In plain terms: We use essential cookies to keep the app working, analytics cookies to understand how the site is used, and optional functional cookies to remember your preferences. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies for third-party ad networks. You can opt out of non-essential cookies.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website or use a web application. They are widely used to make websites work, or work more efficiently, and to provide information to the site owner.
Similar technologies include local storage, session storage, and pixel tags (also called web beacons). Where this policy refers to "cookies", it also covers these similar technologies.
Cookies can be:
- Session cookies: Temporary; deleted when you close your browser
- Persistent cookies: Remain on your device for a set period or until manually deleted
- First-party cookies: Set by Octal HR directly
- Third-party cookies: Set by a third-party service we use (e.g., Google Analytics)
2. How We Use Cookies
Octal HR uses cookies across two distinct environments:
2.1 Marketing Website (octalhr.com)
On our public marketing website, we use cookies to:
- Remember your cookie consent preferences
- Analyse which pages and content are most visited (using anonymised analytics)
- Understand where visitors come from (referral source tracking)
- Improve site performance based on aggregate usage patterns
2.2 Application Platform (app.octalhr.com)
Inside the Octal HR application, cookies are essential for core functionality:
- Maintaining your authenticated session so you stay logged in
- Storing your UI preferences (e.g., sidebar state, selected company)
- Providing security features such as CSRF protection
- Remembering your language and regional settings
Within the application, we do not use analytics or marketing cookies. The session data stored in cookies within the application is encrypted and not accessible to third parties.
3. Types of Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website and application to function. They cannot be disabled without breaking core features. No consent is required for these.
- Authentication tokens (keeping you logged in)
- CSRF tokens (preventing cross-site request forgery attacks)
- Cookie consent state (remembering your preferences)
- Load balancer session affinity
Analytics Cookies
These help us understand how visitors use our marketing website so we can improve it. All data is anonymised — we cannot identify individual visitors from analytics data.
- Google Analytics (page views, session duration, traffic sources)
- Custom event tracking (e.g., CTA button clicks, demo requests)
Functional Cookies
These remember your preferences and customise your experience:
- Dark/light mode preference
- Last-visited page within the application
- Table column width preferences
- Chat widget state (open/closed)
Marketing Cookies
We do not use marketing or advertising cookies. We do not place tracking pixels for social media retargeting, and we do not share your data with advertising networks for the purpose of showing you ads.
4. Cookies We Use
The following table lists the specific cookies set by Octal HR as of the effective date:
| Cookie Name | Category | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
ohr_session |
Maintains your authenticated login session inside the application | Session | |
ohr_csrf |
CSRF protection token for form submissions | Session | |
ohr_remember |
"Remember me" persistent login token (only set if you tick "Remember me") | 30 days | |
ohr_consent |
Stores your cookie consent decision so we don't ask again | 1 year | |
ohr_prefs |
Stores UI preferences (sidebar state, theme, locale) | 6 months | |
_ga |
Google Analytics — distinguishes unique visitors (anonymised) | 2 years | |
_ga_* |
Google Analytics — persists session state | 2 years | |
_gid |
Google Analytics — distinguishes users (refreshed daily) | 24 hours |
This list is updated when we add or remove cookies. Check the "Last Updated" date above for currency.
5. Third-Party Cookies
We use a limited set of third-party services that may set cookies:
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand aggregate website traffic on octalhr.com. We have configured Google Analytics with IP anonymisation enabled, meaning your full IP address is never stored. We do not use Google Analytics Advertising Features.
You can opt out of Google Analytics entirely using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Google's privacy policy: policies.google.com/privacy
What We Don't Use
We do not use cookies from: Meta (Facebook Pixel), LinkedIn Insight Tag, Twitter/X Pixel, Hotjar, Intercom, Drift, or any other third-party advertising or tracking platforms on our marketing website.
Inside the application, no third-party analytics or advertising cookies are used.
6. Managing Your Cookie Preferences
6.1 Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit octalhr.com, a cookie banner will appear asking for your consent to optional (analytics and functional) cookies. You can accept all, reject optional cookies, or customise your preferences. Essential cookies cannot be disabled.
You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer of any page.
6.2 Browser Settings
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Here are links to cookie management instructions for major browsers:
Note: Blocking all cookies will prevent you from logging into the Octal HR application, as session cookies are essential for authentication.
6.3 Mobile Devices
On mobile browsers, you can manage cookies through your device's browser settings. The Octal HR application is a web app accessed through a browser — we do not use device-level tracking (IDFA, GAID) as we do not offer a native mobile app at this time.
7. Do Not Track
Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal. Currently, there is no universal standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals. Octal HR does not currently respond differently to DNT signals, but we encourage you to use our cookie consent tool to control your preferences explicitly.
If a DNT standard is adopted that we are required to follow, we will update this policy accordingly.
8. Policy Updates
We will update this Cookie Policy if:
- We add new cookies or remove existing ones
- A third-party service we use changes its cookie behaviour
- Applicable law or industry guidance changes
Material changes will be highlighted in the cookie consent banner, and the "Last Updated" date above will be revised. We recommend reviewing this page periodically.
9. Contact Us
For questions about our use of cookies or to report a concern about our data practices: