Indeed: How to Prevent Accounts from Getting Banned
Purpose: The purpose of this Playbook is to explain in detail the different ways an account can be banned on Indeed and the exact verbiage and steps to avoid running into this issue
Discrepancies/Differences in the Pay/Job Ad compared to the Application Page:
Indeed requires us to follow the primary principles of posting a job
- The position must be the same on both job posting and the page that the job is linked to
- The pay must be written the same way on how it’s being displayed in the job details, the ad verbiage, and the application page itself
- The application must allow for the applicant to complete it without any issues or glitches
- If there is a calendar page, it MUST be working properly and connected correctly with no issues
- The application page is required to have an “up to date” Job ad that reflects the ad on Indeed exactly
- Must not have illegal requirements posted either in the job ad, title, or application such as these most common requirements:
- Must pass a background check
- Must pass a drug test
- See the Legal Considerations for Ads & Questions Playbook for more examples
- The company name must be exactly the same as the job posting and not misleading through a parent company (IE: using “Maid to Shine” Job ad to apply for the “Cleaner Living” parent company
- Avoid using verbiage that sounds similar to that of an MLM (Multi Level Marketing) Agency or Company, IE:
- “Make as much as you want”
- “Have qualified sales leads sent to you for a small fee”
- In general, the application process must be comfortable and smooth for the applicant on both desktop and mobile
Why they ban certain accounts (requiring employees to pay for something in order to work at the job):
Policy – Multi-Level Marketing Companies
Indeed Policy: We do not allow multi-level marketing (MLM) companies to post jobs on Indeed due to fees and risk of financial loss for job seekers.
One of the primary goals at Indeed is to protect job seekers from potential harm on our site. This means we remove certain types of jobs from our search results that may be exploitative. Sales positions at MLM companies are an example of non-corporate roles that aren’t allowed on Indeed due to their fees and profit structure.
MLMs may seem like traditional sales-oriented marketing companies but often operate on a fundamentally different business model. Many of these businesses profit from fees paid by new employees in addition to the sale of products or services. Often, only those at the top of the MLM structure can make a profit, and it’s common for most participants in MLM companies to lose money while participating.
Due to the upfront, ongoing, or hidden costs for job seekers and the high risk of financial loss, these opportunities don’t belong on Indeed.
Disclaimer: MLMs can be mistaken for pyramid schemes, but they are two very different business models. Please reference our Pyramid Scheme Policy if you have additional questions or need more information. Additionally, Indeed actively reviews job postings, and we retain the right to remove any jobs that we deem in violation of any of our policies.
Policy – Pyramid Schemes
Indeed Policy: We do not allow companies operating as pyramid schemes to post jobs on Indeed.
A pyramid scheme is a potentially misleading and illegal business model that may not benefit the job seeker. Pyramid schemes may advertise wealth and extravagant opportunities, but they often don’t sell a clear product and they encourage participants to recruit new “employees” who are required to make an “investment.” Participants in pyramid schemes typically lose money due to fees that are misleadingly characterized as investments, and the overall low-quality business model.
Why Pyramid Schemes are Problematic:
Rather than selling a product or service, these schemes generally sustain growth by requiring new hires to continually recruit new members. These schemes also typically require employees to “invest” in the company, and the company is unlikely to survive without these additional “investments”. This fee structure is what makes pyramid schemes fraudulent. The original hiring company continues to receive commissions from job seeker fees and most employees are unable to make money.
Disclaimer: Pyramid Schemes may be confused with Multi-Level Marketing companies (MLMs), but they are two very different business models. Please reference our MLM Policy if you have additional questions or need more information. Additionally, Indeed actively reviews job postings, and we retain the right to remove any jobs that we deem in violation of any of our policies.
Accounts may match a rule for banned staffing agencies if using any of the following quotes:
• Integrity – “We do what is right even when no one is watching.” – C.C. Lewis
• Excellence – “Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.” – Brooker T. Washington
• Professionalism – “Professionalism is knowing how to do it, when to do it, and doing it.” – Frank Tyger
• Teamwork – “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” – Michael Jordan
• Accountability – “Accountability is the glue that ties the commitment to results.” – Bob Proctor
• Respect – “Share our similarities, celebrate our differences.” – M. Scott Peck