Vol. 9, No. 2
STATS
Go Gold and Bloom Spark Record Q1 — Up 18%!
⬤ Go Gold
⬤ Bloom
⬤ Spring Into Motion
⬤ 10K-A-Day
⬤ All Others
Event-driven and seasonal challenges drove 69% of the Q1 record, reinforcing a key takeaway from our recent blog on the 10 best practices for wellness challenges.
NPS
How Good Is an 81 Net Promoter Score?
Based on widely cited benchmarks from firms like Bain & Company:
- 50+ = Excellent
- 70+ = World-class
- 80+ = Rare / elite tier
An 81 NPS doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s built alongside clients who prioritize well-being, champion participation, and bring energy to every program. The credit belongs to organizations that create cultures where people thrive.
IMPROVED
What happens when you combine record growth with real client feedback? A better Walktober. See how 2025 insights shaped meaningful upgrades for 2026 — from engagement and access to overall experience.
SUNSET
Spring Classic Retiring
Our long-running spring program is retiring to make way for new challenges in 2027. Run it one last time — you can be live in under 2 weeks. Contact your HES account manager or call 800.326.2317.
WEBINAR
Wednesday, April 22, 1 PM ET
Creating Connection, Thriving Together: How Walktober Becomes a Fall Tradition for Faculty and Staff
Join Rachel LaBerge and Danielle Hogan, our resident Walktober experts, for a focused 30-minute session packed with real-world data and insights from school systems across the country.
You’ll learn:
- How team participation dramatically increases engagement
- Why inviting a colleague or friend boosts completion
- What successful districts do differently
The session is 30 minutes, followed by live Q&A.
NOTE: Open to all — the lessons from school systems translate well to any workplace.
INSIGHT
What We’re Writing
Blog
How to Build a High-Engagement School Employee Wellness Program
School employee wellness programs are doing something that many other workplaces struggle to consistently achieve: they’re keeping people engaged and motivated.
Wellness Challenge Overload: How Many Is Too Many?
At HES, we’ve seen it all — from organizations trying monthly mini-campaigns to those that commit to 1 powerful signature event each year. The takeaway is clear: When it comes to challenges, more isn’t necessarily better.
How School Districts Are Turning Walktober into a Regional Tradition
A single district challenge can be successful. But when multiple districts participate together, momentum grows quickly. Districts begin to follow one another’s progress, celebrate milestones together, and take pride in representing their schools.
Client Experience
Walktober Delivers a Record-Breaking Month for Fairfax County’s LiveWell Program
The program supports approximately 14,000 eligible employees and extends many offerings to retirees as well as family members.
Creating a Culture of Well-Being at St. Vrain Valley School District
Renowned nationwide for its academic excellence and innovation, St. Vrain Valley School District — serving over 33,000 Colorado students — brings the same passion and dedication to championing faculty health and well-being.
LEARN
What We’re Reading
Deloitte — Global Human Capital Trends 2026
Many organizations are under “sustained strain,” with rising trust concerns and cultural friction. Neglecting culture during change can create “culture debt.” Long-term success will depend on how organizations redesign work, governance, and culture as AI becomes part of everyday work. The takeaway: employee wellbeing is affected less by perks alone and more by whether work feels manageable, clear, and trustworthy.
Learn more >
McKinsey & Company — The State of Organizations 2026
In McKinsey & Company’s State of Organizations 2026, employee wellbeing is tied to overall performance, not treated as a standalone issue. The report shows that how work is designed — including leadership, workflows, and day-to-day operations — has a direct impact on both productivity and employee experience. The takeaway: improving wellbeing starts with improving how work actually works.
Learn more >
SUMMER
Wellness Participation That Doesn’t Take a Vacation
Keep engagement strong all summer with 2 ready-to-launch programs designed to prevent seasonal drop-off. Chirpy energizes participants with simple, uplifting habit tracking, while Summertime taps into the fun and nostalgia of the season to keep momentum going.
Top launch dates: June 1, 8, 15.
2027
What if your next wellness challenge came with a soundtrack? As participants move through a decade of music, songs “drop” along the way — turning everyday activity into something unexpectedly immersive, social, and hard to put down.
Get ready to Groove in 2027.
LOVE
“My husband and I moved in with my mom to take care of her since she is in the late stages of dementia. Caring for her is a quiet kind of weight. Not heavy all at once, but constant—like carrying a full glass of water and trying not to spill it. I measure my days in medications, reminders, repeated questions.
With this challenge I started walking in the cool air. Then walking faster and letting my arms swing the way they used to when life felt simpler. With each step, something loosened. My breath deepened. The tightness behind my eyes eased. My thoughts stopped circling.
Caregiving is love in motion, but I learned I had to keep myself moving too. Not away from her — but back toward myself.”
Deby G.
Mutual of Omaha
KUDOS
Sean D.
AC Transit Financing Corporation
My Go Gold journey has been about more than just fitness, it’s been a full lifestyle shift. Getting back to the gym and losing 10 pounds has been great, but the real win is the positive impact on my mental health.
Andrew F.
PATH
Even though we weren’t all on the same team, everyone in my bureau who was participating supported each other — that was the best part.
Pam E.
Arlington County Government
I enjoyed connecting with overseas colleagues! As a competitive person i loved winning medals and getting more active — this was so much fun!
Colleen B.
Shift4
Not only did I lose 10 pounds and gain some muscle, I also gained focus, clarity, improved moods, self-esteem, and a better mental outlook overall. I’m extremely grateful for this challenge.
Noelle J.
Management & Training Corporation
Get a Quote or a 1:1 Demo in a Hurry
For a not-to-exceed quote fast, email learnmore@hesonline.com with your:
- Organization name
- Eligible population
- Challenge name (choose 1 or more).
We’ll get back to you within 1 business day.
Want to talk through your options or see a demo? Schedule a meeting or call 800.326.2317.
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