Degesch America, Inc. and Degesch Canada, Inc. Privacy Policy

Degesch America, Inc. and Degesch Canada, Inc (collectively, “Degesch”) are committed to the proper management of the personal information of clients and others, and of all visitors to our website (the Site) that we collect, use and disclose in the course of business.

We have an obligation to maintain the confidentiality of information that we receive in providing services and products to our customers as well as for our employees. The practices set out in this privacy policy (the “Policy”) seek to balance the individual’s right to the privacy of his or her personal information and Degesch’s need to collect, use, or disclose personal information for legitimate business and legal purposes in Canada and the United States.

Controlling the collection, use and disclosure of personal information is an ongoing process. We will continue to review our personal information management practices and improve them as necessary to better protect the privacy of individuals.

What Is Personal Information?

Personal information means any information about you, or that can be used to identify you as an individual, including information in your résumé or about your employment.

We follow 10 principles when collecting, using and disclosing your personal information:

We are accountable for personal information under our control.
The purpose for collecting personal information is identified at or before the time it is collected.
We obtain your consent before collecting, using, or disclosing your personal information, except where otherwise permitted or required by law.
We limit the personal information we collect to that which is necessary for us to conduct business.
The personal information we collect is only used, disclosed, or retained for its original intended purpose (unless you provide your consent to a different use or disclosure) and we retain it only as long as necessary for those purposes.
We take care to ensure that the information we have is accurate.
We safeguard your personal information through security measures.
We are open with you about our policies and practices related to managing your personal information.
Upon request, we provide you with access to your personal information, subject to any limitations imposed by law.
We address your concerns. If you have questions or concerns regarding your privacy or this Policy please contact us as described below.

Your Consent

By providing us with your personal information, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of that information as described in this Policy.

We will not, as a condition of supplying a service, require you to consent to the collection, use or disclosure of your personal information beyond that required to enable us to provide the services requested. The form of the consent that we will seek before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information may vary depending upon the circumstances and the type of information, and includes express oral or written consent, implied consent, and opt-out consent. We will consider the sensitivity of the information and the individual’s reasonable expectations in determining how consent must be given.

You may refuse to give personal information and may, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice, withdraw consent at any time to the continued use and disclosure of personal information previously collected. The period of reasonable notice will vary depending on the nature of the information and its purpose to Degesch. Degesch will inform you of the implications of refusing or withdrawing consent, which may have legal consequences or preclude Degesch from providing services or products.

If you provide us with the personal information of another individual, you represent and warrant that you have the authority to do so, including where applicable that you have obtained the necessary consent of the other person for us to collect, use and/or disclose their personal information.

Collection of Personal Information

We will not collect personal information indiscriminately. We will limit the amount and the type of information we collect to that necessary to fulfill the purposes we have identified to you, or as otherwise permitted or required by law. We may also collect information about your business and business interests or your personal interests to better serve you and foster our relationship.

We collect and use personal information

to offer and provide products and services to you and to communicate with you about our products and our services;
to administer our client records and to bill for our services;
to fulfill our legal and professional obligations; and
as permitted or required by law or for purposes for which you otherwise provide your consent.

When possible, we will collect personal information from you directly. However, for legal, administrative, marketing or management purposes, we may also collect personal information through outside sources such as credit bureaus, government agencies or institutions, employment and other references, employers and service providers.

Internet Service Provider

Certain information may be collected on the Site through various technologies, described below, without your actively providing the information.

Certain information about Internet users’ traffic patterns is passively and automatically collected and linked to users’ Internet Protocol (“IP”) addresses. These unique IP addresses are assigned to all Web users by their ISPs, and are automatically logged by Internet servers. While the IP address itself does not identify an individual, it may, in appropriate circumstances such as an investigation of a security breach, be used with the cooperation of the ISP to locate and identify an individual using the website.

Server Logs

In the normal course of establishing and maintaining Internet connections, our servers automatically log information about visits to our website. Server logs record statistical information, such as a visitor’s IP address and type of operating system, the time and duration of visit and Web pages requested. The server logs also identify categories of visitors by items such as domain and browser type. These statistics are reported in aggregate form to us and are used to improve our website and ensure that it provides the optimal online experience for visitors.

We do not link server log information to any other data in a way that would enable us to identify individual visitors, except for security purposes, as discussed above.

Cookies

Like many other websites, our Site makes use of “per session” and “persistent” cookie technology. Cookies are small text files that contain a unique identification number that are automatically deposited on a visitor’s computer. Per session cookies track information during an open session and are stored only temporarily in your computer’s memory. Persistent cookies are deposited on a visitor’s computer until they expire or until the visitor deletes the cookies. Information from these cookies help us analyze traffic patterns to the Site, including the total number of visitors, the geographical location of the visitor, and the types of Internet browsers (e.g., Google Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge) and operating systems (e.g., Windows or Apple MacOS) that our visitors use. We use this information and information you input into our Site to learn more about you and enhance your online visits. We do not cross-reference this information with any type of personal information that is voluntarily offered through the Site.

The use of cookie technology is common on the Internet, and many Internet browsers are initially set to accept cookies automatically. If you would prefer not to accept cookies, you can set your Internet browser to notify you when your computer is receiving a cookie or to refuse cookies automatically. To readjust your Internet browser’s cookie options, please refer to the instruction documentation of your particular browser or seek online assistance.

Use of Personal Information

We use personal information only as described in this Policy or as otherwise disclosed to you or permitted or required by law.

Degesch generally uses personal information about clients to provide services and products, reporting and communicating with clients, billing and accounting, and protecting against fraud, illegal activities or error. Degesch may also use your personal information to maintain our knowledge management system, to manage our business, and to engage in business transactions involving Degesch or any one of its affiliates. We may also use personal information to send you newsletters about our services or products that we think would interest you. As Degesch has offices in Virginia, North Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Oregon, Washington, Quebec, and British Columbia, we may share personal information between offices to perform services or for marketing purposes.

We regularly distribute information, articles, training opportunities and publications to people on our mailing lists. We typically distribute such materials by e-mail and other forms of electronic messages. At any time, you may change your preferences or unsubscribe from our mailing lists.

If you send personal information through our Site, we will use it to assess website use and traffic, and to respond to your feedback, questions, and comments.

Disclosure of Personal Information

We disclose personal information only as described in this Policy, with your consent, or as otherwise permitted or required by law. To comply with regulatory requirements, we may sometimes disclose our clients’ personal information to Degesch’s affiliates and to third parties, including foreign agents and government or regulatory agencies. We may disclose personal information:

to third parties when it is necessary to do so to provide products or services or in connection with your employment to process payroll, benefits enrollment, or other employment related matters;
to service providers, inside or outside the United States or Canada, retained by Degesch to assist us with marketing or other services, including technical support and mailing. We limit the service provider’s right to use the personal information only for the services it provides to us, and we require the service provider to maintain the confidentiality of the personal information and to take steps to protect the security of the personal information we give it.
to third parties to assist us in evaluating your creditworthiness or to collect debts outstanding on an account;
to our insurers and to regulatory agencies in connection with regulatory or other activities relating to the obligations of Degesch and its professional responsibilities;
in connection with a business transaction involving Degesch or any one of its affiliates; and
to other third parties, where you consent or where such disclosure is required or permitted by law.

Your personal information may be processed, accessed and/or stored in the United States or Canada or another jurisdiction, and will be subject to the laws of that jurisdiction.

Retention of Personal Information

Degesch will retain information, including personal information, for as long as it is needed for the purposes for which it was collected. For example, if you send us personal information electronically to apply for employment with Degesch, we will retain your personal information for a reasonable period to permit future consideration for employment. Degesch may also be subject to legislative requirements regarding the retention of certain types of information.

Protection of Personal Information

We use standard safeguards to protect the security of personal information in our possession, including physical, organizational and technological measures.

Your Access to Your Personal Information

You can ask to view your personal information by writing to the Privacy Compliance Officer, whose postal and email addresses are provided at the end of this Policy. You can request that corrections be made where you can show that the information we possess is inaccurate. Please note that under certain circumstances, you may not be permitted access; for example, where the disclosure of your records would cause security, legal, or confidentiality concerns.

Links to Other Websites

The Site may contain links to other websites. While we try to link only to websites that share our standards and respect for privacy, we are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of other websites. We strongly encourage all Site visitors to review the privacy statements and policies of all external websites.

Changes to This Policy

We may amend this Policy at any time. We will post the Policy as amended on our website and will take reasonable steps to inform you of any amendments.

More Information About Degesch’s Privacy Practices

Please contact Degesch’s Privacy Compliance Officer with any questions or concerns you have about this Policy or Degesch’s handling of your personal information. We will promptly respond to your inquiry.

Canada

Privacy Compliance Officer – privacyofficer@degeschcanada.com
8685 Lafrenaie, St-Leonard, QC, H1P 2B6

United States

Privacy Compliance Officer – privacyofficer@degeschamerica.com
153 Triangle Drive, Weyers Cave, VA 22835