Wellness continues to be a major investment made by employers in the US, but 90 per cent of corporations don’t have sufficient data to measure their return, according to a new report called Health and Wellbeing Touchstone Survey by PwC.

The survey data – collected during Q1 2014 – contains detailed health benefits information provided by approximately 1,200 participating employers in 35 different industries across the nation – providing summary results on topics from employee medical plans to wellness management and work-life programmes.

49 per cent of employers expect to implement or expand wellness initiatives with another 39 per cent already having done so, according to the survey results. Approximately 25-30 per cent are expanding their definition of wellbeing to incorporate financial, emotional, social, community and career satisfaction assessments.

The research concludes that 71 per cent of employers offer wellness programmes – up from 68 per cent in 2013. The most common of these include biometric screening, health risk questionnaires, tobacco cessation courses and a physical activity programme or fitness discount.

Biometric screening was highlighted as the most valuable wellness initiative by 52 per cent of employers. 63 per cent of employers currently offer one-on-one coaching during wellness programmes. Physical appearance is targeted by 93 per cent of corporate wellness programmes, while mental health is focused on by 73 per cent of employers.