Privacy

Your privacy is important to Supporting Strategies. Our goal is to provide you with an online experience that provides you with the information, resources, and services that are most relevant and helpful to you. This Supporting Strategies Online Privacy Statement (the “Privacy Statement”) has been written to describe the conditions under which this website and other online Supporting Strategies resources, such as our WorkPlace product (collectively, the “Website”), are being made available to you. The Privacy Statement discusses, among other things, how data obtained during your visit to this Website may be collected and used. We strongly recommend that you read the Privacy Statement carefully. By using this Website, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Privacy Statement. If you do not accept the terms of the Privacy Statement, you are directed to discontinue accessing or otherwise using the Website or any materials obtained from it. If you are dissatisfied with the Website, by all means contact us at [email protected]; otherwise, you should disconnect from the Website and refrain from using it in the future. (Note that, even if you stop using this Website, you have certain rights regarding use of your personal data, which are described below.)

The process of maintaining a Website is an evolving one, and Supporting Strategies may decide at some point in the future, without advance notice, to modify the terms of this Privacy Statement. Your use of the Website, or materials obtained from the Website, indicates your assent to the Privacy Statement at the time of such use. The effective Privacy Statement will be posted on the Website, and you should check upon every visit for any changes.

Sites Covered by this Privacy Statement

This Privacy Statement applies to all Supporting Strategies-maintained Websites, domains, information portals, registries and other online resources and products, and Supporting Strategies may from time to time require users of specific portals or other resources to agree to corresponding additional terms and conditions. If the terms of this Privacy Statement conflict with such other terms and conditions, such other terms and conditions shall govern to the extent necessary to resolve such conflicts.

Children’s Privacy

Supporting Strategies is committed to protecting the privacy needs of children, and we encourage parents and guardians to take an active role in their children’s online activities and interests. Supporting Strategies does not intentionally collect information from children under the age of 16, and Supporting Strategies does not target the Website to children.

Links to Non-Supporting Strategies Websites

Supporting Strategies’ Website may provide links to third-party websites for the convenience of our users. If you access those links, you will leave Supporting Strategies’ Website. Supporting Strategies does not control these third-party websites and cannot represent that their policies and practices will be consistent with this Privacy Statement. For example, other websites may collect or use personal information about you in a manner different from that described in this document. Therefore, you should use other websites with caution, and you do so at your own risk. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any website before submitting personal information.

Types of Information We Collect

Non-Personal Information

Non-personal information is data about usage and service operation that is not directly associated with a specific personal identity, although Supporting Strategies does collect and use Internet Protocol Addresses (IP addresses) to track use of our services between sessions. Supporting Strategies may collect and analyze non-personal information to evaluate how visitors use Supporting Strategies’ Website.

Aggregate Information

Supporting Strategies may gather aggregate information, which refers to information your computer automatically provides to us and which is not tied back to you as a specific individual. Examples include referral data (the Websites you visited just before and just after our site), the pages viewed, and time spent at our Website.

Cookies

Our site may use a feature of your browser to set a “cookie” on your computer. Cookies are small packets of information that a website stores on your computer. Supporting Strategies Website can then read the cookies whenever you visit our site. We may use cookies in a number of ways, such as to save your password so you don’t have to re-enter it each time you visit the Website (including our WorkPlace product), to deliver content specific to your interests and to track the pages you’ve visited. These cookies allow us to use the information we collect to customize your Supporting Strategies experience so that your visit to our site is as relevant and as valuable to you as possible.

Most browser software can be set up to deal with cookies. You may modify your browser preference to provide you with choices relating to cookies. You have the choice to accept all cookies, to be notified when a cookie is set or to reject all cookies. If you choose to reject cookies, certain of the functions and conveniences of our Website may not work properly, and you may be unable to use those Supporting Strategies services that require registration in order to participate, or you will have to re-register each time you visit our site. Most browsers offer instructions on how to reset the browser to reject cookies in the “Help” section of the toolbar. We do not link non-personal information from cookies to personally identifiable information without your permission.

Personal Information

Personal information (“Personal Data”) is information that is associated with your name or personal identity. In general, Supporting Strategies uses personal information to provide you with better service. The specific uses for Personal Data collected on the Website is described on the pages where such data is collected.  The types of personal information you provide to us on these pages may include name, address, phone number, email address, user IDs, passwords, and billing information. By providing this information, you are able to request and/or download information or materials, subscribe to mailing lists, participate in online discussions, collaborate on documents, provide feedback, submit information into registries, register for events, or use our products and services. We collect this information so we can contact you or send you requested materials (such as with requested documents or subscriptions to mailing lists) and to identify you to us or others (such as applications to register for events or use our WorkPlace product), and to bill you for requested services or materials. You may always elect not to provide your Personal Data to us, but that will limit your ability to participate in these activities or benefit from these services.

Personal Data will not be kept for longer than is necessary for the purpose (s) for which it was collected. In some cases, it is not possible for us to specify in advance the periods for which your personal data will be retained. Notwithstanding this, we may retain your Personal Data where such retention is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which we are subject, or in order to protect your vital interests or the vital interests of another person.

Company Information

Company information is information that is associated with the name and address of Supporting Strategies customers and franchisees and may include data about usage and service operation. The primary representative of any such organization may request usage reports to gauge the extent of their employees’ involvement in company activities. You will be notified if personal data about you is submitted to Supporting Strategies.

How We Use Your Information

Supporting Strategies may use non-personal data that is aggregated for reporting about Supporting Strategies Website usability, performance, and effectiveness. It may be used to improve the experience, usability, and content of the site.

Supporting Strategies may use personal information to offer or provide services that support its activities or those of Supporting Strategies customers or franchisees, or to provide you with electronic newsletters, announcements, surveys or other information. When accessing restricted Supporting Strategies Web pages and portals, your personal user information may be tracked in order to support collaboration, ensure authorized access, and enable communication among customers and franchisees.

Information Sharing

Supporting Strategies does not sell, rent, or lease any individual’s personal information or lists of email addresses to anyone for marketing purposes, and we take commercially reasonable steps to maintain the security of this information.  Your information may be shared with vendors and business partners to process your personal data.  Supporting Strategies uses vendors in connection with functions such as Contact Management, Talent Applicant Tracking, Background Checks, Bill Payment and Processing, Invoice Payment and Processing, Payroll Management, Bookkeeping Management, Contract Management, Financial Reporting, Document Management, Expense Reporting, Time Tracking, and Support Ticket Management.

Further, Supporting Strategies reserves the right to supply any such information to any organization into which Supporting Strategies may merge in the future or to which it may make any transfer in order to enable a third party to continue part or all of the company’s business. We also reserve the right to release personal information to protect our systems or business, when we reasonably believe you have initiated or participated in any illegal activity. In addition, please be aware that in certain circumstances, Supporting Strategies may be obligated to release your personal information pursuant to judicial or other government subpoenas, warrants, or other orders.

Please remember that any information (including personal information) that you disclose in public areas of our Website, such as forums, message boards, and news groups, becomes public information that others may collect, circulate, and use. Because we cannot and do not control the acts of others, you should exercise caution when deciding to disclose information about yourself or others in public forums such as these.

Given the international scope of Supporting Strategies, personal information may be visible to persons outside your country of residence, including to persons in countries that your own country’s privacy laws and regulations deem deficient in ensuring an adequate level of protection for such information. If you are unsure whether this privacy statement is in conflict with applicable local rules, you should not submit your information.

Access to and Accuracy of Information

Supporting Strategies is committed to keeping the personal information of our participating and member organizations accurate. All the information you have submitted to us can be verified and changed. In order to do this, please email us a request at [email protected]. We may provide franchisees online access to their customers’ information or that of their employees, enabling them to update or delete information at any time. To protect your privacy and security, we also may take reasonable steps to verify identity, such as requiring a user ID and password to access or modify personal profile data. Certain areas of Supporting Strategies’ Websites may limit access to specific individuals through the use of passwords or other personal identifiers; a password prompt is your indication that a restricted resource is being accessed.

Security

Supporting Strategies uses a variety of means to protect personal information provided by users of the Website, including using firewalls and other security measures on its servers. No server, however, is 100% secure, and you should take this into account when submitting personal or confidential information about yourself on any Website, including this one. Supporting Strategies assumes no liability for the interception, alteration, use or misuse of the information you provide. You alone are responsible for maintaining the secrecy of your personal information. Please use care when you access this Website and provide personal information.

Opting Out

From time to time Supporting Strategies may email you electronic newsletters, announcements, surveys or other information. If you prefer not to receive any or all of these communications, you may opt out by following the directions provided within the electronic newsletters and announcements.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Compliance

If you are a resident of or are located in the European Economic Area (“EEA”), you may also have certain rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).  Personal Data you provide on any of Supporting Strategies’ website is only collected with your consent, and may be transmitted outside of the EEA to Supporting Strategies (or computer servers maintained for the benefit of Supporting Strategies) pursuant to that consent.

In general, under the GDPR you may:

• request access to your Personal Data
• have incomplete or incorrect data corrected
• have your Personal Data deleted
• suspend or restrict our use of your Personal Data, or withdraw your consent
• request a copy of your Personal Data
• complain to a supervisory authority if you believe your rights under the GDPR are not being respected

Should you request a copy of your Personal Data, we will supply to you a copy of your personal data. The first copy will be provided free of charge, but additional copies may be subject to a reasonable fee.  Should you request the deletion of your Personal Data, Supporting Strategies will generally do so as soon as practicable, although your right to have your Personal Data deleted is subject to exceptions, such as, for example, compliance with a legal obligation or for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims.

If you consider that our processing of your personal information infringes data protection laws, you have a legal right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority responsible for data protection. You may do so in the EU member state of your habitual residence, your place of work or the place of the alleged infringement.

Contact [email protected] if you have concerns regarding your Personal Data, or wish to exercise any of these listed rights.

Note that, if you are in the EEA, we may transfer your Personal Data outside of the EEA, including to the United States.  By way of example, this may happen if your Personal Data is transferred to our servers located in a country outside of the EEA. These countries may not have similar data protection laws to the EEA. By submitting Personal Data, you’re agreeing to this transfer, storing or processing. If we transfer your information outside of the EEA in this way, we will take steps to ensure that appropriate security measures are taken with the aim of ensuring that your privacy rights continue to be protected as outlined in this policy.

Contacting Us

Questions about this Privacy Statement can be directed to [email protected].