Privacy Policy

You value your privacy. That’s cool. The Employer Handbook does too. This Privacy Policy will explain what happens with certain information you provide.

You might even say that we’re an open (The Employer Hand)book.

[cue slow clap]

While I don’t disclaim bad jokes, there are plenty of those in The Employer Handbook, there is also an official Disclaimer. You should read that too.

Now, let’s get back to the Privacy Policy…

The Employer Handbook collects information

Hey, I’m just an employment lawyer who happens to have a bad-ass blog. But, on the real, I’m not much of a technophile. The folks who built this blog (hereinafter “Blog Tech Nerds“) tell me that The Employer Handbook may collect certain information about visitors to the site, even when you’re not logged in. For example, The Employer Handbook may record your IP address, the browser you are using, the country, state, or city from which you access this blog, the URLs of the websites and pages you visit (before, during, and after your visit to this blog), the times and dates of such visits, information about the computer hardware and software you use, and other information that may be available. The blog also collects information that you provide voluntarily. Providing this information is completely voluntary. (Duh!) Please do not submit sensitive personal information. Just don’t!

The Employer Handbook uses Google Analytics. Want to know more about Google’s Data Privacy and Security for Analytics? Click here.

And while the Blog Tech Nerds toil to develop The Employer Handbook Crystal Ball — Hurry up, nerds! — The Employer Handbook uses a service called MailChimp to manage email subscriptions. You can check out Mailchimp’s privacy policy here. If you want to subscribe to receive email updates from The Employer Handbook, you’ll be asked to complete a sign-up form. It’s self-explanatory, and you’ll have to provide certain information (your name, email, etc.). If you choose not to provide such information, you may not be permitted to access certain website features, content, or services. If you want to stop receiving email updates, just unsubscribe. Or email The Employer Handbook and I’ll take care of it for you.

From time to time, you may have to provide other personally identifying information. But don’t worry. You’ll never need to put a Post-It Note on your laptop webcam when visiting The Employer Handbook. I’m not that creepy. Eww.

Cookies (not the chocolate-chip variety)

The Blog Tech Nerds have also informed me that The Employer Handbook may place “cookies” on your computer to recognize you on return visits to enhance your browsing experience, as well as to collect additional information about you. What are cookies? #TheMoreYouKnow.

Fortunately, this isn’t communist Russia, and you have a choice. You may adjust your browser settings or use other means to prevent cookies from being placed on your computer, but doing so may result in reduced functionality and a less personalized browsing experience.

What does The Employer Handbook do with all of this information?

Not much, really.

But, the plan is that when The Employer Handbook uses your information, it’s to do things like improving your browsing experience by personalizing the website and selecting content and services that you may find interesting and useful. The Employer Handbook also uses it so that the Blog Tech Nerds and I can administer the blog. Information about the content you visit and services you use may be used alone or in conjunction with information collected from other users to help tailor The Employer Handbook and its other products and services to suit better the needs and interests of you and other users.

From time to time, The Employer Handbook may disclose information about you to carefully selected service providers engaged to host his website or to provide other services, but only with the reasonable expectation that those service providers use the information solely to provide the specified services and otherwise to conform to the requirements of this Privacy Policy.

Information that you provide may also be used to keep you informed about events and selected products and services that may be of interest to you. Theoretically, you may be contacted with information from carefully selected third parties, but The Employer Handbook will not provide information to third parties for such purposes unless you authorize it first.

That’s about it. Except as provided in this Privacy Policy, The Employer Handbook will not knowingly provide your information to third parties for any other purpose, including marketing.

Oh, wait! There is an exception. The Employer Handbook may disclose information (within or outside your country of residence) if there is a good faith belief that disclosure is necessary by law or the legal process to protect and defend the interests of The Employer Handbook or others’ interests or property. For example, if the police, government, or some other regulatory authority come calling, The Employer Handbook intends to squeal like a pig and reserves the right to disclose any information.

Legal Grounds for Processing Your Personal Data

The Employer Handbook relies on the following legal grounds to process your personal information:

Consent. The Employer Handbook may use your personal data as described in this Privacy Policy subject to your consent. To withdraw your consent, please email The Employer Handbook.
Legitimate Interests. The Employer Handbook may use your personal information for legitimate interests to provide services and to improve services and the content on the blog. The Employer Handbook may use technical information as described in this Privacy Policy and use personal information for marketing purposes consistent with these legitimate interests and any choices that The Employer Handbook offers or consents that may be required under applicable law.

Your European Privacy Rights and Choices

If you reside or otherwise find yourself in the territory of Europe, The Employer Handbook is committed to facilitating the exercise of your rights granted by the European Data Protection law. Otherwise, you can contact us at any time to discuss your privacy concerns.
Privacy rights under the European data protection law include:

Transparency and the right to information. This policy explains how The Employer Handbook may use and share your information. However, if you have questions or need additional information, please email The Employer Handbook.
Right of access, restriction of processing, erasure. You may contact The Employer Handbook to request information about the personal data that The Employer Handbook has collected from you and to request the correction, modification, or deletion of such personal information. The Employer Handbook will take reasonable steps to honor such requests, subject to any legal, ethical, and contractual obligations. To make a request or to ask us a question about our data practices, please email The Employer Handbook.
Right to withdraw your consent at any time. When The Employer Handbook processes your personal data based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw it at any time.
Right to object at any time. You have the right to object at any time to receiving marketing or promotional materials from us by either following the opt-out instructions in The Employer Handbook e-mails or by emailing The Employer Handbook, as well as the right to object to any processing of your personal data based on your specific situation. In the latter case, The Employer Handbook will assess your request and provide a reply in a timely manner, according to the blog’s legal, ethical, and contractual obligations.
Right to data portability. You have the right to data portability of your own personal data by emailing The Employer Handbook.
Right not to be subject to an automated decision, including profiling. We do not make automated decisions using your personal data that may negatively impact you.
Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. If you consider that the processing of your personal data infringes your privacy rights according to the European Privacy regulation, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority in the member state of your habitual residence, place of work, or place of the alleged infringement.

Children’s Privacy

The Employer Handbook is a general audience site and does not offer services directed to children. Should an individual whom we know to be a child under the age of 18 send personal information to us, we will delete or destroy such information as soon as reasonably possible.

California Disclosures

California Information-Sharing Disclosure: California residents may request a list of all third parties with respect to which The Employer Handbook has disclosed any information about you for direct marketing purposes and the categories of information disclosed. If you are a California resident and want such a list, email The Employer Handbook with “California Privacy Rights” in the subject line.
California Do Not Track Disclosure: Depending on the browser you are using, you may be able to choose to block third-party cookies or browse in a private browsing mode. The Employer Handbook is accessible even when private browsing is turned on. The information we collect is governed by this Privacy Policy.

Retention Periods and Protection of Your Personal Data

The Employer Handbook retains the personal data collected through the blog for so long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes for which the data was collected, to perform any contractual, legal, and ethical obligations, and/or for any applicable statute of limitations periods.

The Employer Handbook takes reasonable administrative, physical, and technical precautions to protect your personal data and communications between us. This includes, when required or as deemed appropriate and feasible under the circumstances, written commitments from third parties that may have access to your data that they will protect the data with safeguards that are substantially equivalent to those used by The Employer Handbook. No Internet or e-mail transmission is ever fully secure or error-free, however. There are no guarantees of absolute security of your data, and The Employer Handbook is not responsible for processes and networks that The Employer Handbook does not control and for unauthorized access to information by those who have gained access through illegal means.

Additional Services

From time to time, additional services are offered through The Employer Handbook. In some cases, additional services may be subject to alternative terms of use, and your use of any such services will constitute your acceptance of such alternative terms of use. Unless otherwise stated, such alternative terms of use shall apply to supplement this Agreement, and in the context of any conflicting terms, this Agreement shall govern with respect to The Employer Handbook, content, and services, excepting only those services which are expressly covered, and then only to the extent so expressly covered, by such alternative terms.

Information Sent by Way of the Website is Not Secure

Any information sent by e-mail or through the website is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis. Any information you send over the Internet, either through his website or via email, is done at your own risk.

Information about International Transfers

If you are visiting The Employer Handbook from outside the United States, please be aware that your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed on servers owned and or operated by the Blog Tech Nerds. The data protection and other laws of the United States and other countries might not be as comprehensive as those in your country. By visiting The Employer Handbook or using services of The Employer Handbook, you understand that your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed on servers of the Blog Tech Nerds and third parties with whom that information is shared as described in this Privacy Policy.

Links to Other Sites

Often, The Employer Handbook includes links to third-party sites on the blog. The inclusion of any link does not imply that The Employer Handbook endorses the products and services offered at such linked site. These third-party sites have separate and independent privacy policies, which The Employer Handbook encourages you to review. Therefore, The Employer Handbook is not responsible or liable for the content and activities of these linked sites.

Privacy Policy Updates

The Employer Handbook may update this Privacy Policy from time to time in The Employer Handbook’s sole discretion to reflect changes in information practices. If the Privacy Policy is modified or updated, those changes and updates will be posted on The Employer Handbook so that you will always be aware of what information The Employer Handbook collects, uses and discloses. Your continued use of The Employer Handbook after any changes to this Privacy Policy indicates your agreement with the terms of the revised Privacy Policy. Please review this Privacy Policy periodically and especially before you provide personal data to The Employer Handbook. The date of the last update of the Privacy Policy is indicated at the bottom of this Privacy Policy.

Disclaimer

Did you skip the Disclaimer? Come on! Read it!

Questions? Comments? How can I help you?

Email me (eric.meyer@gmail.com)

[Last Updated December 27, 2023]