TechHR
ex
L&D
UNPLUGGED
Sphere
About Us • Contact Us
People Matters ANZ
People Matters Logo
Login / Signup
People Matters Logo
Login / Signup
  • Current
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Magazine
  • Research
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Podcast

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

  • HotTopic
    HR Folk Talk FutureProofHR
  • Strategy
    Leadership Csuite StrategicHR EmployeeRelations BigInterview
  • Recruitment
    Employer Branding Appointments Permanent Hiring Recruitment
  • Performance
    Skilling PerformanceMgmt Compensation Benefits L&D Employee Engagement
  • Culture
    Culture Life@Work Diversity Watercooler SheMatters
  • Tech
    Technology HR Technology Funding & Investment Startups Metaverse
  • About Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Become a sponsor
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback
  • Write For Us

Follow us:

Privacy Policy • Terms of Use

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

People Matters Logo
  • Current
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Magazine
  • Research
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Podcast
Login / Signup

Categories:

  • HotTopic
    HR Folk Talk FutureProofHR
  • Strategy
    Leadership Csuite StrategicHR EmployeeRelations BigInterview
  • Recruitment
    Employer Branding Appointments Permanent Hiring Recruitment
  • Performance
    Skilling PerformanceMgmt Compensation Benefits L&D Employee Engagement
  • Culture
    Culture Life@Work Diversity Watercooler SheMatters
  • Tech
    Technology HR Technology Funding & Investment Startups Metaverse
Zero stars: Glassdoor ordered to reveal identities of negative reviewers

News • 22nd Jul 2022 • 2 Min Read

Zero stars: Glassdoor ordered to reveal identities of negative reviewers

Employee RelationsCultureLife @ Work

Author: People Matters Editorial Team People Matters Editorial Team
11.1K Reads
Employer-rating site Glassdoor has been ordered by a court to provide the identities of users who left scathing remarks against a toy company, which now plans to sue former employees for defamation.

Glassdoor has found itself in hot water after a California judge ordered it to reveal the identities of users that posted negative reviews against toy company Zuru.

District court judge Alex Tse ruled in favour of Zuru to compel the employer-rating site to provide the users’ identities. Once obtained, the toymaker plans to use the information to file defamation complaints against the reviewers in New Zealand.

Glassdoor members use the website to post anonymous reviews of companies, whether it's their current or former employer. The platform also serves as a valuable resource for workers looking to find employment.

Zuru vs Glassdoor reviewers

The conflict between Zuru and the Glassdoor users began after several of them anonymously left scathing reviews directed at the toy company. 

Some of the posts referred to Zuru as a “[b]urn out factory” with a “toxic culture”. Others criticised the toymaker for allegedly having an “incompetent” management team that “consistently talk[s] down” to workers and treats them like “dirt”.

Read more: How to counter hate speech at work

Commenting on the Glassdoor reviews, Judge Tse said that statements made Zuru “sound like a horrible place to work”.

Zuru vehemently denied the reviewers' accusations. However, the negative attention that the comments have brought cost the company financially.

The toymaker claimed that they “had to expend money, time, and resources in combating the negative publicity, negative perception, and harm to [Zuru’s] reputation that the [r]eviews have caused”.

Zuru has since begun pursuing a defamation suit against the Glassdoor reviewers in New Zealand, where the company was founded. The country is also where the reviewers allegedly worked. 

New Zealand’s defamation laws

In his ruling, Judge Tse decided that New Zealand’s defamation laws are relevant to Zuru’s complaint. He ordered Glassdoor to provide the necessary information regarding the reviewers identities.

Unlike in the US – where people enjoy greater protection for free speech – New Zealand enforces stricter laws for defamation.

Read more: 6 signs your co-worker is gaslighting you

“There’s good reason to tread lightly in applying US free-speech principles abroad,” Judge Tse said. “Our country’s commitment to free speech isn’t universally shared; and even in other countries that protect free speech, a different balance is often struck between the right to free speech and the right to protect one’s reputation.” 

“Glassdoor wants to safeguard anonymous speech on its website. Zuru wants to protect its reputation. Both interests can’t simultaneously be accommodated,” Judge Tse added.

Read More

Did you find this article helpful?


You Might Also Like

The end of non-compete for low and mid-income

NEWS • 25th Mar 2025 • 3 Min Read

The end of non-compete for low and mid-income

Employee Relations#EmploymentLaw
Remote employees less likely to see pay hikes

NEWS • 17th Dec 2024 • 2 Min Read

Remote employees less likely to see pay hikes

Compensation & BenefitsEmployee Relations#HRTech#HRCommunity
Amazon orders staff back to office

NEWS • 17th Sep 2024 • 3 Min Read

Amazon orders staff back to office

LeadershipEmployee Relations#HRTech#RemoteWork#HRCommunity
NEXT STORY: Gender pay gap costing Australian firms $1B weekly

Trending Stories

  • design-thinking-hr

    Skype is dead: Did Microsoft's leadership let a billion-doll...

  • design-thinking-hr

    Keeping the C-suite in the C-suite - how do we reduce execut...

  • design-thinking-hr

    Return to office: the legalities

  • design-thinking-hr

    The trust factor: Why modern leaders can’t afford to overl...

People Matters Logo

Follow us:

Join our mailing list:

By clicking “Subscribe” button above, you are accepting our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Company:

  • About Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Become a sponsor
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Contact:

  • Contact Us
  • Feedback
  • Write For Us

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Get the latest Articles, Insight, News & Trends from the world of Talent & Work. Subscribe now!
People Matters Logo

Welcome Back!

or

Enter your registered email address to login

Not a user yet? Lets get you signed up!

A 5 digit OTP has been sent to your email address.

This is so we know it's you. Haven't received it yet? Resend the email or then change your email ID.

People Matters Logo

Welcome! Let's get you signed up...

Starting with the absolulte basics.

Already a user? Go ahead and login!

A 5 digit OTP has been sent to your email address.

This is so we know it's you. Haven't received it yet? Resend the email or then change your email ID.

Let's get to know you better

We'll never share your details with anyone, pinky swear.

And lastly...

Your official designation and company name.