Dispute Process
Last updated: June 1, 2025
The Respect Index is committed to accuracy and fairness. We provide a formal dispute process for companies that believe a specific report contains false statements of verifiable fact. This process is not a mechanism to remove negative opinions or unflattering reviews — it is a mechanism to address factual inaccuracies.
Who can file a dispute
Disputes may be filed by a verified representative of the company named in the report. Individuals filing on behalf of a company must provide documentation of their authority to act on the company's behalf, including company email address, title, and a signed attestation. Anonymous dispute filings are not accepted. Any dispute filed must be brought within one (1) year of the date the report was first published. Disputes filed after this period will not be reviewed.
What qualifies for dispute
A dispute must identify a specific, verifiable statement of fact in the report that you contend is false — for example, a claim that a specific event occurred on a specific date that company records contradict, supported by documentary evidence. The standard for removal is knowing falsity of a verifiable fact, not mere negativity, unflattering characterization, or disagreement with the submitter's opinion or experience.
What does not qualify for dispute
The following are not grounds for removal under this process: negative opinions about the hiring experience; low scores or ratings; reports that are critical but do not contain verifiable false statements of fact; reports that identify a pattern of behavior even if the company disputes the characterization; reports submitted by former employees about separation experiences; and reports whose removal is sought solely because they affect the company's score or reputation. Courts have consistently held that reviews expressing opinions about employment experiences are protected speech under the First Amendment and California law.
How to file a dispute
Send your dispute to dispute@therespectindex.com with the subject line "Formal Dispute — [Company Name]." Your dispute must include: (1) the URL of the specific report you are disputing; (2) the exact statement or statements you contend are false; (3) the documentary evidence supporting your claim of falsity; (4) your full name, title, company email address, and a statement confirming your authority to act on behalf of the company; and (5) a declaration signed under penalty of perjury that the information you have provided is accurate and complete to the best of your knowledge. Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.
Our review process and timeline
We will acknowledge receipt of your dispute within 5 business days. We will complete our review within 30 business days of receiving a complete submission. During that period we may, at our sole discretion, contact the original report submitter to provide a response. We will notify you of our decision in writing. Our editorial decisions are final. We are not required to disclose the identity of report submitters at any stage of this process.
Possible outcomes
Following review, we may: (a) find that the dispute does not meet the standard for removal and take no action; (b) add an editorial note to the report indicating a company dispute was filed and reviewed; (c) correct a specific factual inaccuracy while retaining the remainder of the report; or (d) in rare cases where a report is found to contain knowing false statements of verifiable fact with clear documentary evidence, remove the report in whole or in part. We do not remove reports based on legal threats, demand letters, or DMCA notices that mischaracterize opinion as copyrightable content.
Legal requests and formal process
We respect valid legal process. Attorneys acting on behalf of a company who believe a report meets the legal standard for defamation under applicable law may submit a formal legal request to legal@therespectindex.com. All formal legal process will be reviewed through counsel. Filing a legal action against The Respect Index for publishing user-submitted content may trigger California's anti-SLAPP statute, potentially requiring the filing party to pay our attorneys' fees and costs if the action is found to arise from protected speech or petition activity.
Company response option
As an alternative or supplement to the dispute process, verified company representatives may submit a public response to any report on their company profile. Responses are published alongside the original report and clearly labeled as the company's official response. This option is available regardless of dispute outcome and is often a more effective and faster tool for reputation management than content removal. To request access to the company response feature, contact dispute@therespectindex.com with your name, title, and company email address.