![]() ![]() I'm at work right now, and it isn't busy. And that gives them a lot of power.and it can be abusive. "I think has destroyed some people's businesses, and it gives a very big voice to people who don't deserve one. "What I see most often is asshole customers who use it as a tool to intimidate people who work in service," he says. One Los Angeles bartender who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution from his employer or, worse, a bad Yelp review, says customers recognize the power of Yelp, and use it to intimidate workers. Employees, especially those in the service industry, have been forced to grapple with the potential job-ending reality of a one-star review. There's an exemption in regard to contracts between employers and employees-an employee can't leave a Yelp review claiming the boss smells like roast beef sandwiches-and the same goes for independent contractors.īut it isn't only businesses feeling the impact of negative reviews. The new act, if signed into law by Obama, does have a couple loopholes for businesses. Yelp’s response to the rise in lawsuits from businesses. ![]() As a reminder, reviewers who share their experiences have a first Amendment right to express their opinions on Yelp." Yelp's response to the rise in lawsuits from businesses has led to it putting a warning on Yelp pages, stating: "This business may be trying to abuse the legal system in an effort to stifle free speech, including issuing questionable legal threats against reviews. ![]() The business claimed it suffered ".irreparable and continued.libelous and slanderous harm," and sought $6,700 in damages. In 2014, a hotel in New York charged patrons $500 for the same reason, citing a "gag clause" they agreed to upon making the reservation.Ī Texas couple hired Prestigious Pets to watch their two dogs and a fish, but were unsatisfied with the service-the fish's water got cloudy-and left a negative review. Early next year, the California Supreme Court will hear a case brought by a San Francisco law firm that sued Yelp for negative reviews. In recent years, businesses have been suing customers for leaving false or harsh reviews. The bill would empower the Federal Trade Commission and the states to enforce it. Soon, President Barack Obama is expected to sign the legislation into law. It also says "gag clauses" that place financial liability on consumers for speaking negatively about a business or service are illegal in contracts. On December 2, Congress approved the Consumer Review Freedom Act, which says it's illegal for businesses to hold people accountable for their reviews, legally or financially. Now Congress says that, yes, you do have a legal right to complain online about pomegranate-flavored FroYo, or to leave an erotic review of your CrossFit instructor. Some businesses have sued customers-and Yelp-saying online reviews are irrational and harmful for their bottom line, while the reviewers say it's their First Amendment right to complain about their pizza having too much crust. Leaving a bad Yelp review is the modern version of asking, "Can I speak with your manager?" It's the ultimate way to vent, justified or not, when you aren't given enough chicken from the person at the drive-thru. ![]()
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