Work4u.ch – Privacy Policy

Last Updated: March 8, 2024

1. Introduction – Transparency and User Empowerment

At Global Horizon GmbH, the operator of Work4u.ch (“we,” “us,” or “our”), we are deeply committed to protecting the privacy of our users (“you” or “User”). This Privacy Policy is designed to be clear, transparent, and easy to understand. It explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal data when you use the Work4u.ch platform (“Platform”). We believe you should be in control of your data, and we strive to give you meaningful choices about how it’s used.

This policy applies to all users of Work4u.ch, including Service Providers (freelancers) and Clients. It complies with the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) and, where applicable, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We adhere to the stricter standard where there are differences.  

2. Data Controller – Who We Are

The data controller responsible for your personal data is:

Global Horizon GmbH Bodenackerstrasse 69 4657 Dulliken Switzerland Email: office@work4u.ch Commercial Register Number (UID): CHE-424.328.793

3. Information We Collect – Specificity and Examples

We collect information to provide and improve our services, connect freelancers and clients, and comply with legal obligations. We are transparent about the types of information and why we collect them:

• 3.1. Information You Give Us Directly:

  • Account Registration: This includes your name, email address, username, password, and any optional profile details you choose to add (e.g., profile picture, skills, experience, location, phone number, professional qualifications, portfolio links). We need this to create your account and allow you to use the Platform.
  • Project Information (Clients): When posting projects, you provide project descriptions, budgets, deadlines, required skills, and any attached files. This is essential for matching you with suitable freelancers.
  • Proposals (Service Providers): You provide proposed fees, timelines, work samples, and cover letters when applying for projects. This helps clients evaluate your suitability.
  • Communication: We store the content of messages exchanged through the Platform’s messaging system. This is crucial for facilitating communication and resolving disputes.
  • Payment Information: To process payments, we collect bank account details or credit/debit card information. We use secure, PCI-compliant third-party payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal), and we do not store your full card details on our servers.
  • Customer Support Interactions: We keep records of your communications with our support team, including emails, chat logs, and any information you provide to help us resolve your issues.
  • Reviews and Ratings: We collect the reviews and ratings you provide about other users.
  • Optional information: Users may provide additional information on a voluntary basis.

• 3.2. Information We Collect Automatically:

  • Usage Data: We automatically collect data about how you interact with the Platform. This includes the pages you visit, projects you view, searches you perform, features you use, IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, and the date and time of your activity. This helps us understand how the Platform is used and improve its performance and features.
  • Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies (small text files stored on your device) and similar technologies (like web beacons and pixels) to remember your preferences, track your activity, and personalize your experience. We provide detailed information about our use of cookies and how you can manage them in our separate Cookie Policy [link to Cookie Policy].
  • Location Data: Only with your explicit consent, we may collect your precise location data if you enable location services on your device. This might be used, for example, to show you nearby projects or freelancers. You can revoke this consent at any time through your device settings.

• 3.3. Information from Third Parties:

  • Payment Processors: We receive limited information from payment processors, such as transaction confirmation details and partial card information (for fraud prevention and security).
  • Verification Services: We may use third-party services to verify your identity or professional credentials. We will inform you if we use such services and what information we share with them.
  • Social Media Platforms: If you choose to connect your Work4u.ch account to a social media account (e.g., LinkedIn), we may collect information from your social media profile, but only in accordance with your privacy settings on that platform and with your explicit consent.

4. How We Use Your Information – Purpose Limitation

We use your information only for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy and for which we have a valid legal basis:

• 4.1. Providing and Operating the Platform:
  • Creating and managing your account.
  • Connecting Clients and Service Providers.
  • Facilitating communication and project management.
  • Processing payments securely.
  • Providing customer support and responding to inquiries.
  • Personalizing your experience (e.g., recommending relevant projects).
  • Improving the Platform’s functionality, performance, and security.
• 4.2. Communicating with You:
  • Sending important notices about your account, transactions, security updates, and changes to our Terms of Service or Privacy Policy (these are essential service communications).
  • Responding to your questions and requests.
  • Sending you marketing communications only if you have explicitly opted in to receive them. You can opt out of marketing emails at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in the email or adjusting your account settings.
• 4.3. Legal and Compliance:
  • Complying with Swiss and EU laws and regulations (including data protection, tax, and anti-money laundering laws).
  • Enforcing our Terms of Service and preventing fraud or abuse.
  • Protecting the rights, property, and safety of Work4u.ch, our users, or the public.
  • Responding to lawful requests from legal authorities.
• 4.4. Research and Development (Anonymized Data): We may use aggregated and anonymized data (data that cannot be used to identify you) to analyze user behavior, improve our services, and develop new features.

5. Legal Basis for Processing – Justification for Each Activity

Under the GDPR and FADP, we must have a valid legal basis for processing your personal data. We rely on the following legal bases:

• 5.1. Performance of a Contract: This is our primary legal basis. We need to process your data to provide you with the services you request when you use Work4u.ch, including:
  • Creating your account.
  • Connecting you with other users.
  • Facilitating communication and project management.
  • Processing payments.
• 5.2. Legitimate Interests: We may process your data based on our legitimate interests, but only when these interests are not overridden by your rights and freedoms. These interests include:
  • Improving the Platform and developing new features.
  • Ensuring the security of the Platform and preventing fraud.
  • Marketing our services (but only where permitted by law and with appropriate opt-out options).
  • Analyzing user behavior to understand how the Platform is used.
  • We always carefully consider the balance between our interest and your privacy.
• 5.3. Consent: We will obtain your explicit consent for certain processing activities, such as:
  • Sending you marketing communications (you can withdraw consent at any time).
  • Collecting your precise location data (you can revoke consent through your device settings).
  • Using cookies that are not strictly necessary for the Platform’s functioning (see our Cookie Policy).
• 5.4. Compliance with Legal Obligations: We process your data when required by Swiss or EU law, such as:
  • Complying with tax reporting requirements.
  • Responding to lawful requests from law enforcement.
  • Meeting our obligations under data protection laws.

6. Data Sharing and Disclosure – Your Data Stays Protected

At Work4u.ch, we are fundamentally committed to protecting your privacy. We understand that your personal data is yours, and we treat it with the utmost care. We do not sell your personal data to anyone, ever. We only share your data in very specific, limited circumstances, and always with your privacy in mind:

• 6.1. Connecting You on the Platform: To connect Clients and Service Providers, we need to share some information:

  • Your public profile information (what you choose to make public).
  • Project details (posted by Clients).
  • Proposals (submitted by Service Providers).
  • Messages you exchange through the Platform’s secure messaging system.
  • This is necessary to make the platform work.

• 6.2. Essential Service Providers: We use trusted third-party companies to help us run Work4u.ch smoothly. These companies are essential for providing the service, and they are contractually bound to protect your data just as carefully as we do. They can only use your data for the specific tasks we assign them. Examples include:

  • Payment Processors: (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) to handle payments securely. We never store your full credit card details on our servers.
  • Hosting Providers: To store our data and keep the website running.
  • Email Providers: To send you important emails about your account and, only if you agree, occasional updates about Work4u.ch.
  • Verification services: To verify user’s identity.

• 6.3. Legal Requirements: We may have to disclose your data to law enforcement or government agencies, but only if we are legally required to do so (e.g., by a court order or to comply with Swiss law). We will always strive to protect your privacy to the fullest extent possible within the law.

• 6.4. Business Changes: If Work4u.ch is ever involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale, your data may be transferred as part of that process. But even then, the new entity would be bound by this Privacy Policy, or we would notify you and give you choices.

• 6.5. Only With Your Explicit Permission: We will never share your personal data with any other third parties for any other reason without your clear, explicit consent. We put you in control.

• 6.6. Data Location: We process and store your personal data within Switzerland and the European Economic Area (EEA). We do not transfer your personal data to countries outside of Switzerland or the EEA.

7. International Data Transfers

While we primarily process and store your personal data within Switzerland and the European Economic Area (EEA), there may be limited circumstances where your data could be transferred to and processed in countries outside of these regions. If such transfers occur, we will take appropriate steps to ensure your data is protected in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the FADP and GDPR. These steps may include:

• Standard Contractual Clauses: Using standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission.
• Adequacy Decisions: Transferring data to countries recognized as providing adequate protection.
• Other Legally Permissible Mechanisms: Relying on other safeguards as permitted by law.

We will update this Privacy Policy if our international data transfer practices change significantly.

8. Data Retention – Keeping Data Only as Long as Needed

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including:  

• Providing you with access to the Platform.
• Facilitating transactions between users.
• Complying with legal obligations (e.g., tax and accounting requirements).
• Resolving disputes and enforcing our agreements.
• Protecting our rights and interests.

The specific retention period varies depending on the type of data and the purpose of processing. For example:

• Account Information: We retain your account information for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we may retain some information for a limited period to comply with legal obligations or resolve disputes.
• Communication Data: We retain communication data (messages exchanged through the Platform) for a reasonable period to facilitate project management and dispute resolution.
• Transaction Data: We retain transaction data for the period required by Swiss tax and accounting laws (typically 10 years).
• Usage Data: We may retain anonymized or aggregated usage data for analytical purposes for a longer period.

Once your data is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

9. Your Data Protection Rights – You’re in Control

You have powerful rights regarding your personal data under Swiss law (FADP) and, where applicable, EU law (GDPR). We’re committed to making these rights easy to exercise:

• 9.1. Access: You can ask us what personal data we hold about you and get a copy.
• 9.2. Correction: If any of your data is wrong or incomplete, you can ask us to fix it. You can update most of your profile information directly in your account settings.
• 9.3. Deletion (“Right to be Forgotten”): You can ask us to delete your data in certain situations (e.g., if it’s no longer needed or you withdraw your consent). We’ll comply unless we have a legal reason to keep it (like tax records).
• 9.4. Restriction: You can ask us to limit how we use your data in certain cases (e.g., while we’re checking its accuracy).
• 9.5. Data Portability: You can ask us to give you your data in a format you can easily use or transfer to another platform.
• 9.6. Objection: You can object to us using your data for certain purposes, especially:
  • Direct Marketing: You have an absolute right to stop us from sending you marketing emails. Just click the “unsubscribe” link in any marketing email, or change your account settings.
  • Legitimate Interests: If we’re using your data based on our “legitimate interests,” you can object. We’ll stop unless we have a very strong reason that outweighs your rights.
• 9.7. Automated Decisions: We don’t currently use automated systems to make decisions that have a legal or significant impact on you. If we ever do, we’ll let you know and give you rights related to that.
• 9.8. Withdraw Consent: If we’re using your data based on your consent (like for marketing), you can withdraw that consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, just email us at office@work4u.ch. We’ll respond within one month, as required by law. We may need to verify your identity first, to protect your data.

10. Security – Protecting Your Data

We take the security of your personal data very seriously. We implement a range of technical and organizational measures to protect your data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:  

• Encryption: We use industry-standard encryption (SSL/TLS) to protect data transmitted between your browser and our servers. We also encrypt sensitive data at rest.  
   
• Access Controls: We restrict access to your personal data to authorized personnel who need it to perform their job duties.
• Regular Security Assessments: We conduct regular security assessments and vulnerability scans to identify and address potential security risks.  
   
• Data Breach Response Plan: We have a data breach response plan in place to address any security incidents promptly and effectively.
• Third-Party Security: We require our third-party service providers to implement appropriate security measures to protect your data.
• Password Protection: User accounts are protected by a password chosen by the user. Users are responsible for maintaining the security of their password.
• Regular Backups: We regularly back up our data to prevent data loss.

However, no method of data transmission or storage is completely secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.  

11. Children’s Privacy

Our Platform is not intended for children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 18. If we become aware that we have collected personal data from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete such information from our records. If you believe that a child under 18 may have provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately.  

12. Third-Party Links

Our Platform may contain links to other websites or services that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party’s site. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit.  

13. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post any changes on this page and update the “Last Updated” date at the top. If we make significant changes, we will provide a more prominent notice (for example, by sending you an email notification or displaying a notice on the Platform). We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about our data practices. Your continued use of the Platform after any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.  

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:  

Global Horizon GmbH Bodenackerstrasse 69 4657 Dulliken Switzerland Email: office@work4u.ch

15. Data Protection Officer (DPO)

We have appointed a Data Protection Officer (DPO) who is responsible for overseeing our data protection strategy and ensuring ¹ compliance with data protection laws