Why privacy determines whether people use your wellness services

An employer can purchase the best wellness program in the world. If employees don't trust it, it will go unused.

That sounds obvious, but it’s often underestimated. When an organization offers psychological support, employees almost always have the same unspoken question: “Will what I share end up with my employer?” As long as that question remains unanswered, help remains out of reach. Trust is lacking, and without trust, almost no one takes that first step.

We see that reflected in our numbers as well: nearly half of our users would not have sought help if it weren't for BloomUp. That says something about how high the barrier to seeking help usually is, and how much of a difference it makes to remove it.

That is why we do not treat privacy as an afterthought in the legal framework. It is the condition under which someone feels safe enough to get started.

How We Protect Your Privacy in Practice

We keep it simple and manageable.

• Your data belongs to you. We don't sell or rent it to anyone.
• No social tracking. Facebook, Google, or LinkedIn won't know that you're using BloomUp.
• No recordings. Your sessions with your psychologist are not recorded, not even for quality assessment purposes.
• No longer than necessary. If you haven't been active for a year and a half, we'll delete your data.
• It is clear to the employees entering the data what the purpose of the data is and what we do with it.
• It remains between you and your professional. We do not share the content of the conversations with your employer, insurance company, or health insurance provider.
  
  Below are a few examples of what this looks like:

Where is your data stored?

There’s a question that sometimes comes up when purchasing a wellness platform: Where is the data actually stored? Many platforms run on large, often U.S.-based, cloud providers. Technically, there’s little to object to, but it does determine which laws may apply to your data.

Our data is stored in Europe, with the European cloud provider Scaleway. That makes us one of the few wellness platforms or EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs) that runs entirely on a European cloud. When it comes to sensitive data such as mental health information, we don’t consider this a minor detail. It determines which legal framework applies to your data (such as the GDPR) and who, in theory, could request access to it.

Why This Matters to You as an Employee

Privacy isn't just a formality here. It's what allows you to be honest. A conversation with a psychologist or coach only works if you can say what's really going on. If, in the back of your mind, you have any doubts about who might be listening in or where the information might end up, you'll keep things to yourself. And those are exactly the things you need to move forward.

Knowing that what happens between you and your professional stays between the two of you means you can truly make use of the help without holding anything back. That’s the difference between a conversation that stays on the surface and one that brings about real change.

Why This Matters for HR

For HR, privacy is more than just a box to check. It determines whether the investment is actually put to use.

You can roll out the most robust platform, but if employees fear that data will leak to their employer, social media platforms, or an American cloud platform, usage will remain low. A service that no one dares to open has no impact on absenteeism or retention. In that case, it’s primarily a cost.

That’s exactly why this is a strong selling point for employees. Since we don’t share any content or pass on any traceable information, you as HR can honestly say that you won’t see anything. That assurance removes the biggest barrier. And once that barrier is gone, an offer really comes to life, and you’ll see it reflected in the numbers.

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Do you want to be able to assess that for each partner?
These are the questions that deserve a clear answer:

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✅ Where is the data physically located, and what laws apply to it?
(Is the cloud hosting company’s headquarters located in Europe, even if the data center is in Europe?)

✅ Does the employer see detailed information, or just anonymous figures?

✅ Are calls recorded, and if so, why?

✅ How long is data retained?

✅ Is tracking done using social media pixels?

✅ Does the employee need to provide separate consent for medical information, apart from the general terms and conditions?

Frequently Asked Questions About Privacy at BloomUp

Can my employer see what I discuss with my psychologist?

No. We do not share the content of the conversations. At most, your employer will receive anonymized usage statistics—never anything that can be traced back to an individual.

Where is my data stored?

In Europe, with the European cloud provider Scaleway. As a result, your data is subject to European law (GDPR).

Are my calls recorded?

No. Your sessions with your psychologist are not recorded, not even for quality assessment purposes.

How long does BloomUp retain my data?

No longer than necessary. If you haven't been active for a year and a half, we'll delete your data.

Does BloomUp sell my personal information?

Never. Your data belongs to you, and we won't sell or rent it to anyone.

What information will my employer actually receive?

Only anonymized statistics on how much the service is used. For medical data, we also ask for your separate consent, in addition to the terms and conditions.

In conclusion

You can recognize a good wellness partner not only by what they offer, but also by how thoughtfully they treat the people behind the numbers. The answers to these questions will tell you a lot about that.

Want to see how we handle this? You can read our full privacy policy here, and we’d be happy to explain it to you in person.

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