DENVER – A growing number of employers are embracing wellness programs in hopes of controlling their health care costs, but there's plenty of opportunity to get into legal trouble.

Until more definitive rules are written, "there's just not much out there" to help employers steer clear of potential litigation, Eleanor Thompson, an attorney at McCarter and English in Philadelphia, told attendees at a session at the Risk & Insurance Management Society conference Monday.

She was joined by Carol Staubach, the principal of a health risk management consultancy, also based in Philadelphia, who pointed out employees can bring claims alleging discrimination, violation of medical privacy, breach of collective bargaining agreements and more.