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If a small business is sued by an employee over for a violation of employee rights or a wrongful termination, an employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) policy can pay for legal costs and other money claims.
Employers practices liability insurance (EPLI) is designed to protect small businesses when an employee sues the employer over disputes related to employment issues. This form of coverages provides for legal defense costs when an employee claims their rights were violated by their employer. It alsos provides protection when employee claims relate to to claim of an unfair work environment.
Learn more about EPLI coverage.
In a claims-made policy, a claim is covered only if your policy is active both when the incident occurred and when the claim is filed. For example, your house painting business is forced to close, so you cancel your EPLI coverage. A few months later, a former employee sues you for discrimination, but since you no longer have an EPLI policy, the insurer likely won’t pay for lawsuit costs. Note that in some situations, you may be able to extend a policy beyond its original end date.
Lawsuits over employment practices disputes occur frequently. You’re actually more likely to be sued by an employee than you are to have a fire at your office – even though more businesses carry insurance to protect against the fire, not the lawsuit.
The risk increases for businesses that are too small to have a human resource team. Businesses with a small staff often lack the time, energy, and expertise to resolve employee disputes before they become legal issues.
Employee lawsuits can devastate your reputation and finances. Small to medium-sized businesses pay an average of $160,000 to resolve this type of lawsuit.
EPLI coverage keeps you from paying these high costs out of pocket. It can cover any legal defense costs, including a settlement or judgment if an employee presents a valid claim.
Most EPLI policies include a deductible, which is an amount that you pay out of pocket toward legal costs before an insurer contributes. Some policies limit coverage during acquisitions or major staff reductions. Employment dispute lawsuits can be expensive, so keep that in mind when choosing what an EPLI policy covers.
Some EPLI policies stipulate that the insurance company will choose your attorney if a claim is filed, usually because the insurer wants a lawyer who has expertise with relevant cases.
Small businesses can often bundle employment practices liability insurance with directors and officers insurance, another type of management liability insurance. D&O protects a business’s board members and officers against lawsuits over decisions they made on behalf of the company that resulted in financial loss.
Together, these two types of management liability insurance provide a broad base of protection against liabilities related to hiring and firing, employee rights, investment decisions, and employee benefits. The bundle usually costs less than purchasing each policy separately.
Businesses forced to lay off workers due to the coronavirus should prepare for potential wrongful termination lawsuits. Employment practices liability insurance can likely provide coverage if employees sue because they were fired for failing to fulfill work obligations because of COVID-19. Check with your insurance company’s claims department to find out if you’re covered.
EPLI policies can be affordable for a small business. Factors that affect policy cost include:
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IronPoint Insurance Services is an independent insurance agency licensed (#0G87821) with the California Department of Insurance. We are authorized agents for many A+ rated Arizona, California and Utah insurance companies. We provide consumers with online, phone, and in-person insurance services through our insurance company relationships. IronPoint Insurance Services, LLC offers multiple insurance quotes to provide consumers several options for their insurance products. We offer auto insurance through Mercury Insurance Group, Travelers Insurance Companies, The Hartford, MetLife Auto & Home, and Progressive Drive Insurance. We are authorized insurance agents for these companies and do not charge any fees for our services. If an IronPoint insurance agent trys to charge you broker or agency service fees for representing these companies, please contact us immediately.