Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) is key for this. It helps companies deal with costs and reputation damage from wrongful termination and sexual harassment claims.
Key Takeaways
- Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) protects businesses against claims made by workers alleging violations of their legal rights.
- EPLI covers lawsuits related to sexual harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, breach of employment contract, and other employment-related issues.
- As employee lawsuits continue to rise, EPLI has become essential for businesses of all sizes to mitigate risks and maintain HR compliance.
- EPLI policies typically cover legal defense costs, settlements, and judgments, excluding punitive damages and fines.
- Premiums for EPLI coverage are influenced by factors such as company size, industry, and claims history.
Understanding Employment Practices Liability Insurance
Today, companies big and small are more at risk of employee lawsuits. These lawsuits could involve workplace discrimination, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, and more. Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) helps protect against these claims.
Protecting Businesses from Employee Lawsuits
Certainly, big companies might face more employee lawsuit risks. Yet, any business could encounter HR compliance issues. EPLI shields businesses from the costs of legal defense, settlements, and more.
Common Claims Covered by EPLI
Common claims EPLI includes are sexual harassment, discrimination based on race or age, wrongful termination, and breach of employment contract. This also covers actions such as failure to employ or promote and mismanagement of benefit plans.
Sexual Harassment
EPLI covers sexual harassment. This includes any unwanted sexual acts that create an offensive work space. Male or female, this covers any employee affected by such behavior.
Discrimination
EPLI also includes discrimination claims based on various factors. These include treatment not limited to hiring, assignment, promotion, and termination. Aspects like salary and working conditions are part of it too.
Wrongful Termination
Wrongful termination claims are when someone says they were fired illegally. This includes firings for discrimination or retaliation.
| Type of Claim | Description | Covered by EPLI |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual Harassment | Unwanted verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, creating a hostile work environment | Yes |
| Discrimination | Unfair treatment based on factors like race, age, gender, or disability | Yes |
| Wrongful Termination | Termination in violation of legal rights or employment contract | Yes |
| Retaliation | Adverse action taken against an employee for reporting misconduct or exercising legal rights | Yes |
| Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Charges | Allegations of discrimination filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) | Yes |
The Rising Need for Employment Practices Liability Insurance
In today’s business world, lawsuits from employees are on the rise. This is because what’s acceptable in society and the law is always changing. Every type of company faces more dangers now related to how they manage their employees. So, having insurance that protects against claims from employees has become very important.
Increasing Employee Lawsuits
More employees are suing their employers for different reasons nowadays. They know their rights better, the workplace is shifting, and our society is more likely to go to court. This means workers might take legal action if they feel they’ve been treated unfairly, like in cases of discrimination or unfair firing.
Protecting Businesses of All Sizes
No business is too small to face the risks from employee claims. Even big companies are not the only targets. Lawsuits about worker treatment can use up a lot of money and time. They can also badly affect how a company is seen by others and how smoothly it runs.
EPLI as an Endorsement or Stand-Alone Policy
There are two main ways insurance companies provide EPLI. It can be added as an EPLI endorsement to a Businessowners Policy (BOP). Or, it can be a stand-alone EPLI policy. The first way changes a regular BOP to have EPLI coverage too. The second provides its own insurance just for employment issues.
| Policy Type | Description | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| EPLI Endorsement | Modifies an existing Businessowners Policy (BOP) to include EPLI coverage | Cost-effective option for smaller businesses, convenient bundling with existing policy |
| Stand-alone EPLI Policy | Dedicated insurance policy specifically designed for employment practices liability risks | Comprehensive coverage tailored to specific needs, higher policy limits, broader range of protection |
Knowing about the increased need for EPLI and how it’s offered can help businesses. They can use this information to protect themselves against the risks from employee-related issues. This can save them from big financial and reputation problems.
Employment Practices Liability Insurance Coverage
The cost of getting an Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) policy can be very different from business to business. Insurers look at stuff like what kind of work you do, how many people you employ, and your past history with claims. If your company could face a lot of lawsuits or has lost claims before, your premiums will be higher.
Costs and Factors Influencing Premiums
The number of employees at a company is very important for the cost of EPLI. Bigger companies with more employees might pay more since they face a bigger risk. Also, businesses in certain industries, like those where discrimination or harassment cases are common, might have to pay more for EPLI.
Coverage Details and Exclusions
With an EPLI policy, the costs of fighting or settling employment lawsuits can be covered. This includes paying out to employees if the company loses a case in court. Yet, these policies don’t usually pay for fines, punitive damages, or things another insurance policy already covers. It’s key to know what’s not covered to make sure your business is really protected.
FAQ
What is Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)?
What types of claims are covered by EPLI?
Why is EPLI becoming increasingly important for businesses?
How can businesses obtain EPLI coverage?
What factors influence the cost of EPLI coverage?
What does EPLI coverage typically include and exclude?
Source Links
- https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/employment-practices
- https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/employment-practices-liability/
- https://www.iii.org/article/what-employment-practices-liability-insurance-epli
We are partnered with industry leading carriers
- Nationwide
- Allstate
- Employers
- The Hartford
- Travelers
- Liberty Mutual Insurance
- Chubb
- Safeco Insurance
- Berkshire Hathaway Guard
- Am Trust
- Attune
- and many more..
Looking for a local insurance agent? Burbank Insurance Services, Inc. is here to help with your business insurance needs. We are a local insurance agency based in California. Burbank insurance specializes in business insurance risks.
Burbank Insurance is licensed to sell insurance throughout California. We also cover out of state locations in all 50 states through our strategic insurance alliance. We are here to help cover all of your business insurance needs.
Complete a quote form to get start!
*Disclaimer: Information on this website is general insurance advice. Please speak with a local insurance professional as they are able to analyze the nuances of your specific business. This is an important step to ensure you don’t have any unknown gaps in your coverage.