HR Services privacy statement

Terms

HR Services is operated by PricewaterhouseCoopers Tax Consultants SCRL (hereinafter PricewaterhouseCoopers).

Privacy

The collection of personal information by organizations through their websites has become a critical issue affecting business throughout the world. Individuals are, increasingly, unwilling to engage in transactions over the Web unless they can be assured that companies manage in an ethical manner the identifying information that they may disclose. Internationally, government responses to privacy concerns range from setting national standards for voluntary compliance, to passing laws that regulate information practices (including transborder data flow), to encouraging substantive self-regulatory efforts built around industry sector privacy codes. Ethical information management, in whatever form it takes, centers on these key privacy concerns:

• What kind of personally identifying information is collected, and how is it collected?
• What is done with the information that is collected?
• What limitations or controls can an individual place on the collection and use of identifying information?

Privacy statement

What kind of information is collected through the site?

PricewaterhouseCoopers receives very little identifying information from visitors to our web site, and only for a narrow set of purposes. Typically, identifying information is collected as registration data for certain areas of the site. Registration data consists of basic contact information: Name, company address, email address, and telephone and fax numbers. The registration process in any given case may not require all of this information. Visitors are also able to send email through the site, and their messages will contain the user’s screen name and email address, as well as any additional information the user may wish to include in the message. Because we can use the web site as a recruiting tool, a visit to the web site may result in the user sending a resume to an individual within PricewaterhouseCoopers.

At some places on the site, the use of a "cookie" is offered. A "cookie" is a software application that enables a site to customize its services to the interests of the user, by tracking the user’s navigation in the site and storing that information on the user’s hard drive. For example, a "cookie" can be used to store registration information in an area of the site so that a user does not need to provide it on subsequent visits to that area. Because "cookies" can be used to track navigational habits, store information on the user’s hard drive, and in their early use were not disclosed to the user, the use of "cookies" has raised significant privacy concerns. Most browsers now recognize when a "cookie" is offered, and permits the user to opt-out of receiving it. If you are not sure whether your browser has this capability, you should check with the software manufacturer or your Internet service provider. As described below, "cookies" are used on the HR Services site only to facilitate use of an area of the site. We do not use "cookies" to track navigational habits of visitors or to collect and distribute information to third parties for marketing purposes.

What do we do with the information we collect?

• A user might provide personal information for these purposes: when ordering publications
• When seeking access to an area of the site relevant to their business interests
• As part of our "join our mailing list" initiative
• When participating in discussion forums

Information provided to request a publication, such as a white paper, is used only to send that publication to the person who requested it. Contact information used to register for access to an area on the site may be retained to provide updates, when requested by the user, or to track interest in that area on the site. Contact information may be used to follow up on a visitor’s interest for business-related purposes. These purposes include informing the user about PricewaterhouseCoopers HR Services services that may be of interest, or to contact the user as part of the process of business development.

The "mailing list" initiatives may be used for marketing purposes in the future. Marketing activities may include informing visitors of HR Services services, products, publications, surveys or events of interest. Visitors voluntarily request to be included in the mailing list initiative. As this initiative is launched, we will update our fair information statement to reflect best practices relevant to privacy and the collection and use of marketing information.

The discussion posts are available for others to read and offer response. Posts to discussion areas on the HR Services site should be regarded by the user in the same manner as posts to any discussion site in terms of the content and privacy of the information. Discussion areas are not established for the purpose of gathering identifying information by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Opportunities to send email through the web site are not active solicitations of identifying information by PricewaterhouseCoopers; rather, email options let individuals send comments and communications to us. These messages are forwarded through the site to the appropriate persons within PricewaterhouseCoopers to respond, at their discretion, to the questions or comments. Resumes that may be submitted in response to information on the site are forwarded to the appropriate persons within PricewaterhouseCoopers for consideration and response, at their discretion.

How long do we keep information?

Some of the information we receive is not kept – for example, we usually do not keep mailing addresses for white papers. Contact information about visitors (such as information generated though registration for access to areas on the site) may be kept as long as the information is valid or until the user requests that we delete that information. Mailing list information and discussion posts are kept indefinitely. Email and resumes are retained or disposed of at the recipient’s discretion.

PricewaterhouseCoopers does not collect or compile personally identifying information for dissemination or sale to outside parties for consumer marketing purposes.

PricewaterhouseCoopers assumes no responsibility for the information practices of sites a user is able to access through ours.

What limitations or controls can an individual place on the collection and use of identifying information?

Consent: Identifying information provided to PricewaterhouseCoopers through this web site is provided voluntarily by the visitor. "Cookies" are used only to extend the functionality of the service offered in an area of the site. If a "cookie" is refused, the user still has access to the site. Again, most browser software also now allows a user to refuse "cookies."

What If a user wants to change the information we have?

User updates of information should be handled by going back through the registration process. Inquiries about the accuracy of identifying information previously submitted through this web site, or requests to have outdated information removed, should be directed to webmaster

PricewaterhouseCoopers reserves the right to modify or amend this Statement at any time and for any reason. Nothing contained in this Statement is intended to create a contract or agreement between PricewaterhouseCoopers and any user visiting the site or providing identifying information in any form.