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.”

The debate over wellness ROI and whether corporate wellness programs "work" is heating up again after Rand researchers released an article in Health Affairs. This time it's PepsiCo's "Healthy Living" wellness program that is under the microscope.

With the growing popularity of worksite wellness programs, companies are rushing to develop new technologies and programs to roll out. At last count, there were over 500 wellness vendors. With that many vendors, it probably comes as no surprise to you, that reviewing and selecting the right vendor can be a very daunting task.

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. 

Haul out the holly and get ready to deck some halls because the holiday spirit has come to TotalWellness.

We love this time of year — and what better way to get in the festive spirit than by listening to some cheerful music?

Many employers are turning to financial incentives as a way to increase participation in worksite wellness programs. The new regulations under the Affordable Care Act increases wellness incentives - from 20% to 30% of the cost of health coverage - and this change is causing many employers to transition to outcomes-based wellness programs. But are outcome-based incentives right for your wellness program? Let's put them head-to-head to list the pros and cons of each.

It may seem unrelated to employee wellness programs at first glance, after all when we talk about gratitude during the month of November, it usually centers around Thanksgiving - a day that can be tough on the waistline. But you shouldn't wait for a national holiday to express gratitude - it should be celebrated every day because expressing thanks may be one of the simplest ways to feel better. Best of all it's free!

If you're a HR pro who manages wellness or a worksite wellness manager, you probably deal with one or more of these on a daily basis: employee communication, event management, incentive tracking, reporting on results and the list goes on. The days are long but there is never enough time to get everything done.

Seventy percent of workers are disengaged and uninspired at work, according to Gallup’s 2013 State of the American Workplace study. But it's not all doom and gloom for HR pros. There's a way to fight back.