Privacy Policy - Hire My Minutes

At Hire My Minutes ("we", "us", "our"), we take your privacy seriously. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our Platform.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

When you use Hire My Minutes, you provide us with:

Account Information: Name, email address, password (encrypted)
Profile Information: Any additional details you choose to share
Job Postings: Job titles, descriptions, duration, payment, location, category
Applications: Messages and information you submit when applying to jobs
Communications: Messages sent through our Platform or to our support team

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on Platform
Device Information: Browser type, operating system, IP address
Cookies: Session cookies to keep you logged in (see Section 5)

1.3 Information From Other Users

When someone applies to your job, you receive their name, email, and message
When you apply to a job, the poster receives your information

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

2.1 Provide the Service

Create and manage your account
Display your job postings to potential applicants
Send your applications to job posters
Facilitate communication between users
Send notifications about applications and job status

2.2 Improve the Platform

Analyze usage patterns to improve features
Fix bugs and technical issues
Develop new features based on user behavior

2.3 Safety and Security

Prevent fraud and abuse
Enforce our Terms of Service
Protect users from harmful content
Investigate violations and respond to legal requests

2.4 Communication

Send important updates about the Platform
Respond to your support requests
Send notifications you've opted into

3. How We Share Your Information

3.1 With Other Users

Public Information: Your name and job postings are visible to all users browsing the Platform.

Applications: When you apply to a job, the poster sees your name, email, and application message.

Job Posters: When someone applies to your job, you see their name, email, and message.

3.2 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted service providers who help us operate the Platform, such as:

Hosting providers (Render, Railway, etc.)
Email service providers (if we add email notifications)
Analytics services (to understand Platform usage)

Note: These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and only use it as directed by us.

3.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, such as:

In response to a court order or subpoena
To comply with legal obligations
To protect the rights and safety of HMM and our users
To prevent fraud or abuse

3.4 Business Transfers

If Hire My Minutes is acquired or merged with another company, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

3.5 What We DON'T Do

❌ We do NOT sell your personal information to third parties
❌ We do NOT share your email for marketing purposes
❌ We do NOT rent or trade your data

4. How We Protect Your Information

We take reasonable measures to protect your data:

Encryption: Passwords are hashed using bcrypt (industry standard)
Secure Connections: HTTPS encryption for all data transmission (in production)
Session Security: Secure session cookies with httpOnly and sameSite flags
Access Controls: Limited access to user data within our team
Database Security: Protected database with regular backups

However: No method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Cookies and Tracking

5.1 What Cookies We Use

Session Cookies: We use cookies to keep you logged in. These are essential for the Platform to function.

Cookie expires after 7 days of inactivity
Contains encrypted session ID (not personal information)
Used only for authentication

5.2 Third-Party Cookies

Currently, we do not use third-party cookies or tracking services. If we add analytics in the future, we will update this policy.

5.3 Managing Cookies

You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but this will prevent you from logging in and using the Platform.

6. Your Privacy Rights

You have the right to:

6.1 Access Your Data

Request a copy of all personal information we have about you. Email support@hiremyminutes.com to request.

6.2 Correct Your Data

Update your account information directly in your profile settings, or contact us to make corrections.

6.3 Delete Your Data

Request account deletion by emailing support@hiremyminutes.com. We will:

Delete your account and personal information
Remove your job postings
Anonymize your applications (to preserve job poster records)

Note: Some information may be retained for legal or security purposes.

6.4 Export Your Data

Request a downloadable copy of your data in a common format (JSON/CSV).

6.5 Opt-Out of Communications

You can unsubscribe from non-essential emails by clicking the unsubscribe link or adjusting your notification preferences.

📧 To exercise any of these rights, email: support@hiremyminutes.com
We'll respond within 30 days.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as:

Your account is active
Needed to provide services
Required by law
Necessary to resolve disputes

After account deletion:

Personal information is deleted within 30 days
Backups may retain data for up to 90 days
Some anonymized data may be kept for analytics

8. Children's Privacy

Hire My Minutes is not intended for users under 18. We do not knowingly collect information from children.

If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at support@hiremyminutes.com and we will delete it immediately.

9. International Users

Hire My Minutes is operated in [Your Country]. If you access the Platform from outside this jurisdiction, your information may be transferred to and processed in our servers' location.

By using the Platform, you consent to the transfer of your information to our servers, wherever they are located.

10. Third-Party Links

Our Platform may contain links to external websites (e.g., when sharing jobs on social media). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party sites.

Tip: Read the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date.

Material changes: We will notify users via email or prominent notice on the Platform.

Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act:

Right to know what personal information is collected
Right to know if personal information is sold or shared (we don't sell data)
Right to delete personal information
Right to opt-out of sale (not applicable - we don't sell data)
Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

To exercise these rights, contact support@hiremyminutes.com

13. European Users (GDPR)

If you are in the European Union, you have rights under GDPR:

Legal Basis: We process your data based on consent and contractual necessity
Data Controller: Hire My Minutes is the data controller
Your Rights: Access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, objection
Complaints: You can file a complaint with your local data protection authority

14. Contact Us About Privacy

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data:

Email: support@hiremyminutes.com
Subject Line: "Privacy Inquiry"

We'll respond within 30 days.

📌 Summary: We collect only what's needed to run the Platform. We protect your data, don't sell it, and give you control over it. Your job postings are public, but personal details are only shared with people you interact with. Questions? We're here to help!