Who we are

Escalati is the trading name of the human recruitment consulting division of Absolute Link Limited. We operate from head offices in India and Canada and provide recruitment, executive search, RPO, HR consulting, payroll/EOR, and recruitment advertising services.

For data protection purposes, Escalati is the data controller of personal information we collect directly from you, and a data processor where we handle information on behalf of a client under an EOR or similar arrangement.

Scope

This policy applies to personal information collected through our website at escalati.site, our services, any communication with us, and events or marketing we run. It does not apply to third-party websites we may link to, or to client systems we may access while performing services for a client.

What information we collect

If you are a candidate

• Identity and contact data: name, email, phone, location, nationality, right-to-work status
• Professional data: CV, work history, education, qualifications, references, interview notes
• Compensation data: current and expected salary, benefits, notice period
• Assessment data: results of interviews and internal assessments
• Diversity data (optional): kept separate and anonymised unless you consent otherwise

If you are a client or business contact

• Contact data: name, title, work email, work phone, employer
• Relationship data: record of conversations, meetings, engagements, contracts
• Billing data: invoicing address, PO references, payment records

If you use our website

• Technical data: IP, browser, device, referring URL, pages visited
• Usage data: how you interact with our site
• Communication data: form submissions, newsletter signups

How we collect information

Directly from you

When you send us your CV, submit a form, email or call us, attend an interview, or subscribe to our newsletter.

From third parties

With your consent or where the law permits, from references, background-check providers, job boards, LinkedIn and other recruitment platforms.

Automatically

Through cookies and similar technologies when you visit our website (see Section 11).

Why we use your information

1. Recruitment services — to assess your suitability for roles and present you to clients (with consent)
2. Consulting and payroll/EOR — to onboard employees, run payroll, and comply with local employment law
3. Client relationships — to respond to enquiries, issue proposals, and provide support
4. Improving services — to understand which services and articles are used
5. Marketing — to share insights, only where you have opted in
6. Legal compliance — to maintain records required by tax and employment law
7. Business protection — to detect and prevent fraud and misuse

Our legal bases

India — DPDP Act, 2023

We process personal data on the basis of your consent or, where the DPDP Act permits, for certain legitimate uses — including employment-related purposes, compliance with legal obligations, and responding to emergencies.

Canada — PIPEDA

We collect, use and disclose personal information only with your knowledge and consent, except where the law permits otherwise.

EEA / UK — GDPR and UK GDPR

• Contract — to perform a contract with you
• Legal obligation — to comply with the law
• Legitimate interests — for our legitimate business interests
• Consent — where we have asked for it

Who we share information with

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only as needed to deliver our services, comply with the law, or with your consent:

• Clients (for candidates) — only with your consent, for a specific role
• Group companies — under appropriate data protection safeguards
• Service providers — cloud hosting, ATS, payroll, background checks, analytics
• Legal recipients — where required by law, court order or regulator

International data transfers

Our team works across India and Canada, so your information may be transferred to, stored in and processed in a country other than the one in which you provided it. We take steps to ensure appropriate protection: adequacy mechanisms, Standard Contractual Clauses, internal policies, and limiting access to those who need it.

How long we keep information

• Candidate CVs and profiles: up to 24 months from last meaningful contact
• Client contact records: duration of relationship plus 7 years
• Website analytics: up to 26 months
• Marketing preferences and consent records: for the duration of marketing and a reasonable period afterwards
• Payroll and EOR records: as required by applicable tax and employment law (typically 7 years)

How we protect information

• Encryption of data in transit (HTTPS) and, where appropriate, at rest
• Access controls limiting who can see your information
• Multi-factor authentication on key systems
• Regular software updates and security patching
• Staff training on data protection and confidentiality
• Confidentiality obligations in employment contracts and supplier agreements
• Incident response procedures to detect and respond to breaches

No system is completely secure. If a breach occurs that is likely to result in a risk to your rights and freedoms, we will notify you and the relevant regulator where required by law.

Cookies and tracking

Types of cookies we use

• Strictly necessary — required for the website to function
• Analytics — help us understand how the site is used
• Marketing — set only where you have consented

You can manage cookies through our consent tool (where shown) and your browser settings.

Your rights

• Access — to receive a copy of the information we hold about you
• Correction — to have inaccurate or incomplete information corrected
• Erasure — to ask us to delete your information in certain circumstances
• Restriction — to ask us to limit how we use your information
• Objection — to object to processing based on legitimate interests, or to direct marketing
• Portability — to receive your information in a machine-readable format
• Withdraw consent — where we rely on consent
• Complain — to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority

Right to nominate (India — DPDP Act)

You may nominate an individual to exercise your data protection rights on your behalf in the event of your death or incapacity.

How to exercise your rights

Email privacy@escalati.site or write to the address in Section 17. We will verify your identity before acting, and aim to respond within 30 days.

Children’s privacy

Our services are aimed at adults in the workforce. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18 without appropriate parental or guardian involvement.

Third-party links

Our website may contain links to third-party sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy. When we make material changes, we will update the “Last updated” date, post the updated policy, and notify you where required by law.

How to contact us

Acceptance of these terms

By accessing, browsing or using our website, submitting information to us, requesting our services, or entering into a service agreement with us, you confirm that: you have read and agree to these Terms; you are at least the age of majority in your jurisdiction; and if acting on behalf of a company, you have authority to bind that entity.

These Terms apply in addition to — and do not replace — any specific service agreement, statement of work, engagement letter or fee schedule you sign with us. If there is any conflict, the signed agreement prevails.

Definitions

• “Escalati”, “we”, “us”, “our” — the human recruitment consulting division of Absolute Link Limited
• “Website” — escalati.site and any related sub-domains
• “Services” — recruitment, executive search, RPO, HR consulting, payroll/EOR and advertising services
• “Client” — any person or entity that engages us to provide Services
• “Candidate” — any individual who submits their details to us
• “User”, “you” — any person using the Website or the Services
• “Content” — text, images, logos, data, graphics and other material on the Website
• “Group” — Absolute Link Limited and its group companies

About Escalati

Escalati is the trading name of the human recruitment consulting division of Absolute Link Limited. We operate from head offices in New Delhi, India and Toronto, Canada. The contracting entity is the Escalati office (India or Canada) named on your engagement letter, statement of work or invoice.

Use of our website

You may use the Website for lawful purposes only. You must not:

• Use the Website in any way that breaches applicable law
• Send unsolicited commercial communications or spam
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to our systems
• Introduce viruses or other harmful code
• Scrape, harvest or systematically extract data without consent
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Submit false, misleading, defamatory or unlawful information
• Infringe the intellectual property rights of Escalati, the Group or any third party

Terms applying to our services

Engagement and scope

We will provide the Services described in the engagement letter with reasonable skill and care. Any changes to the scope must be agreed in writing, and may result in changes to fees or timelines.

Independent contractor

Unless a separate Employer of Record arrangement says otherwise, we act as an independent contractor. Nothing creates a partnership, joint venture, agency or employment relationship.

Replacement guarantee

Permanent placements are backed by a replacement guarantee, the terms of which are set out in the engagement letter. The guarantee does not apply where the role has been materially changed, or where the hire has been terminated for cause.

Non-solicitation (where agreed)

Where a Client has engaged us on a retained, RPO or engagement-fee basis, and where the engagement letter says so, the Client agrees not to directly engage any Candidate introduced by us for a period of 12 months without our written consent and applicable fee.

Client obligations

• Provide accurate, complete and timely information about the role
• Respond to shortlists and interview requests within a reasonable time
• Conduct your own due diligence on any Candidate
• Comply with all applicable employment, immigration, anti-discrimination and data protection laws
• Use information about a Candidate only for assessing suitability for the role in question
• Pay our fees in accordance with the engagement letter

Candidate obligations

• Provide accurate, current and complete information about your experience and right to work
• Tell us promptly if your circumstances change
• Confirm interest and availability before any interview
• Not submit information under multiple identities or false pretences
• Respect the confidentiality of client information you receive
• Notify us if you have already been introduced to a client by another source

Fees, invoicing and payment

Currency and taxes

Fees are quoted in the currency stated in the engagement letter (typically INR, CAD or USD). Fees are exclusive of applicable taxes (GST, HST, VAT, withholding tax) which will be added where required by law.

Invoicing

Invoices are issued as set out in the engagement letter. Contingency fees typically become payable on offer acceptance; retained and RPO fees are invoiced in stages.

Payment terms

Unless agreed otherwise, invoices are payable within 30 days of invoice date. We reserve the right to charge interest on overdue amounts at 1.5% per month (or the maximum permitted by law).

Disputed invoices

If you dispute an invoice in good faith, notify us within 14 days of receipt. Undisputed portions remain payable.

Refunds and replacements

Where a placement ends within the guarantee period, our standard remedy is a replacement search, not a refund.

Advertising & media services

• Authority: delivered under group-level authority from Absolute Link Limited
• Third-party costs: media spend, ad placements and platform fees are typically passed through at cost plus agreed fee
• Campaign performance: we do not guarantee specific results, though we use reasonable skill and care
• Client-supplied content: you are responsible for ensuring creative and copy is accurate and lawful
• Platform terms: third-party advertising is subject to those platforms’ own terms and policies

Intellectual property

All intellectual property rights in the Website and Content belong to Escalati, the Group, or their respective licensors. You may not copy, reproduce, modify, distribute or exploit any part without consent, except that you may view, download and print pages for personal, non-commercial use, and share links with attribution.

Any materials we produce for you as part of a Client engagement are licensed for your internal business use, on the terms set out in the engagement letter. We retain ownership of our underlying methodologies and tools.

Confidentiality

Each party agrees to keep confidential any non-public information disclosed by the other in connection with the Services, and to use it only for the purpose for which it was disclosed. This does not include information that is publicly available, already lawfully known, independently developed, or required to be disclosed by law. These obligations survive for 5 years after the engagement ends, and indefinitely for trade secrets.

Privacy and data protection

Our collection, use, storage and sharing of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms. Where we handle personal data on your behalf, we do so as a data processor under a separate data processing agreement.

No guarantee of placement or hire

We cannot and do not guarantee that any Candidate will be selected for a role, that any Client will find a suitable Candidate, that a Candidate will accept an offer or remain in a role, that a hire will perform to a particular standard, or that our Services will result in any particular commercial outcome. Hiring decisions are made by our Clients.

Third-party links and services

The Website may contain links to third-party sites. We are not responsible for their content, policies or practices. Use of any third-party service is governed by that third party’s own terms.

Disclaimers

• The Website and Content are provided on an “as is” basis
• We make no warranty that the Website will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure or free from viruses
• We make no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any Content
• Content is general information and does not constitute legal, tax, immigration or other professional advice
• Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited

Limitation of liability

• Neither party is liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive loss or damage
• Our total aggregate liability to a Client is limited to the fees paid in the 12 months preceding the claim, or the total fees payable for the specific engagement, whichever is lower
• Our total aggregate liability to a Candidate or other User is limited to INR 10,000 or CAD 150, unless a higher cap applies under local law

Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Escalati, the Group, and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents from any claim, loss, damage, cost or expense arising out of: your breach of these Terms; your misuse of the Website; your breach of applicable law; or any claim by a third party arising from content you supplied to us.

Suspension and termination

Termination by Client or Candidate

A Client may terminate an engagement as set out in the engagement letter (typically 30 days’ written notice, and payment for work performed). A Candidate may withdraw at any time by written notice.

Termination by Escalati

We may suspend or terminate immediately if: you materially breach these Terms and the breach is not remedied within 14 days; you fail to pay an undisputed invoice within 14 days; continuing would require us to act unlawfully; or we reasonably believe you pose a risk to our staff, Candidates, Clients or systems.

Effect of termination

Fees already earned or payable become due immediately. Clauses that by their nature should survive termination (confidentiality, IP, indemnity, limitation of liability, governing law) continue to apply.

Force majeure

We will not be liable for any delay or failure caused by events beyond our reasonable control. If such an event continues for more than 60 days, either party may terminate the affected engagement on written notice.

Governing law and jurisdiction

Engagements with Escalati India

Governed by the laws of the Republic of India. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts of New Delhi, India, subject to the dispute resolution provisions in Section 21.

Engagements with Escalati Canada

Governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada and applicable federal laws of Canada. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Toronto, Ontario, subject to Section 21.

Website use

Disputes relating solely to use of the Website are governed by the law of the Escalati entity that operates the Website in your jurisdiction.

Dispute resolution

1. Notice of dispute — written notice setting out the facts, the relief sought and any amount claimed
2. Good-faith negotiation — the parties meet within 14 days of notice
3. Mediation — if not resolved within 30 days, either party may refer to mediation under the rules of the Delhi International Arbitration Centre (India) or ADR Institute of Canada (Canada)
4. Arbitration or litigation — if mediation does not resolve, the parties may proceed as set out in the engagement letter or as agreed in writing

Nothing prevents either party from seeking urgent injunctive or interim relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.

Changes to these terms

We may update these Terms. When we make material changes, we will update the “Last updated” date, post the updated Terms, and notify you where required by law. Changes do not affect rights already accrued under a signed engagement letter.

General provisions

Entire agreement

These Terms, together with any applicable engagement letter, fee schedule and the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Escalati.

Severability

If any provision is found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force.

No waiver

No failure or delay in exercising any right operates as a waiver of that right.

Assignment

You may not assign your rights without our written consent. We may assign to any entity within the Absolute Link Limited group, provided the assignment does not materially affect your rights.

Notices

Formal notices should be sent by email to legal@escalati.site, with a copy by courier to the relevant head office.

Third-party rights

These Terms do not confer rights on any third party, except that companies within the Absolute Link Limited group may enforce provisions that specifically benefit them.

Language

These Terms are drafted in English. Any translation is for convenience only, and the English version prevails.

How to contact us