Protecting Your Anonymity on Glassdoor
At Glassdoor, we're deeply committed to providing a constructive platform where you can share your thoughts about your job and company anonymously, without having to fear retaliation or intimidation.
Our Stance on Anonymity
When Glassdoor receives a request to reveal a reviewer's identity, our immediate response is to decline. We understand that revealing a user's identity can have serious consequences, including potential retaliation or legal action from current or former employers. Your privacy is important to us.
How We Respond to Legal Requests
If we receive proper legal documents asking for user information, we stand firm. We respond by defending our users' right to anonymous free speech. We'll object to and resist subpoenas, and if it's necessary and appropriate, we'll even appear in court to oppose these requests. So far, Glassdoor has successfully protected the anonymity of its users in over 100 cases, with courts almost always ruling in our favor and that of our users in these battles.
To force us to reveal a Glassdoor user's identity, plaintiffs must demonstrate a "prima facie claim." This means they have to present evidence from specific statements within the user's review to show that their claim is valid on its face. This is considered a high legal bar, as affirmed by appellate rulings that emphasize: "It is the court, not counsel, that must determine whether a prima facie showing of actionable statements has been made."
Limitations to Anonymity
While anonymous speech is protected under US and State Constitutions and various international laws, it's not an absolute right. If legal action is taken to identify a user and it can be proven that their review violated someone's legal rights, a court might not allow the user to remain anonymous. In such rare circumstances, if the deciding court has jurisdiction over Glassdoor, we may be obligated to disclose user information. We always advise our users to understand how defamation law works and provide tips on writing reviews to help you avoid any potential liability.
Employer Conduct Regarding Anonymity
Glassdoor strictly enforces policies to ensure that you feel confident leaving company reviews anonymously and voluntarily. This means we hold employers to specific standards:
- No Demands for Proof: Employers aren't allowed to ask employees to show them reviews or require confirmation that they've posted on Glassdoor.
- No Company Equipment for Reviews: We don't allow employers to require employees to write reviews from within the office or on shared company equipment. To maintain your anonymity, employees should use their own personal devices (whether employer-provided or not) when leaving a review.
To further protect your anonymity, you can also choose to omit your location and job title in a Company Review. For a Benefits Review, while location is required, your job title or function is not.