Terms of Service

Welcome to KinTrades! These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of our platform. By creating an account or using our services, you agree to these Terms. Please read them carefully.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using KinTrades, you agree to:

• Be bound by these Terms of Service
• Comply with our Privacy Policy
• Follow all applicable laws and regulations
• Be at least 18 years old

If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use our platform.

2. Eligibility

2.1 Age Requirements

• You must be at least 18 years old to use KinTrades
• During worker account creation, you must affirmatively confirm that you are 18 or older by checking a required checkbox. This attestation is recorded server-side with a timestamp as a condition of worker platform access.
• Employer account creation is not gated on a separate age checkbox — choosing the employer role implies you are operating on behalf of a business and are 18 or older.
• Falsely attesting to being 18 or older when you are not is a violation of these Terms and grounds for immediate account termination and deletion of associated data
• If we learn that a user is under 18, we will terminate their account
• Public pages (including training resources, the student resources page, and public job listings) are informational and may be viewed without creating an account. Under-18 users are welcome to browse these resources.

2.2 Account Requirements

• You must provide accurate and complete information
• You are responsible for maintaining account security
• One person may not maintain multiple accounts
• Accounts are non-transferable

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Creation

When you create an account, you agree to:

• Provide true, accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and update your information to keep it accurate
• Keep the email address used for sign-in secure, and protect access to the inbox where one-time codes (OTPs) are delivered (KinTrades does not use passwords — sign-in is via Microsoft Entra OTP)
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized account access
• Accept responsibility for all activities under your account

3.2 Account Types

• Workers: Skilled trade workers seeking employment opportunities — including second-chance workers, veterans, and those entering the trades through alternative pathways
• Employers: Companies, contractors, and organizations posting job opportunities and hiring skilled trades workers

3.3 Workforce Partners (Not Platform Account Holders)

KinTrades works with workforce partners — including government agencies, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, training providers, and workforce development programs — through separate written agreements (such as memoranda of understanding, grant awards, contracts, or data-sharing agreements). Workforce partners do not create accounts on the KinTrades platform.

These Terms govern only the relationship between KinTrades and platform account holders (workers and employers). The relationship between KinTrades and any workforce partner is governed by the applicable signed agreement between KinTrades (KinTech, LLC) and that partner; in case of conflict between these Terms and a signed partner agreement, the signed agreement controls. Public-sector partners (government entities and public institutions) are not deemed by these Terms to have waived sovereign immunity, accepted indemnification obligations, or agreed to binding arbitration.

3.4 Account Termination

You may close your account at any time. We may suspend or terminate your account if you:

• Violate these Terms
• Engage in fraudulent activity
• Falsely attest to being 18 or older (as described in Section 2.1)
• Harass or harm other users
• Post false or misleading information
• Violate applicable laws

4. User Conduct

4.1 Acceptable Use

You agree to use KinTrades only for lawful purposes. You will NOT:

• Post false, misleading, or deceptive information
• Impersonate another person or entity
• Harass, threaten, or discriminate against others
• Violate anyone's intellectual property rights
• Attempt to hack, disrupt, or damage the platform
• Use automated tools (bots, scrapers) without permission
• Post inappropriate, offensive, or illegal content
• Misuse contact information provided by other users

4.2 Workers

As a worker, you agree to:

• Provide accurate work history and skills information
• Be honest about certifications and licenses you hold
• Respond professionally to employer contact via phone or email
• Provide accurate contact information (phone and email)
• Understand that employers can see your phone and email only when you enable "Show Contact Information" in your Privacy Settings, and that this applies both when they search for workers and when you apply to a job
• Only upload appropriate, work-related photos and videos to your profile
• Provide accurate reference information if you choose to list professional references
• Respond promptly when employers express interest in your profile

4.3 Employers

As an employer, you agree to:

• Post legitimate job opportunities only
• Comply with all applicable employment laws and regulations, including federal, state, and local anti-discrimination statutes
• Not discriminate based on protected characteristics (including but not limited to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, pregnancy, or veteran status)
• Consider applicants with a criminal record in accordance with applicable fair-chance and "ban-the-box" laws in the jurisdictions where you hire (including, where applicable, the Virginia Fair Chance Hiring Act, the District of Columbia Fair Criminal Record Screening Amendment Act, the Maryland Criminal Record Screening Practices Act, and similar laws in other states), and apply any record-based consideration only to the extent permitted by law and job-relevant to the position
• Honor second-chance-friendly commitments when posting second-chance-friendly jobs
• Keep candidate information confidential
• Not use the platform for recruiting competitors or non-hiring purposes
• Use worker contact information only for legitimate hiring purposes
• Contact workers professionally via phone, email, or text
• Respect workers' privacy and not share their information without permission
• Not spam or harass workers with excessive contact attempts

5. Content and Intellectual Property

5.1 Your Content

You retain ownership of content you post (profiles, photos, videos, work history). By posting content, you grant KinTrades a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, sublicensable (to our service providers such as Microsoft Azure solely for hosting and delivery) license, for the purpose of operating, providing, and improving the KinTrades platform, to:

• Display your content on our platform
• Share your profile with employers in accordance with your Privacy Settings — your phone number and email are only visible to employers when you have "Show Contact Information" enabled; your references' contact details are only shared when you have "Show Reference Information" enabled
• Store your photos and videos on our secure servers
• Use aggregated, anonymized data for analytics and platform improvements
• Make backups and technical copies for platform operation

Third-party likeness: if any photo, video, or audio you upload includes other identifiable individuals (for example, coworkers, clients, or bystanders visible at a jobsite), you represent that you have obtained their permission — or that they are not identifiable — before sharing that content on KinTrades. You are responsible for respecting the privacy and publicity rights of other people captured in your content.

5.2 Our Content

KinTrades owns all rights to:

• Platform design, features, and functionality
• KinTrades name, logo, and branding
• Documentation, guides, and resources we create

5.3 Content Moderation

We reserve the right to:

• Review, monitor, and remove content
• Remove content that violates these Terms
• Take action against users who post inappropriate content

Uploaded photos and videos may be automatically scanned using Azure AI Content Safety to detect inappropriate content (hate speech, self-harm, sexual content, violence). Content flagged by automated moderation may be blocked or reviewed by our team.

5.4 SMS and Text Messages

By providing your phone number and opting in to SMS notifications during registration, you consent to receiving text messages from KinTrades regarding job opportunities, hiring updates, and required employment documentation.

• Phone number verification codes
• Job match notifications and hiring updates
• Required employment documentation delivery

SMS consent is collected via a separate, unchecked checkbox during registration. Consent to receive SMS is not required to use KinTrades. Messages are only sent in response to user-initiated activity on the platform.

Message frequency: approximately 1–5 messages per month. Standard message and data rates may apply.

You can opt out at any time by replying STOP to any message, toggling off SMS notifications in your profile settings, or contacting us at support@kintrades.com. Reply HELP for assistance.

For full SMS terms, see our SMS Terms & Conditions.

6. Payments and Fees

KinTrades is currently available at no cost for both workers and employers. We reserve the right to introduce fees in the future and will provide advance notice of any pricing changes.

7. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your information.

Key privacy commitments:

• We do not sell or share your personal information for advertising purposes
• Your criminal history is private unless you choose to share it
• You can delete your account and data at any time
• We honor the Global Privacy Control (GPC) browser signal — if your browser sends GPC, analytics scripts do not load during your visit

7.1 Automated Decision-Making

KinTrades uses automated tools to help match workers with job opportunities:

• Match Score (0–100): An indicator of how well a worker's profile aligns with a job posting, based on skill fit, suitability, and other signals. Match Scores help employers discover relevant candidates but do not make hiring decisions.
• Reliability Score (0–100): A general readiness indicator visible to employers. Reliability Scores do not consider criminal history or background checks, and do not make hiring decisions.

These scores are informational tools — they do not make hiring decisions, though they may influence the order in which candidates appear in employer search results. All accept, reject, and hiring decisions are made by employers.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties

KinTrades is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee:

• That you will find employment through our platform
• That job postings are accurate or legitimate
• That employers will follow through on job opportunities
• That the platform will be error-free or uninterrupted
• That all users are who they claim to be
• The accuracy of information in worker profiles, photos, or videos

8.1 Worker Disclaimer

KinTrades is a platform that connects workers with employers. We are not:

• An employment agency
• Responsible for hiring decisions
• A guarantor of employment outcomes
• Liable for employer conduct or working conditions
• Responsible for how employers use your contact information

8.2 Employer Disclaimer

KinTrades does not screen, endorse, or guarantee any worker on the platform. We do not verify the accuracy of worker profiles, the validity of certifications or credentials workers list, or the authenticity of photos and videos workers upload. We do not guarantee any worker's performance, attendance, work quality, or fitness for a particular job.

Employers are solely responsible for:

• Verifying candidate qualifications, credentials, and references
• Running any background, drug, or fitness-for-duty checks they require
• Conducting their own due diligence before extending an offer
• Compliance with all applicable employment laws
• Workplace safety and working conditions
• Appropriate and lawful use of worker contact information
• All terms of the employment relationship they form with a hired worker

KinTrades is not a party to any employment relationship between an employer and a worker hired through the platform, and is not responsible for the performance, conduct, or outcomes of any such relationship.

9. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, KINTRADES (KINTECH, LLC) SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

• Indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages
• Lost profits, data, or business opportunities
• User errors or misuse of the platform
• Third-party actions (including employers and workers)
• Content posted by users
• Decisions made based on platform information

Our total liability to you for any claims related to KinTrades shall not exceed $100 or the amount you paid us in the past 12 months, whichever is greater.

Exceptions: Nothing in this Section 9 limits or excludes our liability for:

• Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation
• Gross negligence or willful misconduct
• Death or bodily injury caused by our negligence
• Statutory damages that cannot be limited or waived under applicable law (including, without limitation, statutory damages under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act, the California Consumer Privacy Act, or similar federal or state laws)
• Any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law (such as California Civil Code § 1668)

10. Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to indemnify and hold KinTrades (KinTech, LLC) harmless from third-party claims, damages, or reasonable expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• Your use of the platform
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any laws or regulations
• Content you post on the platform
• Your interactions with other users

This indemnification obligation does not apply to any portion of a claim caused by our own gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud, or violation of law. We will promptly notify you of any claim for which we seek indemnification, and you will have the right to control the defense and settlement (subject to our approval of any settlement that imposes non-monetary obligations on us, not to be unreasonably withheld).

11. Dispute Resolution

11.1 Informal Resolution

If you have a dispute with KinTrades, please contact us first at support@kintrades.com. We'll work with you to resolve issues informally.

11.2 Arbitration Agreement

If we cannot resolve a dispute informally, and subject to the carve-outs and opt-out below, you and KinTrades agree to resolve all disputes through final, binding, individual arbitration rather than in court.

Rules and administrator: Arbitration will be administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Consumer Arbitration Rules in effect at the time the arbitration is commenced. If AAA is unavailable or declines to administer, the parties will select a substitute neutral arbitration administrator by agreement, or, failing agreement, a court may appoint one.

Location and format: Arbitration will be conducted by videoconference or telephone by default to minimize cost and travel burden on users. Upon a party's written request, the arbitrator may order an in-person hearing at a neutral location within the user's U.S. state of residence.

Fees: KinTech, LLC will pay all AAA filing, administrative, and arbitrator fees in excess of any fee the user would have paid to file the same claim in the small claims court of their state of residence. This provision does not require KinTech to pay fees found by the arbitrator to have been incurred in bad faith.

Carve-outs (claims not subject to arbitration): The following claims may be brought in court at the claimant's option:

• Individual claims within the monetary jurisdiction of small claims court (generally under $10,000)
• Claims to enforce or protect intellectual property rights
• Requests for temporary or preliminary injunctive relief
• Claims alleging sexual assault or sexual harassment, as defined by 9 U.S.C. § 402 (the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021), which the claimant may elect to bring in court at their discretion
• Any claim that, as a matter of applicable federal or state law, cannot be subject to pre-dispute mandatory arbitration

11.3 Class Action Waiver

In any arbitration under Section 11.2, or in any court proceeding permitted under Section 11.2 (including by virtue of the opt-out) or Section 11.5, claims must be brought individually. To the fullest extent permitted by law, you and KinTrades waive the right to participate in a class, collective, representative, consolidated, or private-attorney-general proceeding against the other.

Severability and "blow-up" provision: The arbitrator (or court, if applicable) may not consolidate more than one person's claims or preside over any form of class or representative proceeding. If this class-action waiver is found unenforceable as to a particular claim, then that claim — and only that claim — will be severed from the arbitration agreement and litigated in the courts identified in Section 11.5. The remainder of Section 11.2 (including the individual-arbitration requirement for all other claims) will remain in force.

11.4 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. However, this choice of law does not deprive any user of the protection of non-waivable consumer-protection or privacy laws of their state of residence (for example, the California Consumer Privacy Act, the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act, or similar statutes), which apply to the extent they provide greater rights than Virginia law.

11.5 Forum for Court Proceedings

For any claim that is brought in court rather than arbitration (whether under Section 11.2's carve-outs, through an arbitration opt-out, or because a claim is found non-arbitrable), the parties agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Fairfax County, Virginia, and consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts. This forum-selection clause does not apply to small-claims actions, which may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the user's state of residence.

12. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by:

• Posting updated Terms on our platform
• Sending email notification to your registered email
• Displaying a notice on our website

Material changes take effect 30 days after notification. Non-material changes (clarifications, formatting, typo fixes, or updates to third-party service providers that do not expand our rights or reduce yours) may take effect immediately upon posting. Your continued use of KinTrades after changes take effect means you accept the updated Terms.

13. General Provisions

13.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, along with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and KinTrades.

13.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found invalid, the remaining provisions remain in effect.

13.3 No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any provision does not waive our right to enforce it later.

13.4 Assignment

You may not transfer your rights under these Terms. We may assign our rights to any successor or affiliate.

13.5 Force Majeure

We are not liable for delays or failures due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control (natural disasters, war, strikes, etc.).

14. Contact Information

Questions about these Terms? Contact us:

• Email: legal@kintrades.com
• Support: Visit our Support Center
• Mail: KinTech, LLC - KinTrades Legal Team
  9230 Old Keene Mill Road #1087
  Burke, VA 22015

15. Acknowledgment

By using KinTrades, you acknowledge that:

• You have read and understood these Terms
• You agree to be bound by these Terms
• You are legally capable of entering into binding contracts
• You will use the platform responsibly and ethically

Thank you for being part of the KinTrades community. Together, we're strengthening the skilled trades workforce and expanding access to meaningful work for everyone ready to build a career in the trades.