Privacy Notice
Privacy is important to us.
Here at OFM, we want you to fully understand what information we may collect from you and why. We want you to feel peace of mind when using our website, knowing that any confidential information you share with us will be protected.
OFM works hard to foster a culture of data awareness – including protecting confidential data. We have implemented seven privacy principles to accomplish this, and our staff are required to take privacy training at least once every year.
OFM Privacy Principles
- Data is secure: Protects against unauthorized access
- Data is minimized: Limits and retains retention and usage
- We are transparent: Discloses why collected
- We are accountable: Implements best practices as required by law or policy
- Privacy is value driven: Respects privacy rights
- Privacy is culture driven: Ensures resources, training and guidance are available
- We are rule followers: Shares confidential information consistent with laws
When you are visiting the OFM website, we do not collect any personally identifiable metadata about you. In fact, the only confidential data we may collect about you comes directly from you. At OFM, the information that you share with us is used to contact you and provide you with the services you need.
Please don’t share any confidential or personal information with us unless we request it from you. We want to make sure that anything confidential goes through the correct channels to keep it protected.
Section A. Introduction
Thank you for visiting the ofm.wa.gov website and reviewing our Privacy Notice. OFM is dedicated to privacy practices for safeguarding confidential information. OFM has adopted privacy principles that guide the actions taken by the agency when collecting and using confidential information. This statement is part of those principles as we want you to know what data we collect and why, security of and access to that data that may be obtained through use of our website. We are committed to safeguarding the privacy of our website and users and being transparent about the data we collect and how we may use or share that data. Lastly, we want you to fully understand your rights with respect to accessing this data.
Section B. Information Collected and How it is Used
Information collected on this site depends on how you are engaging with us. We have set out categories below that account for the typical ways our users would engage with OFM.
If you voluntarily choose to provide us with information, we may use that information to contact you, respond to your message, or provide you with the information or services you requested. In order to serve you better, we may analyze multiple sources of data that you have provided (for example, to look up whether you previously contacted us about the same topic so that we do not send you a duplicative response). We may use this information (“contact data”) to enable us to get in touch with you. Contact data may include your name, email address, telephone number or chat identifier that you provide to us. We use the email address you provide to respond appropriately. This may be to respond to you, to address issues you may identify, to further improve our website, or to forward the email to another agency for appropriate action.
We may use the information contained in or relating to any communication that you send to us (“communication data”), which is the content you provide to us in your correspondence, emails, responses to surveys, or chats. We collect this information for the purposes of managing our relationship with you, providing you with the services you need, and communicating with you. If you would like to opt-out from receiving communications from us, please see the section below.
We may use data about your use of our website and services (“usage data”) that is collected automatically. The usage data may include your IP address, geographical location, browser type and version, operating system, referral source, length of visit, page views and website navigation paths, as well as information about the timing, frequency and pattern of your service use. The source of the usage data is our analytics tracking system. The purpose of collecting usage data is to improve the content of our web services and help us understand how people are using our services. OFM analyzes this information to know how our website is being used, so that we may continually improve the site’s usefulness to the public.
Section C. Data Retention
OFM retains records in accordance with applicable state records-retention schedules and other legal and business requirement. Retention periods vary depending on the type of record. When a record reaches the end of its required retention period and is not subject to a legal hold or other preservation requirement, it may be security destroyed.
Section D. Personal Information and Choice
You decide whether to provide information to OFM through the website. Some website features may require you to provide personal information, such as you name, email address or telephone number so that we can respond to you or provide a requested service. Please provide only the information reasonably necessary for the purpose and do not submit sensitive or confidential information.
We are especially concerned about protecting children’s privacy. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) governs information gathered online from or about children under the age of 13. Under COPPA, a website must get parental permission before collecting personally identifiable information about a child under the age of 13. Our site is not directed, nor do we anticipate collecting any information from children under the age of 13. If you are under 13, please have your parent(s) or guardian assist you with your inquiry. If you believe that we have received information from or about children under age 13, please contact us.
Section E. Public Access to Information
In the State of Washington, laws exist to ensure that government is open, and the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by State Government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public’s right to access public records that serve various needs, including the privacy of individuals.
Exceptions are provided by both state and federal laws.
As a public agency, all our information is governed by laws such as Washington’s Public Records Act RCW 42.56. Information that you share with us may become a public record, and it may be subject to public inspection and copying if not otherwise protected by federal or state law.
Information collected through use of this site may be public information and subject to inspection and copying by members of the public. For example, the Public Records Act states that:
Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for public inspection and copying all public records, unless the record falls within the specific exemptions of subsection (6) of this section (RCW 42.56.070(6)), Chapter 42.56 RCW, or other statute which exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific information or records. To the extent required to prevent an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy interests protected by Chapter 42.56 RCW, an agency shall delete identifying details in a manner consistent with Chapter 42.56 RCW when it makes available or publishes any public record; however, in each case, the justification for the deletion shall be explained fully in writing.
In the event of a conflict between this Privacy Policy and the Public Records Act or other law governing the agency’s disclosure of records, the Public Records Act or other applicable law will control.
Section F. Your Right to Review and Correct Personally Identifiable Information
State law requires agencies that collect personally identifiable information to provide “procedures for correcting inaccurate information, including establishing mechanisms for individuals to review information about them and recommend changes in information they believe to be inaccurate.” (RCW 43.105.310)
Subject to applicable law, you may request access to personal information that OFM maintains about you and request correction of factual inaccuracies. You can access any personally identifiable information we collect about you by using the information in the Contact Information section at the end of this Notice. You may correct factual errors in your personally identifiable information by submitting an email or written request that credibly shows the error. We will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections.
Section G. Cookies
Our site uses cookies to help you have a better experience interacting with our website.
A cookie is a small file containing an identifier (a string of letters and numbers) that is sent by a web server to a web browser and stored by the browser. The identifier may be sent back to the server when the browser requests a page from the server. Cookies may be either “persistent” cookies, which remain stored until they expire or are deleted by the user, or “session” cookies, which expire when the browser session ends. Our website may use both types.
Cookies do not necessarily contain information that directly identifies you. However, information collected through cookies or similar technologies may be associated with other information we maintain about your use of our website.
1. How We Use Cookies
We use cookies only for limited purposes related to the operation, security, functionality, and improvement of our website. These purposes include:
- Authentication and Status – We may use cookies to maintain your session, recognize you as you navigate our website, and determine whether you are logged into a website service.
- Personalization and Preferences – We may use cookies to remember certain preferences or settings you select so that the website can provide a more consistent experience.
- Security – We may use cookies as part of measures designed to protect user accounts and website services, including helping to prevent fraudulent use of login credentials.
- Website Analytics – We use analytics technologies to understand how visitors use and interact with our website and to evaluate and improve its performance, functionality, and content.
2. Analytics and Service Providers
We use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, to help us understand how visitors use our website. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to collect information about website activity and generate reports about website use.
The information collected through Google Analytics may include information such as pages viewed, referring websites, browser and device information, approximate geographic information, and information about how visitors interact with our website.
Our use of analytics is intended to help us understand and improve the performance and usability of our website. We do not use cookies or similar technologies for behavioral advertising, targeted advertising, or to track your browsing activity across unrelated websites. We do not engage in behavioral tracking technologies.
Google may process information collected through Google Analytics as described in its applicable privacy policies and terms. More information about Google’s privacy practices is available at:
3. Managing Cookies
Most web browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies. The methods for doing so vary by browser and browser version. You may consult your browser’s settings or help documentation for information about managing cookies.
Please be aware that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality or availability of some features of our website.
We do not use cookies or similar tracking technologies for targeted advertising or behavioral advertising. Accordingly, references to advertising opt-out tools are not applicable to our website.
Section H. Security
OFM maintains administrative, technical and physical safeguards designed to protect information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, disclosure or destruction. No method of transmitting or storing information can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Section I. Copyright
This site contains text, artwork, photos or other content that is copyrighted by others and is being used with permission of the copyright holder. Therefore, we recommend that you contact us for permission to use any content contained on this site.
Section J. Disclaimer
Our website contains links to other websites. These include links to websites operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private businesses, including but not limited to the websites of our vendors. When you follow a link to another site, you are no longer on our website and this Privacy Policy will not apply — you will be subject to the privacy policy of that new site.
Reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the State of Washington, this agency, or its officers, employees or agents.
Neither the State of Washington, nor any agency, officer, or employee of the State of Washington warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information published by this system, nor endorses any content, viewpoints, products, or services linked from this system, and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity who relies on any information obtained from this system does so at their own risk.
We reserve the right to revise and update this Privacy Policy at any time without notice by posting the revision on our site.
Section J. Contact Information
You may contact OFM using our Contact page.