As a business owner, discovering a negative review from a former employee can be frustrating. Fortunately, Google has policies against conflict of interest reviews, and there's a clear process to request removal. This guide will walk you through exactly what to do.

Step 1: Understand What Violates Google's Policies

Before taking action, verify that the review breaks Google's guidelines. Employee reviews typically violate the "conflict of interest" policy.

Examples of prohibited reviews:

  • A current or former employee reviewing their own workplace

  • A competitor posting a negative review of your business

  • Reviews containing hate speech, personal attacks, or off-topic content

Pro tip: Visit Google's Review Policy and take a screenshot of the specific policy being violated to reference in your request.

Step 2: Access Your Google Business Profile

  1. Go to business.google.com

  2. Sign in with the Google account that manages your business listing

  3. If you manage multiple locations, select the specific location with the problematic review

Example: If you own "Joe's Plumbing" with locations in Dallas and Richardson, make sure you select the correct location where the employee worked.

Step 3: Find the Problematic Review

  1. Click on "Reviews" in the left sidebar menu

  2. Scroll through your reviews or use the search function if available

  3. Document important details about the review:

    • Reviewer's name

    • Date posted

    • Exact content of the review

    • How you know this person was an employee (dates of employment, etc.)

Step 4: Flag the Review for Removal

Here's the fastest way to request removal:

  1. Find the review in question

  2. Click the three dots (⋮) next to the review

  3. Select "Flag as inappropriate"

  4. Choose the most appropriate reason:

    • For employee reviews, select "Conflict of interest"

    • If that option isn't available, choose "Other" and explain

  5. Complete any additional information requested and submit

Real example: "I'm flagging this review because John Smith was employed at our Dallas location as a technician from March 2023 to January 2025. Google's review policy prohibits current or former employees from posting reviews of their workplace."

Step 5: Contact Google Support Directly (If Needed)

If flagging doesn't work within 7 days, try direct contact:

  1. From your Google Business Profile dashboard, click "Support" or "Help & Support" (usually in the bottom left corner)

  2. Select "Contact us" or "Need more help?"

  3. Choose "Reviews and photos" → "Remove reviews"

  4. Select your preferred contact method (phone or chat)

  5. When connected with support:

    • Be polite but direct

    • Explain: "I'm contacting you about a review from a former employee that violates Google's conflict of interest policy"

    • Provide the reviewer's name, date of review, and your evidence of employment

    • Reference Google's specific policy

What to say: "Hello, I'm [Your Name], owner of [Business Name]. We have a review from [Reviewer Name] posted on [Date] that violates Google's conflict of interest policy as this person worked for us from [Start Date] to [End Date] as a [Position]. I've already flagged the review on [Date] but it hasn't been removed. Could you please help me with this situation?"

Step 6: Document and Follow-Up

  1. Take screenshots of:

    • The review itself

    • Your flagging submission confirmation

    • Any communication with Google support

  2. Note the date, time, and support representative's name for each interaction

  3. If no action is taken within 2 weeks of contacting support, follow up through the same channel

  4. Reference your previous case number or support interaction

Final Tips for Success

  • Be patient: Google's review process can take 1-2 weeks

  • Stay professional: Never respond negatively to the review while waiting for removal

  • Consider prevention: Implement an exit interview process that reminds departing employees about review policies

  • Have evidence ready: Employment records, payroll information, or other documentation proving the reviewer worked for you

Remember that while Google generally removes reviews that clearly violate their policies, they make the final determination in each case. By following these steps and clearly documenting the conflict of interest, you'll maximize your chances of having inappropriate employee reviews removed from your Google Business Profile.