Health risk assessments (HRAs) have been around since the 1970s. Over the years, they were used as a supportive tool for physicians in discussing health with their patients. Today, the HRA is a self-reported measurement aide that helps to identify individual health risks based on questions about lifestyle, demographic characteristics, family history, physiological data and overall attitudes towards their wellness. 

The motivations behind holding a biometric screening can range from cutting insurance costs to creating a healthy corporate culture. Regardless of the reasoning for hosting your on-site screenings, one thing is for certain – health screenings can (and do!) save lives. Here, we detail five of the most important tests your employees can take to determine their health risks, identify areas of opportunity and become healthier, happier individuals.

Today is National Diabetes Alert Day, and we’re urging all of our readers to have their employees’ blood glucose levels tested. According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately seven million people currently have diabetes and aren’t aware of it.  An additional 79 million Americans (1 in 3 adults) have prediabetes and are at a higher risk. Where do your employees fit in?

The biometric measurements are done, the blood test results are in and a comprehensive aggregate report is sitting on your desk. Find out how your population’s health results measure up against the national data below.

Have you ever wondered why people spend such an exorbitant sum of money on a simple cup of coffee each month? Is the coffee magical? Maybe for some, but Starbucks' success is really based on creating a personalized customer experience and energizing their employees to deliver superior customer service. For example, their employee handbook, called "The Green Apron," talks about connecting, discovering and responding as a way to bond with customers. Starbucks has some great lines from the book – including “Our Purpose: To provide an uplifting experience that enriches people’s daily lives.”

Employers are increasingly integrating outcome-based incentives into wellness programs. Outcome-based incentives differ from activity-based incentives in that they reward individuals based on actual results, such as reducing blood pressure levels, rather than incenting based solely on activities completed, such as participating in a monthly physical activity challenge.

Consistent, transparent communication is vital for a successful on-site biometric screening program. It's the key to having employees understand what the organization is doing for them and the reason behind the screenings. 

Annoyed. Anxious. Joyful. Happy. There are a lot of ways to describe how employees feel about participating in biometric screening programs at work. A quick keyword scan on Twitter yielded these tweets about health screenings. Some are inspiring, some humorous and some are downright scary. 

As health screenings have become more and more popular among companies, the number of vendors has increased exponentially. As a result, employers are faced with a multitude of options for onsite biometric screenings. 

More and more employers are offering biometric screenings because it's an effective way of collecting valuable information about employees' current health status and risk areas. In 2011, 62% of large employers offered biometric screenings to employees.