Want to create a successful wellness program? Ask your employees how upset they are.

Simply asking employees to rate their stress level may help identify individuals who can benefit from wellness programs to reduce stress and improve overall health, a new Mayo Clinic study suggests. The study was published in the most recent issue of The American Journal of Health Promotion.

Many organizations offer wellness programs for employees or members, which often cut health care costs and boosts productivity. However, many people drop out or decline to enroll, explains Matthew Clark, lead researcher and clinical psychologist at the Mayo Clinic. So there needs to be a better way of addressing the situation.