | Thank the reviewer, note the change with date, link to current policy if public | Keep the profile current |
Rules You Need To Follow
Both sides must follow community standards. That includes no doxxing, no threats, no confidential data, and no incentive offers tied to review content. Glassdoor’s Community Guidelines set limits such as one review per year per employer and a ban on impersonation and bribes. The platform also states that reviews and replies go through technology checks and, at times, human review to protect anonymity and guideline compliance (anonymity & moderation FAQs).
What To Do When A Post Breaks The Rules
Flag the content inside your Employer Center if a review appears to violate terms. Pick the closest reason (confidential info, hate speech, threat, personal data, or other listed grounds), add short context, and submit. Glassdoor’s help pages explain the reporting flow and what happens next (flagging content). You cannot pay to remove reviews, and the same moderation standard applies to all clients (negative reviews policy).
Who Should Write The Reply
Pick a single owner for the page, then route replies by topic. HR can answer pay, benefits, and career path questions. A hiring manager can address team structure or tech stack. A senior leader can handle company-wide themes. Keep the responder field accurate so candidates know who’s speaking. Glassdoor encourages clear responder titles in its best-practice notes (responding tips).
Timing And Cadence That Work
Fresh replies send a strong signal. A weekly sweep keeps pace for most teams. Fast follow on tough posts helps, especially when the claim references a current change like a reorg or benefit update. Academic and industry research on public review sites links consistent replies with small gains in ratings over time, which adds up (replying boosts ratings).
Writing Moves That De-Escalate
Keep It Short And Human
Two to five sentences is plenty. Lead with thanks, mirror one detail from the review, give one fact or fix, and share a contact path. Skip template buzzwords. Plain language builds trust.
Acknowledge And Pivot To Action
Give credit on a fair point, then share what’s changing. If a fix needs private context, offer a direct channel such as an email inbox or HR case link.
Stick To What You Can Share
Avoid private personnel info or anything that names a person without consent. Don’t copy internal memos. If you need to address policy, reference a public page or note that you’ll follow up one-to-one.
Sample Replies You Can Adapt
When The Review Is Positive
“Thanks for the kind words about the mentorship program. We’ve expanded the pairing window this quarter, and we’re glad it helped you grow. Wishing you all the best in your next role.”
When The Review Is Mixed
“Appreciate the feedback. Your note about release schedules lines up with changes we’re making to sprint planning this month. If you’re open to it, our team can capture more detail at people@company.com.”
When The Review Is Sharp
“Thanks for sharing your view. We take the claim about overtime seriously. Our HR team will review scheduling data for the period you mentioned. If you’re comfortable, send dates to compliance@company.com so we can look closer.”
When The Review Mentions Misconduct Or Safety
“We’re sorry to read this. We don’t allow retaliation and we investigate reports. Please use our reporting line at 000-000-0000 or ethics@company.com. We will follow policy and keep your report confidential within the process.”
Voice, Tone, And Length
Use simple words. Read the reply aloud before posting. If it sounds stiff, trim. Avoid sarcasm. No arguments. Share one proof point where it helps: a date, a metric range, or a clear next step. Then stop.
How Transparency And Anonymity Work On The Site
Users now pass an identity check that asks for name and job data, yet reviews remain anonymous to readers. The help center explains that technology and human checks protect anonymity, while still enforcing one account per user and limits on review frequency (review integrity and anonymity FAQ). Keep that in mind when replying: speak to the topic, not the person.
When Your Reply Gets Pulled
If a response disappears, it likely tripped a guideline. Glassdoor states that replies can be removed when they include personal data, threats, confidential info, or other restricted content. You can edit and resubmit once the issue is cleared (response removal).
Second Table: Common Triggers That Block Replies
Use this checklist before you hit publish.
| Trigger | Why It Fails | What To Do Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Names or contact details | Breaks privacy rules and can expose a person | Refer to roles or teams; share a generic inbox |
| Threats or insults | Violates civility standards and moderation rules | Keep a calm tone and stick to facts |
| Confidential data | Leaks internal info not meant for public view | Speak in general terms; move details offline |
| Quid-pro-quo offers | Looks like an incentive tied to review content | Invite feedback without perks; never barter |
| Legal threats in replies | Escalates risk and chills speech | Flag through the platform; let counsel handle |
| Copy-pasted corporate boilerplate | Feels impersonal and can spark more pushback | Personalize one line; keep it short |
Proof You’re Listening: Close The Loop
A public reply is step one. Real trust grows when the change shows up in work life. Pick one trackable action per theme—schedule clarity, career ladders, meeting load, or manager training—and post an update on a public channel you control, such as a careers page. When candidates later read a review that mentions the same theme, they’ll also see your reply and the follow-through elsewhere.
Interview Review Replies
Interview reviews need a slightly different touch. Thank the candidate for the time they spent, mention one part of the process you’re improving, and state the best way to give extra feedback. Avoid anything that confirms a specific decision about a candidate. Keep the door open. Many candidates come back later for new roles if they feel respected.
Setting A Playbook Inside Your Company
Assign Owners And Response Windows
Give your page an owner and set a weekly checkpoint. Set a 72-hour window for tough posts and a one-week window for the rest. That pacing keeps the page current without turning into a time sink.
Template, Then Personalize
You can keep a short library of lines for common themes—workload, pay bands, career growth, product direction. Don’t paste the same text every time. Add one detail that reflects the post you’re answering.
Track Themes And Fixes
Log themes in a sheet: topic, date, reply link, action owner, and outcome. Over a quarter, this points to the few fixes that matter most and gives leadership an audit trail.
When To Skip A Public Reply
Silence can be wise in a few edge cases. If a post contains a specific allegation that must go through a formal process first, handle that process and wait to reply until you can confirm the next step. If a review is under active moderation after you flagged it, let the flow finish. Once a decision lands, you can add a concise note.
Putting It All Together
Here’s a simple checklist you can reuse each week:
- Scan new reviews and tag by theme.
- Pick the right voice: HR, hiring manager, or leader.
- Write two to five sentences that thank, address one point, and share a next step.
- Avoid private names, numbers, and internal docs.
- Post the reply through the Employer Center and log the link.
- Start one small fix that maps to a repeating theme and share progress on a public page you control.
Why Responding Helps Your Hiring Funnel
People read not just the score but the dialogue. A thoughtful reply shows candidates what it’s like to raise a concern inside the company. It signals real ownership of issues and respect for feedback. Research on public review sites ties manager replies to small rating gains and more reviews over time, which compounds reach in search results (HBR study). Pair that with steady updates, and your profile begins to tell a story of continuous improvement.
Final Word: Keep It Real And Keep It Moving
You can answer reviews on this platform, and you should. Keep replies short, kind, and factual. Follow the rules. Route sensitive claims into the right process. Then ship one change at a time. Candidates notice.