Privacy Policy
Williams Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries, affiliates and divisions (collectively referred to in this document as “we,“ “us“ or “Williams“) is strongly committed to respecting and protecting your privacy. Please carefully read the following Privacy Policy (the “Policy“). In order to ensure your privacy, information Williams collects from its clients and visitors to its Website located at https://www.williams.com and Websites hosted by Williams (any of those Internet locations referred to in this Policy as a “Site““) is used only in the manner and for the purposes described in this Policy.
The purpose of this Policy is to explain the types of information that Williams collects, what we do with that information and with whom Williams shares this information. Anyone who provides personally identifiable information (“Personal Information“) or any other information to Williams consents to the collection, use and disclosure of such information under the terms of this Policy.
Williams abides with the European Union-United States Safe Harbor Privacy Principles as set forth by the United States Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use and retention of Personal Information collected within the European Union by Williams through the Site or the use of any of Williams’s services.
This Policy applies to those individuals who browse and use our Site (“Visitors“).
The following articles make up our Privacy Policy. We hope that reading them gives you a clear idea of how we manage information we receive.
1. Our Services
Williams is committed to providing the following services through our Sites:
(1) submission of employment applications and resumes through the “Careers” Site
(2) participation in investor relations’ conference, earnings calls and email newsletters;
(3) submission of general requests through the “Contact Us” page.
The services listed above are collectively referred to as the “Services“. Williams collects information from our Visitors that assists us in providing the Services. Williams is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our Visitors.
Visitors have the option of submitting their resume and other employment related information though our Careers Site located at https://www.williams.com/careers. If a Visitor elects to submit their resume, through the Careers Site, they are required to submit certain Personal Information including their email address. The collection of this information results in a report prepared by Williams. These reports are sent to our human resources department via e-mail through a password-protected, secure portal on Williams’ Site.
The information that is provided to Williams by Visitors through its Careers Site is used by Williams only for the employment application and evaluation process and for no other purpose. Unless mandated by law or valid court order or as otherwise discussed in “Sharing Personal Information with Others“, this information is only used by Williams’ human resources department and is not shared with anyone outside of Williams.
The information that is provided to Williams by Visitors through its Investor Relations site is used to communicate with those who choose to receive information about Williams and its publicly traded securities. Unless mandated by law or valid court order or as otherwise discussed in “Sharing Personal Information with Others“, this information is only used by Williams’ investor relations department and is not shared with anyone outside of Williams.
The information that is provided to Williams by Visitors through its Contact Us page is used by Williams only for responding to specific inquiries submitted by Visitors. Unless mandated by law or valid court order or as otherwise discussed in “Sharing Personal Information with Others“, this information is only used by Williams and is not shared with anyone outside of Williams.
2. Cookies
When our Visitors visit one of our Sites, including but not limited to any secure portal on one of our Sites, our servers use session cookies to help identify each Visitors and to make using the service more efficient. Our session cookies do not collect any Personal Information and are removed when the session is concluded. We do not use any cookies when Visitors browse the Site.
3. How Williams Uses Information
When Visitors to the Site request that Williams contact them, Williams’s Site registration form requires those Visitors to provide specific contact information such as name and e-mail address. Williams uses the contact information from the registration form to send the individual information about us. Williams also uses Personal Information obtained from Visitors to our Site to respond to questions, comments and other requests from these individuals, including responding to inquiries about employment opportunities.
4. Sharing Personal Information with Others
We do not disclose, sell, share, trade or give away an individual’s Personal Information to third parties, except under one or more of the following circumstances:
Consent: If the individual has consented to the disclosure of his or her Personal Information, Williams may share such Personal Information with others, including without limitation, a contractor or sub-contractor. For example, if one of our Visitors submits a request through the “contact us” page on our Site, that individual consents to the sharing of such Personal Information with Williams’ contractors so that such contractors can respond to that request. Except as provided in this Policy, Williams does not share our Visitors’ Personal Information with any other party for any purpose.
Protection of Williams and Others: We may disclose Personal Information about you to others: (i) if we have a good faith belief that we are required or permitted to do so by law or legal process; (ii) in connection with legal or administrative proceedings; (iii) to protect the rights, reputation, property or safety of Williams or others; (iv) to defend or enforce Williams’s rights or our clients’ obligations; or (v) if the disclosure is required by mandatory professional standards.
Business Transfers: In the event that Williams decides to sell all or part of its stock or assets or merge its Williams, it reserves the right to include Personal Information among the assets transferred to the acquiring or surviving company. It is Williams’s practice to seek appropriate protection for Personal Information in these types of transactions.
Aggregate Anonymous Information: Williams may provide to others anonymous information in the aggregate for purposes of marketing, promotion or similar activities. None of this aggregated information will identify individuals personally.
5. Your Choices with Respect to Personal Information
The Site gives Visitors the opportunity to stop receiving communications from Williams if previously requested. The Site also gives Visitors options for changing and modifying information previously provided. To remove or change information in our database, or to not receive future communications from Williams, e-mail williamscontact@williams.com.
6. Linked Websites
As a service to our Visitors, Williams provides hyperlinks to valuable resources that are related to the products and services that we provide. These hyperlinks, which are highlighted words or pictures within a hypertext document that may, when clicked, take you to another place within the document, to another document altogether, or to a third-party Website not controlled by Williams. Such hyperlinked, third-party Websites may collect and disclose information in a manner that is different from this Site. Williams is not responsible for the collection, use, or disclosure of information collected through these third-party Websites and Williams expressly disclaims any and all liability related to such collection, use, or disclosure. Williams does not collect any Personal Information from any persons who click on these hyperlinks located on the Site.
7. Children
We do not sell products or services for purchase by children under the age of eighteen (“Minors“). Williams does not knowingly solicit or collect Personal Information from Minors and we will not knowingly link to any third-party Website that solicits or collects Personal Information from Minors. If you believe that a Minor has disclosed Personal Information to us or that we have linked to such a third-party Website, please contact us at williamscontact@williams.com.
8. Security and Protection of Data Collected by Us
Williams’s Site and the Websites have security measures in place to protect the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under our control. Williams has implemented various physical, electronic and managerial measures, including education and training of our personnel, to provide Personal Information with reasonable protection from accidental loss or destruction, improper use, alteration, or disclosure. Williams has invested and deployed a wide variety of technology and security features to ensure the privacy of Personal Information that is collected by Williams through its services and via the Site. In addition, Williams has implemented strict operational guidelines to safeguard privacy of data we collect at every level of our organization. Williams requires that all employees sign confidentiality agreements and we conduct background checks on new employees.
Williams will continue to revise policies and implement additional security features as new technologies become available. Unfortunately, no system is perfect; therefore, Williams makes no representations or warranties with regard to the sufficiency of these security measures. Williams shall not be responsible for any actual or consequential damages (or any other damages or liability of any kind whatsoever) that result from a lapse in compliance with this Policy because of a security breach or technical malfunction.
9. International Transfers of Personal Information
Permitted transfers of information, including Personal Information, either to third parties or within Williams, include the transfer of data from one jurisdiction to another, such as transfers to and from the United States of America. Because privacy laws vary from one jurisdiction to another, Personal Information may be transferred to a jurisdiction where the laws provide less or different protection than the jurisdiction in which the information originated. We will always handle your Personal Information as described in this Policy.
10. Access to Your Personal Information
If you wish to obtain a copy of particular information you provided to Williams, or if you become aware the information is incorrect and you would like us to correct or delete it, contact us at williamscontact@williams.com. Before Williams is able to provide you with any information or correct any inaccuracies, however, we may ask you to verify your identity and to provide other details, including Personal Information, to help us to respond to your request. We always will endeavor to respond within an appropriate timeframe to any request under this section.
11. Enforcement
Williams will cooperate with the EU Data Protection Authorities and the Department of Commerce to resolve any complaints and disputes arising in connection with this Policy. All Williams employees will be required to be familiar with and adhere to this Policy. Williams will investigate any reported complaints of violations of this Policy and will take prompt remedial action where violations are found. In order to inquire or complain about Williams’s privacy policies or anything related to the privacy of Personal Information handled by us, contact us at the following e-mail address: williamscontact@williams.com.
12. Amendments
From time to time, Williams may update, modify or change its privacy policy. When this occurs, its new privacy policy will be posted on the Site. You should check the Site periodically to review the most recent Privacy Policy.