Removing a Kununu Review: How the Verification Procedure Works
Kununu reviews – like Google reviews – cannot be deleted directly, but they can be reported: the "report review" function triggers kununu's internal verification procedure. During the check, the review is usually temporarily deactivated. Reports have good prospects for untrue factual claims, insults and a missing employment relationship – merely negative opinions stay online. The decision is made solely by kununu. Important: justify the report concretely and factually; blanket complaints rarely lead to removal.
Kununu is to employers what Google is to customer relationships: the first place applicants go to form a picture. A single devastating review – possibly from someone who never worked at the company – can cost applications there for years.
The good news: kununu has an established verification procedure for contested reviews. The bad news: it only works if you use it properly.
Which kununu reviews are reportable?
| Content of the review | Reportable? |
|---|---|
| Author never had an employment relationship (nor an application process) | Yes – kununu requires a genuine connection to the company |
| Untrue factual claims ("wages aren't paid") | Yes – facts must be verifiable |
| Insults, defamatory criticism, naming individuals disparagingly | Yes – violation of the community guidelines |
| Disclosure of trade secrets or personal data | Yes |
| Harsh but factual criticism of leadership, pay or culture | No – permissible opinion |
| Poor star rating without text | Usually no – opinion without a factual core |
The key difference to Google: kununu reviews are anonymous, and kununu protects that anonymity. Under case law, however, the platform must check on a substantiated complaint whether the review comes from a person with a genuine connection to the company – if the author can't prove it, the review is removed.
How to report a kununu review – step by step
- Document: Screenshot of the review with date. Check internally: does the account match a real event? Are there hints at the identity (department, period, phrasing)?
- Report: Next to each review, kununu offers a "report review" function (flag icon or three-dot menu). Choose the appropriate reporting reason.
- Justify: Describe concretely which statement violates the guidelines and why – e.g. "Claim X is an untrue factual claim, verifiable by Y" or "No employment relationship can be matched". Blanket expressions of displeasure aren't enough.
- Await the check: kununu usually deactivates contested reviews temporarily during the check and asks the author for a statement or proof. If they don't respond in time with evidence, the review stays offline.
- Document the result: If the review is reactivated, serious allegations (untrue facts, defamatory criticism) can still be pursued via a legal review.
Realistic expectations
Kununu decides independently – there is no guarantee, and factual criticism generally stays up. The strongest lever is the anonymity check: if the author cannot prove a connection to the company, the review ends up permanently offline. In parallel, the usual rule applies: an actively maintained profile with employer replies and fresh, genuine reviews puts individual outliers into perspective more powerfully than any report.
By the way: former employees who dump their frustration on your Google profile instead of kununu violate the policies there (conflict of interest) – the article on a former employee writing a negative Google review shows how to detect and report such cases. For Google reviews, Sternehero automates the reporting process self-service.
Can I have a kununu review deleted?+
Not directly. You can report the review to kununu; the platform checks against its own guidelines and decides. For untrue facts, defamatory criticism or a missing employment relationship the prospects are good – permissible opinions stay online.
How long does kununu's check take?+
Usually a few days to a few weeks. During the check the review is mostly not publicly visible. If the author doesn't respond to the request for a statement, it stays offline.
Will I learn who wrote the review?+
No. Kununu does not disclose authors' identities. The platform checks internally whether a genuine company connection exists – you learn the outcome, not the identity.
Does Sternehero also cover kununu reviews?+
No. Sternehero specialises in reporting non-compliant Google reviews. You submit kununu reports directly to the platform – the steps above walk you through the process.
This article does not constitute legal advice and describes the platforms' reporting processes to the best of our knowledge. Every report is decided solely by the respective platform.
