My understanding is that "offering an HSA option" without employer contributions is unattractive to the employee because it requires a high-deductible plan, and

My understanding is that "offering an HSA option" without employer contributions is unattractive to the employee because it requires a high-deductible plan, and the savings from the associated lower premiums are realized mostly (or entirely) by the employer. Google solves this misalignment of incentives by funneling (some of?) the premium savings into the employees' HSAs. I don't see what is worrying about that.