Google employees will not get health benefits if they don’t do this

Google

Google is facing backlash after reports suggested that employees in the U.S. might have to share their health information with an AI tool to access medical benefits. The news caused concern among staff, who questioned the privacy and fairness of the requirement.

According to Business Insider, internal documents showed that Google employees were informed they would need to allow a third-party platform, Nayya, to access their health data in order to sign up for benefits through Alphabet, Google’s parent company. Nayya, which uses artificial intelligence to suggest personalized benefits packages, was described as central to the enrollment process. The documents reportedly indicated that anyone who declined to use Nayya could lose access to health coverage.

The policy caused unease among employees. On internal forums and message boards, workers expressed worries about sharing sensitive medical information with an outside company. “Why are we providing our medical claims to a third-party AI tool without a way to opt out?” one employee asked on an internal Q&A site. Another called the policy “a very dark pattern,” noting that consent feels meaningless if tied to essential services.

Following the backlash, Google quickly clarified the policy. A spokesperson told Business Insider that the original wording on the HR site did not reflect the company’s true intent. “Employees can choose not to share data without any effect on their benefits enrollment,” the statement said.

Google also emphasized that using Nayya is completely optional. Courtenay Mencini, a company spokesperson, added that the tool underwent internal security and privacy checks. “This voluntary tool helps employees navigate our healthcare benefit options. Employees must opt-in to use it and share their own health information. Google does not have access to it,” she said.

Nayya defended its platform, saying participants can see how much of their deductible has been met and get personalized healthcare suggestions. The company confirmed it handles data in compliance with HIPAA and cannot sell or share personal information.

Even with these reassurances, the initial wording of the policy seems to have shaken trust among some Google employees. One post on an internal forum described the setup as “coercive,” arguing that mandatory access to essential services undermines true consent.