An article in the Jan. '06 issue of HRMagazine cautions employers to consider the legal issues before implementing a program. It's essential to make sure:

• the program is truly voluntary
• that it doesn't discriminate
• employees' privacy rights are respected.

"If drafted and administered appropriately," the authors say, "voluntary wellness programs will pass legal muster."

It follows that companies should then feel free to motivate employees to change their unhealthy behaviors, and to use rewards as incentives. Scratch-offs can be great for reinforcing the positive purposes of a program and for delivering those rewards.