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After years of recession-fueled gloom, it seems the clouds are beginning to part when it comes to employee optimism as new poll from Randstad reveals that U.S. workers are feeling more secure in their jobs and positive about the future.

On the one hand, there is the Zappos approach to interviewing — a lengthy, weeks-long process that involves not one, but several interviews. On the other, is the MediConnect Global approach, where candidates' formal interviews last just one minute. Which yields the best results?

In his book, “Why Nobody Believes the Numbers: Distinguishing Fact from Fiction in Population Health Management,” Al Lewis takes a wry look at the numbers wellness/disease management consultants and vendors use to calculate cost savings. He debunks their “undetected claims costs” and “non-chronic trend” using fifth grade math and common sense.

After watching all the political jabs being thrown between President Obama and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney regarding the “war on women,” it seems that on many benefits and compensation issues — including pay, retirement savings, health insurance premiums and life insurance coverage — women come up on the short end of the financial stick.

UnitedHealth Group, Target, Kraft and other leading employers have created a new outlet for employee altruism called “micro-volunteering” that allows individuals to give back to their community just 15 minutes at a time.

The American Board of Internal Medicine, Consumer Reports magazine and 17 medical professional societies recently banded together to launch “Choosing Wisely,” a public awareness campaign to reduce unnecessary medical tests and treatments.

According to one study, students whose parents pay their entire college bill are the ones most likely to be partying rather than studying.

A statement from the American Heart Association says based on review of more than 500 journal articles and studies, there’s no proof that gum disease leads to heart disease or stroke — or that preventive dental care can reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.

There is always much noise and excitement about starting an employee wellness program, but the room goes silent when talk turns to return on investment. It’s well past time for ROI vagueness to stop being tolerated. A wellness program without clear goals and methods for measurement is meaningless.

Recently, Benz Communications announced the launch of its Inside Benefits Communication Survey, the first survey of benefits and HR managers created specifically to learn how companies are strategizing and implementing benefits communication. Respondents to the 10-minute survey will get inside knowledge of what effective companies are doing, where they need help and what their plans are. Learn how to participate.