At a glance
- We separate honest reviews from fake, duplicate and rule-breaking ones before quoting
- Related reviews are filed together so moderators see a campaign, not isolated complaints
- Bulk cases are quoted in writing; the standard rate is $800 per review
- We help you respond to the reviews that will stay while the case runs
What Glassdoor review bombing looks like
A review bomb is easy to spot on a rating chart and harder to deal with review by review. The signs that point to coordination rather than a run of independent opinions are consistent:
- Timing. Several one-star reviews within days, lined up with an event such as layoffs, a strike, a lawsuit or a social media post.
- Wording. Repeated phrases, the same complaint in the same order, or near-identical headlines.
- Job titles. Titles that do not exist in your structure, or the same unusual title used several times.
- Locations. Reviews from sites that were not affected by the event, or that do not exist.
- Content. Reviews that describe the news story rather than the reviewer's own job.
One suspicious review is a flag. Six with the same fingerprints make a case.
Why most reviews after layoffs stay
Review volume always rises after layoffs, and most of those reviews are honest accounts from people who were affected. They are protected opinion under Glassdoor's rules, and in the United States much employee discussion of working conditions is also protected by federal labor law. Trying to remove them wastes credibility and creates legal risk.
The reviews worth challenging are the ones that break the rules: posts from people outside the affected teams or outside the company entirely, second reviews from the same person within a year, reviews naming junior staff, and reviews leaking confidential information. Our guide to Glassdoor's review guidelines lists every ground.
How we handle a review bomb
- Map the wave. We list every review in the spike with its date, title, location, rating and key phrases, and compare them against the event timeline.
- Sort the reviews. Each review is marked as honest and protected, possibly rule-breaking, or clearly rule-breaking. We tell you how many fall into each group before you commit.
- Build the pattern case. For the rule-breaking reviews, we document the shared fingerprints so moderators can see the coordination for themselves. Glassdoor's removal policy declines evidence from parties with a vested interest, so the case rests on what the reviews themselves show.
- File and follow up. Each review is reported under its own guideline, with the related reviews referenced together. We follow up on pending reports and confirm removals on your live profile.
- Response support. For honest reviews that will stay, we help you draft calm public responses that address the event directly.
What to do while the case runs
A review bomb is visible to every candidate who visits your profile, so silence is costly. A short, calm response to the most visible reviews, acknowledging the event and what the company is doing, helps candidates read the wave in context. Our guide on how to respond to Glassdoor reviews includes an example for reviews after layoffs.
Avoid the two moves that make a review bomb worse: asking current staff to post positive reviews to balance the score, and trying to identify the authors. Glassdoor treats encouraged reviews as manipulation and can place an "Inflated Reviews" alert on the profile, and hunting for authors creates legal and reputational risk.
Pricing and timing
The standard rate is $800 per review. Review bombs usually involve several reviews and extra mapping work, so we quote them individually and always in writing before any work starts. Payment follows our usual terms unless your written agreement says otherwise: half on signing, half once removals are confirmed.
Coordinated cases take longer than single reviews because each report still goes through Glassdoor's moderation queue. We give you a realistic range at assessment. Glassdoor makes every final decision, and no one can guarantee removal.
For single reviews from outsiders or repeat posters, see our page on how we remove fake Glassdoor reviews. For everything else, start from our Glassdoor review removal service page.
Frequently asked questions
What is Glassdoor review bombing?
Glassdoor review bombing is a sudden wave of negative reviews in a short period, usually triggered by layoffs, a public dispute or a viral post. Some reviews in a wave are honest accounts from affected employees, while others come from outsiders, repeat posters or people describing the news rather than their own job. Only the rule-breaking reviews can be removed.
Can Glassdoor remove a review bomb?
Glassdoor can remove the reviews in a wave that break its rules, such as posts from non-employees, duplicates within a year, reviews naming junior staff or leaking confidential information. Honest negative reviews from affected employees stay. Reporting related rule-breaking reviews together, with their shared timing, wording and job titles, helps moderators see the pattern.
How do you know if your company is being review bombed?
Look for several one-star reviews within days, lined up with a specific event, repeated phrases or headlines, job titles or locations that do not exist in your company, and reviews that describe a news story rather than the writer's own job. A single negative review is not a review bomb; a cluster sharing these signs usually is.
Should we ask employees to post positive reviews after a review bomb?
No. Glassdoor bans pressure and incentives connected to reviews, and a sudden wave of positive posts after a negative one looks orchestrated. Glassdoor can remove the related contributions and show an "Inflated Reviews" alert on your profile. A neutral, company-wide invitation to share honest feedback at any time is allowed.
How much does it cost to deal with a Glassdoor review bomb?
Our standard rate is $800 per review. Review bombs usually involve several reviews and extra pattern-mapping work, so they are quoted individually and in writing before any work starts. The free assessment tells you how many reviews in the wave are likely removable and how many are protected opinion that will stay.
How long does it take to remove reviews from a review bomb?
Longer than a single review, because each report still passes through Glassdoor's moderation queue and coordinated cases need more evidence work. We give a realistic range at assessment rather than a fixed deadline. Glassdoor makes every final decision, so no provider can promise that any review in a wave will be removed.