Farmer’s Business Network, Inc. Applicant and Candidate Privacy Policy
Last Updated: November 8, 2023
We at Farmer’s Business Network, Inc. and our affiliates (collectively, the "FBN® Companies," "we," "us," or “our”) value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Applicant and Candidate Privacy Policy (the “Policy”) explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal data when you apply for a job or participate in our recruitment processes. By submitting your application and engaging with us during the recruitment process, you consent to the practices outlined in this policy. You may also view our global privacy policy here.
1. Information We May Collect
We collect and process personal information you may provide to us during the application and recruitment process, which may include, but is not limited to:
Contact information (name, email address, phone number, address)
Resume, CV, and cover letter
Employment and educational history
Skills and qualifications
References
Interview notes and assessments
Pre-employment test results
Background check information
Communication records, including emails and interview notes
Information from publicly available sources that we believe is relevant to an application or a potential future application (e.g. a LinkedIn profile)
Any other information you choose to provide during the recruitment process
2. Use of Personal Information
We may use your personal information for the following purposes:
Evaluating your qualifications for the position applied for
Communicating with you about your application
Conducting interviews and assessments
Checking references
Verifying your employment and education history
Carrying out background checks
Analyzing and improving our recruitment processes
Complying with legal and regulatory requirements
Defending against legal claims
Communicating with you about other job opportunities within our organization
If you are offered and accept employment with us, the information collected during the application and recruitment process will become part of your employment record.
3. Disclosure of Personal Information
We may share your personal information with the following categories of recipients:
Members of our recruitment team and hiring managers
Third-party service providers (e.g., background check providers)
Legal and regulatory authorities, when required by law
Our affiliates and subsidiaries, if relevant to the recruitment process
Referees
We will never sell, lease, or otherwise disclose your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
If you have been referred for a job at FBN by a current FBN employee, we may inform that employee about the progress of your application and let the FBN employee know the outcome of the process.
If you provide contact information for a referee, it is your responsibility to obtain consent from said referee before providing their personal information to us.
4. Data Retention
We will retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by applicable laws. If your application is unsuccessful, we will typically retain your information for a limited period in case of future job opportunities.
5. Data Security
We take the security of your personal data seriously and employ appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect it from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction.
6. Your Rights
You have certain rights regarding your personal data, including the right to access, rectify, and delete your information. If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.
7. Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about this Policy or your personal data, please contact us at:
recruiting@farmersbusinessnetwork.com
8. Changes to this Policy
We reserve the right to update and modify this Policy as our recruitment processes evolve or as required by applicable laws. Any changes will be posted on our website, and the revised policy will be effective from the date of publication.
Please review this Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect and use your personal information during the recruitment process.
9. U.S. state law requirements
Some U.S. state privacy laws, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), require specific disclosures for state residents. This Policy is designed to help you understand how FBN handles your information described in this Policy. In the sections above, we explain: (1) the categories of information FBN collects and the sources of that information; (2) how FBN uses information; (3) when FBN may disclose information; and (4) how FBN retains information. As mentioned above, FBN does not sell your personal information. Further, FBN does not “share” your personal information as that term is defined in the CCPA.
State laws like the CCPA also provide the right to request information about how FBN collects, uses, and discloses your information, and may give you the right to access and correct your information, and request that FBN delete that information, pursuant to certain rights retained by FBN. The CCPA provides the right to not be discriminated against for exercising these privacy rights.
If you have questions or concerns related to your rights under CCPA, or would like to exercise your rights, you can contact us pursuant to Section 7 of this Policy. We will validate your request, which may require that you provide us with additional information in order to do so.
The CCPA also requires a description of data practices using specific categories; please consult the table below.
Categories of information we collect | Business purposes for which information may be used or disclosed | Parties with whom information may be disclosed |
Identifiers and similar information, such as your name, phone number, and address; and unique identifiers tied to the browser, application, or device you’re using. | Administrative purposes: FBN uses and may disclose information for purposes related to carrying out its application and recruitment process, including for assessing candidates; verifying information and conducting reference checks and criminal and financial background checks; communicating with you; and other related activities.
| Other people with whom you choose to provide information to in connection with the application and recruitment process. |
Demographic information, such as your age, gender, and language(s) spoken. If you choose, you may also provide additional information, like your racial or ethnic origin, religious or philosophical beliefs, sexual orientation, or gender identity. | Protecting against security threats, abuse, illegal activity, and violations: FBN uses and may disclose information to detect, prevent and respond to security incidents, and for protecting against other malicious, deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activity. | Third parties with your consent. |
Financial information, such as your current and/or desired salary and other terms relating to compensation and benefits packages.
| Auditing and measurement: FBN uses information for analytics and measurement to understand our processes.
| Service providers, trusted businesses or persons that process information on FBN’s behalf, based on our instructions and in compliance with this Policy. |
Geolocation data, including as determined by IP address.
| Maintaining our services: FBN may use information to ensure our systems and processes are working as intended.
| Law enforcement or other third parties, in response to legal process or enforceable government requests, and as necessary to identify, report on and investigate violations of applicable laws and regulations. |
Audio, electronic, visual, and similar information, such as information transmitted in connection with interviews or phone-screenings you may have.
| Research and development: FBN uses information to improve our application and recruitment process. | |
Communications data, such as emails that you may send or receive in connection with the application or recruitment process. | Use of service providers: FBN shares information with service providers to perform services on our behalf, in compliance with this Policy. | |
Health information, if you choose to provide it, in connection with the application or recruitment process.
| Legal reasons: FBN also uses information to satisfy applicable laws or regulations, and discloses information in response to legal process or enforceable government requests, including to law enforcement. | |
Professional, employment, and education information, such as information you provide in connection with the application and recruitment process, as well as information FBN may otherwise collect through reference checks, criminal and financial background checks and information from publicly available sources that may be relevant. | ||
Other information you create or provide in connection with the application and recruitment process. | ||
Inferences drawn from the information above. |