Five Options for When an Ex-Employee Trashes You Online

“This restaurant stinks! The food is awful and the manager is worse! Employees are treated like garbage – which is just what the food is!”In the social media age, where everyone has an Internet-wide megaphone with which to amplify their gripes, almost every restaurant has been the target of this sort of attack. 

It’s bad enough when the complaints come from a dissatisfied customer. But when the accusations are made by an employee, they come with the authority of someone with inside knowledge. The business’s reputation can take a major hit.

Is there anything that can be done?

Here are five options to consider when your eatery – and your livelihood – are taking a beating on line.

Ignore It and It’ll Go AwayThis is what your mom told you to do with bullies at school.

Pros: Sometimes responding to a story starves it of air. If you don’t pay attention, neither will other people, and the complaint will just get drowned out in the Internet din.

Cons: If it gets traction…