In order to drive profitability and performance, 87 percent of employers relied on wellness programs in 2012, up from 75 percent in 2010, according to the latest report from Buck Consultants.

The report, titled "Working Well: A Global Survey of Health Promotion and Workplace Wellness Strategies," finds employers of all locations say improving worker productivity and reducing presenteeism are their top wellness program objectives.

"With productivity having a direct tie to bottom-line revenue, organizations now consider health promotion as a core business value that positively impacts their ability to compete," says Dave Ratcliffe, principal of Buck Consultants. "With signs of job market improvement emerging in the U.S., employers will be challenged to maintain productivity gains earned during the recession as employees have increased job mobility."