Kent
Legal ("Kent") recognizes the importance of privacy
of personal information. Kent is committed to collecting,
using, disclosing and protecting any personal information
the company receives responsibly. The company’s
Privacy Policy sets out how company directors, officers
and employees
will maintain the confidentiality and privacy of personal
information.
Privacy Rights
As
of January 1, 2004 all businesses engaged in commercial
activities must comply with the Personal Information
and Protection & Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
and the Canadian Standards Association model code for
the protection of personal information approved by the
Canadian Standards Association (CSA). These obligations
extend to staffing companies such as Kent. The Act gives
everyone rights concerning the privacy of their personal
information.
The
Need for Personal Information
Kent
provides staffing and recruitment services to a wide
range of clients and needs to collect personal information
in order to provide staffing services.
"
Personal information" means information about an identifiable
individual that is recorded in any form that relates to
an individual's personal characteristics, their activities
and views including information relating to age, income,
family status, education, medical, health history or conditions
or services received by the individual, criminal, employment
history, financial information, any identifying number,
address, the personal opinions or views or evaluation of
the individual, gender, home address, or an individual's
activities.
Accountability
Kent Legal has
appointed Keiran Glynnas the company's Chief Privacy
Officer. She is responsible for and will
oversee the day to day care and control of Kent’s
personal information. Keiran Glynn is
responsible for overseeing compliance with the terms of
the company’s Privacy Policy.
Kent has undertaken several measures to ensure compliance
with the company's Privacy Policy and procedures to ensure
personal information is protected. Systems have also
been setup to receive and respond to complaints
and inquiries.
All members of the company have received training regarding
the company’s policies and procedures. All new employees
will receive training during their orientation program
when they join the company. The company will provide information
to clients and the general public explaining the company's
Policy and procedures respecting personal information by
publishing same on their website.
Identifying
Purposes
All
employees of Kent will collect necessary information by
lawful and fair means. The purposes for which personal
information is collected will be identified prior to, or
at the time of collection. Whenever possible, personal
information will be collected directly from the individual
at the initial interview and as required during the course
of the company’s representation. In the event an
employee identifies new purposes for the use of personal
information received, the individual's consent will be
obtained to use the information for the new purpose identified,
except as required by law.
Consent
All
individuals will be advised of the purposes for which the
information is being collected, used or disclosed of and
obtain the individual's prior consent to collect, use or
disclose of the personal information, except as required
by law.
Limiting
Collection
Employees
will limit the collection of personal information to that
information which is necessary to fulfill the purposes
identified by the company to provide the staffing services.
If an individual advises that he or she no longer wishes
to receive information about the company’s services,
or new developments in the staffing business, the company
will discontinue sending any further materials. Kent will
not sell, barter, trade or give away personal information
to third parties. For example, Kent does not provide client
mailing lists to any third party.
Limiting
Use, Disclosure and Retention
Employees
will not use or disclose personal information for purposes
other than those purposes for which the information was
originally collected, unless the company obtains the consent
of the individual from whom such information was received
to use or disclose the information for another purpose,
except as required by law. Kent will disclose personal
information for the following purposes:
• When
an individual has consented to the disclosure of private
information.
•
During the providing of staffing services requiring the
company to give the individual's information to a third
party.
• When Kent engages a third party to provide administrative
services to the company such as file storage, cleaning
or security services, the third party will be bound by
the company’s
Privacy Policy.
• If the information is already publicly known.
The company retains personal information for a period
of seven years to achieve the purposes identified
and, to
permit the individual to have a reasonable opportunity
to obtain
access to the information of the services provided and
as may be prescribed by regulation.
Kent considers an individual's personal information as
part of a review process for employment opportunities
with the
company clients. Kent generally retains information
from candidates for seven years, unless an individual
asks
the company not to retain the information. If an individual
accepts a position with Kent or its client, the individual's
personal
information will be retained in accordance with the
company's privacy procedures for employee records.
Website & Electronic
Transfer of Data
Kent's website contains links to other sites which are not
governed by Kent's Privacy Policy.
Kent, like most other commercial institutions, monitors
traffic patterns, site usage and related site information
in order
to optimize the company's web service. Kent may provide
aggregated information to third parties, but these
statistics do not
include any identifiable personal information.
Individuals should be aware that email is not a 100%
secure medium when contacting the company to provide
personal
or confidential information.
Accuracy
In
order for the company to provide staffing services and
employment to individuals, it is important that an individual's
information is accurate and up to date. If an individual's
personal information changes during the course of the individual's
relationship with the company, the individual should inform
Kent of the change so that the company's records can be
updated in a timely fashion.
Safeguards
All
members of Kent will take reasonable precautions to ensure
that personal information is kept safe from loss, unauthorized
access or use, modification or disclosure. Among the steps
taken to protect confidential and personal information
include:
1. Premises securities
2. Restricted physical file access to personal information
3. Technological safeguards such as security software,
passwords and firewalls to prevent hacking or unauthorized
computer
access.
Openness
and Individual Access
Kent
is pleased to answer any questions an individual may have
regarding the collection and maintenance of personal information.
Written requests for access to an individual's personal
information shall be provided within 30 days after the
written request is received, except as required by law.
More detailed requests may require archive or other retrieval
methods, which could take additional time and be subject
to the company's normal disbursement fees.
Individuals with questions regarding the company's Policy
and practices respecting the collection and maintenance
of personal information can forward any questions
in writing
to the company's Chief Privacy Officer at the address set
out below.
Keiran Glynn
President & Chief Privacy Officer
Kent Legal Personnel Ltd.
83 Yonge Street
Fourth Floor
Toronto, ON
M5C 1S8
sbennett@kentlegal.com
Whenever it is legal and practical, Kent may offer the
opportunity to deal with general inquires without requesting
an individual's
name, for example, by accessing general information
on the company’s website.
Kent may, on occasion, request information about individuals
from the files of consumer reporting agencies to
assist the company in making credit decisions about
applicants,
prevent
fraud, and check the identity of new clients and
prevent money laundering.
Challenging
Compliance
Individuals
can challenge the company concerning compliance with the
company's Policy and procedures with respect to the company's
use or disclosure, or the company's refusal to provide
access to personal information requested by an individual,
or with respect to any other matter relating to the collection,
retention or disposal of personal information by the company
by addressing the individual's complaint in writing to
the Chief Privacy Officer.
Compliance
with Kent’s Privacy Policy
Compliance
with this Policy and the procedures is mandatory for all
employees, directors and officers of Kent.
May 5, 2006 |