Are you troubled by slander and defamation against your company by former employees? We’ll introduce ways to deal with and prevent such situations.

In today’s world, the internet is widespread, and various platforms such as social networking services and online forums have developed.
Companies are careful about online troubles to avoid online backlash and reputational damage, and one of the problems that has become a concern is defamation and slander against the company by former employees.
This time, we will discuss appropriate countermeasures to prevent companies from suffering damage due to slander and defamation by former employees.
We will introduce methods for prevention.

1. Can slander and defamation by former employees lead to reputational damage?

Defamation and slander against a company by former employees can cause significant damage to the business and must be dealt with appropriately.
For example, if defamatory comments are posted on job review sites or social media, regardless of whether the content is true or false, negative information can spread, potentially causing reputational damage.
This could damage the company’s image and lead to a decline in sales , and it might also cause job seekers to see the post and decide against applying .
If it’s revealed that the post came from a former employee, the information’s credibility will likely increase .
In today’s world, where social media and other platforms are prevalent, there are many places where people can post anonymously, and negative information tends to spread easily.
A casual post made by a former employee with malicious intent could potentially cause reputational damage that impacts a company’s operations .

2. Measures that can be taken against defamation and slander from former employees

So, if you actually receive slander or defamation from a former employee, how should you deal with it?

2-1. File a deletion request

First and foremost, it’s crucial to prevent the information from spreading and the damage from escalating.
If you are subjected to defamation or slander, first verify the facts and then take action to have the offending post removed.
On social media and review sites, if content violates the media’s rules or guidelines , it may be possible to have it removed by submitting a request through a form or similar means.
Furthermore, if the poster’s identity is known, it may be possible to send a notice to them requesting the content be removed.

2-2. Filing a Disclosure Request

If you suffer harm as a result of a post, you can pursue legal action, but this requires that the person you are pursuing can be identified.
If the post is anonymous and you don’t know who made it, you can identify the sender by filing a request for disclosure of sender information .
The disclosure request process involves first requesting the IP address from the media outlet where the content was posted, and then using that information to request disclosure of personal information from the internet service provider.

2-3. Claim for damages/criminal prosecution

Once the poster is identified, it is possible to file a claim for damages for the resulting losses or if a crime such as defamation or fraudulent obstruction of business has occurred, to file a criminal complaint .
While the claim for damages will be negotiated with the former employee who made the post, if a settlement cannot be reached, a lawsuit can be filed.

3. Methods to prevent slander and defamation from former employees

While it is necessary to strictly pursue accountability if defamation occurs, the most important thing for companies to avoid suffering damage is to prevent defamation from happening in the first place .
Here are some ways to prevent slander and defamation from former employees:

Let’s take a closer look at each of them.

3-1. Ensure that internal company rules are properly established.

First, it’s crucial to establish clear internal rules to prevent unauthorized postings and information leaks.
To prevent the leakage of confidential company information and customer data, as well as the infringement of privacy, establish rules regarding information management and internet use , and clearly state them in the company’s employment regulations and employment contracts.
It’s a good idea to establish internal guidelines regarding the use of social media and other platforms.

3-2. Conduct employee education and training.

All employees must be familiar with the company’s internet usage guidelines and possess a strong understanding of internet literacy.
Let’s conduct regular education and training on information management and internet literacy.
During training, it is important to also explain the risks that posting such content could pose to the company, as well as the legal responsibilities that may arise afterward.

3-3. Improving the workplace environment, including measures against harassment

When former employees post defamatory comments or negative remarks about their company after leaving, it can sometimes be due to stress they experienced in the work environment.
If harassment or other forms of harassment actually occur, some people will likely post about it to expose it.
To prevent this from happening, one measure is to prevent harassment and create a comfortable working environment .
Specific methods that can be effective include establishing communication and consultation systems, such as setting up service counters, and conducting regular surveys, so that problems can be detected early if they occur.

3-4. Confidentiality pledge

One measure to prevent information leaks by departing employees is to have them sign a confidentiality agreement upon their departure .
A confidentiality agreement requires an employee to pledge not to disclose or use company confidential information after leaving the company. This not only helps avoid the risk of trouble, but also allows for the possibility of securing compensation for damages or deletion of information in the event of a leak.

3-5. Monitoring of social media, etc.

In the event of defamatory or libelous posts, monitoring measures on social media and other platforms are effective in preventing the information from spreading and causing reputational damage .
By monitoring the internet, you can detect potentially risky posts early and take swift action .
While it’s possible to perform these tasks in-house using visual inspections and tools, this requires specialized knowledge, so it’s recommended to entrust the task to a specialized company for more effective results.

4. Leave the countermeasures against slander and reputational damage from former employees to “Brand Cloud”.

As we have discussed, defamation and slander by former employees carry a significant risk of leading to reputational damage.
Measures such as social media monitoring can be more effectively implemented by entrusting them to a specialized security company.
For countermeasures against reputational damage, please entrust them to our company, “Brand Cloud.”
Our company offers a service called “Brand Security” to help resolve such situations.
“Brand Security” utilizes AI-powered reputation monitoring to detect risks such as negative publicity early on, and 
employs unique measures that can adapt to the ever-changing algorithms of the internet in order to improve and prevent negative damage such as defamation and reputational damage.
Brand Cloud’s distinguishing feature is its ability to effectively protect corporate activities from a wide range of online troubles through such highly successful strategies and extensive know-how .
Furthermore, negative information such as slander and defamation can spread incredibly quickly and pose a risk of affecting every corner of the internet .
For example, it might be displayed in places that many people will see, such as in the suggestions section.
Our brand cloud service also offers free surveys that comprehensively investigate various reputation risks like these .
Please feel free to contact us for a consultation.

5. Summary

In this article, we provided a detailed explanation of how to deal with and prevent reputational damage caused by slander and defamation against former employees.
Defamatory remarks made by former employees are easily believed by users who see them, and can cause significant harm to a company, such as damage to its image.
Please use this article as a reference and take appropriate preventative measures.
If you want to take more effective measures to prepare for risks, please use Brand Cloud.