Hays Research Group LLC — Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 30, 2026

Hays Research Group LLC ("HRG," "we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains the information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. It applies to:

  • haysresearch.com and any related HRG websites

  • the Alaska Panel mobile application and admin panel (alaskapanel.com, app.alaskapanel.com, admin.alaskapanel.com)

  • HRG's market research services, including focus groups, surveys, data collection, and data analysis

  • SMS/text-message communications with phone numbers operated by HRG

By using our services or websites, you agree to the practices described in this Policy.

Who We Are and What We Do

HRG is an Alaska-based market research firm. We design and conduct focus groups, surveys, panels, and other research studies on behalf of clients in industries including (but not limited to) healthcare, consumer goods, public sector, and professional services. Some of our work involves health-related data and may be subject to additional legal protections, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA"). See "Health Information" below.

Eligibility — 18 and Older Only

Alaska Panel is intended for, and registration is limited to, individuals who are 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. When you register, we ask for your date of birth and block account creation for anyone under 18. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a person under 18, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a person under 18 has provided us with personal information, contact us at info@haysresearch.com.

Information We Collect

From research participants. When you participate in HRG research (focus groups, surveys, interviews, panels, or studies through Alaska Panel), we may collect:

  • Contact information (name, email, phone, mailing address)

  • Demographic information (age, gender, household, income, education, occupation, and approximate location or region within Alaska). In some studies this includes sensitive categories such as race or ethnicity and political or religious beliefs — see "Sensitive Information" below

  • Survey responses, focus-group statements, and other study contributions

  • Audio, video, or written transcripts of focus groups and interviews

  • Account credentials when you register for Alaska Panel (handled through Firebase Authentication), and a phone number that we verify by one-time code

  • Device information and identifiers (device model, operating system, app version, and a device identifier used to deliver push notifications and to help prevent fraud)

  • Incentive-delivery information — the email address used to deliver your reward (for example, via Tremendous). If your total compensation reaches tax-reporting thresholds, we may also collect tax-reporting information (for example, a W-9, which can include an SSN or EIN)

Health-related information. Some studies involve health-related questions. Depending on the study, this may include health conditions, treatments, medications, providers, insurance, or related topics. Health information is handled with additional safeguards described under "Health Information" below.

From clients and prospective clients. When you contact HRG or engage HRG for services, we collect business contact information, the contents of communications, and project-related data you share with us.

From website visitors. When you visit haysresearch.com or any Alaska Panel web property, we may collect standard analytics data (IP address, browser, device, pages visited, referring URL).

From SMS communications. If you exchange SMS messages with a phone number operated by HRG, we collect the message content, your phone number, and delivery metadata.

Sensitive Information

Some studies ask about sensitive topics. Depending on the study, this can include race or ethnicity, political or religious beliefs, or health-related information (see "Health Information"). We collect sensitive information only when a specific study requires it, we describe it in that study's consent materials, and where sensitive information will be shared with a client in a form that identifies you, we obtain your affirmative, study-specific consent before you participate.

How We Use Information

We use information to:

  • Recruit, screen, and compensate research participants

  • Conduct focus groups, surveys, interviews, and panel studies

  • Deliver research findings and deliverables to clients

  • Verify your identity and Alaska residency, and prevent fraud and duplicate enrollment in panels [optional, confirm:which may include checking the information you provide against public records, such as voter-registration data]

  • Issue tax-reporting forms (1099-MISC, 1099-NEC) where required by law

  • Operate, secure, and improve our websites and the Alaska Panel app

  • Respond to inquiries and conduct ordinary business communications

  • Send and receive SMS communications with consenting parties

  • Comply with legal, tax, regulatory, and contractual obligations

How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information.

We share information with:

  • Clients — research findings and, in some studies, identifiable data. We deliver research results to the clients who commission our studies. For many studies these results are de-identified or aggregated, and we separate direct identifiers from responses. However, some studies require individual-level, identifiable data. In those studies we share with the client data that may include your name, email address, and phone number; your demographic information (which can include sensitive categories such as race or ethnicity and political or religious beliefs); your survey responses; your approximate location or region; and incentive or payment information. We share identifiable or sensitive data with a client only where the specific study requires it and only after you have given affirmative, study-specific consent before participating.

  • Service providers that support our operations under appropriate confidentiality and (where applicable) Business Associate Agreement terms — including survey and form platforms (e.g., Jotform, SurveyMonkey), incentive and payment platforms (e.g., Tremendous), authentication providers (e.g., Firebase), SMS and phone-verification providers (e.g., Twilio), cloud hosting and storage providers (e.g., Render, Google Cloud Storage), error-monitoring providers (e.g., Sentry), and email providers (e.g., Postmark). These providers process data on our behalf and are not permitted to use it for their own purposes.

  • Tax authorities, where compensation paid to participants meets reporting thresholds.

  • Legal authorities, when required by law, subpoena, or court order.

  • Successors, in the event of a business transfer, merger, or acquisition.

We do not share SMS opt-in data, phone numbers, or message contents with third parties for marketing purposes, and we do not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.

Health Information

HRG handles health information under one of two frameworks, depending on the study:

As a Business Associate. When HRG conducts research on behalf of a HIPAA-covered entity (such as a hospital, health plan, or healthcare provider), HRG operates as a "Business Associate" under HIPAA. In those engagements, we sign a Business Associate Agreement ("BAA") with the covered entity and handle Protected Health Information ("PHI") in accordance with HIPAA's Privacy and Security Rules and the terms of the BAA. PHI is used and disclosed only as permitted by the BAA and applicable law.

As a direct collector. When HRG collects health-related information directly from research participants for clients who are not HIPAA-covered entities (such as pharmaceutical marketers, consumer health brands, or non-clinical researchers), HIPAA may not technically apply. In those cases, HRG nonetheless treats health information as sensitive: we collect only what the study requires, use it only for the stated research purpose, store it with administrative and technical safeguards, and limit access to authorized personnel.

In either case, we will tell you (in study-specific consent materials) what health information is being collected and how it will be used before you participate.

SMS Communications

If you exchange SMS messages with HRG, the following apply:

  • Consent. SMS communications occur only with parties who have affirmatively consented (verbally, in writing, or by self-provisioning a system as the account owner).

  • Opt-out. Reply STOP to any message to opt out. Reply START to opt back in.

  • Help. Reply HELP at any time for contact information.

  • Carrier charges. Standard message and data rates from your wireless carrier may apply.

  • Frequency. Message frequency varies based on the nature of the conversation.

  • No mobile information sharing. Mobile phone numbers and SMS opt-in data are not shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, comply with legal and tax obligations (including 1099 reporting and audit requirements), resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. Research data may be retained in identified or de-identified form per client contract requirements. Retention periods for PHI under a BAA are governed by the applicable BAA and HIPAA's requirements.

For Alaska Panel accounts: when you request account deletion (available in the app), we begin a deletion process that completes after a 30-day grace period, after which your personal data is removed from our active systems. Limited records may be retained where required for legal, tax, or fraud-prevention purposes.

Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information, including access controls, encryption of certain sensitive data fields, encryption in transit, and contractual safeguards with service providers. For PHI, additional safeguards are implemented in accordance with HIPAA's Security Rule. No method of transmission or storage is perfectly secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Choices

You may:

  • Decline to participate in any research study

  • Withdraw from a study before data is finalized (subject to study-specific terms)

  • Request a copy of personal information we hold about you

  • Request correction or deletion of personal information, subject to legal, tax, and contractual recordkeeping obligations

  • Delete your Alaska Panel account and associated personal data directly in the app

  • Opt out of SMS communications by replying STOP

  • Contact us with privacy-related questions at the address below

For health information held under a BAA, additional rights may apply under HIPAA. Contact the covered entity that engaged HRG, or contact us using the information below and we will direct your request appropriately.

California Residents

If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA") and California Privacy Rights Act ("CPRA"), including the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to request deletion, the right to correct inaccurate information, and the right to opt out of "sales" or "sharing" of personal information. HRG does not sell personal information and does not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising. To exercise your rights, contact us using the information below. We will not discriminate against you for exercising these rights.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date.

Contact

For privacy-related questions or requests, contact:

Hays Research Group LLC Email: info@haysresearch.com Anchorage, Alaska