Employment Practice

Employee Liability Insurance

Employment Practice Liability refers to a company’s hiring and workplace conditions.

Some of issues covered include:

• Sexual harassment
• Discrimination (based on sex, race, sexual orientation, age or disability, for example)
• Wrongful termination
• Unfair wages
• Harassment
• Other employment-related issues, such as failure to promote

These claims can become serious liabilities if they are not treated carefully.

Many local, state and federal mandates define acceptable and unacceptable employment practices.

As an insurance firm operating in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, we are extremely knowledgeable about the local and state mandates in our area.

We will ensure your employment practice policy meets all of the requirements and protects your business.

New hires pose an employment practices liability risk.

You’re at risk of an employment claim as soon as you interview a prospective employee.

For example, if you choose not to hire the interviewee, that individual could allege some sort of discrimination.

Or, if you hire that person and later fire them due to poor attendance, that discharged employee could claim wrongful termination.

If an employee decides to make a claim against his or her employer, such as those listed above and get a lawyer involved, it quickly becomes very expensive.

If confirmed, consequences for violations can range from a citation to a fine and legal action taken against to perpetrator.

Whether of the claim being made against you holds merit or not, you will have to get your own lawyer to protect yourself and your business. You will quickly be looking at least a few thousand dollars in costs. If litigation drags on, those costs add up quickly.

Small or new businesses are often the most vulnerable these claims. That’s because they usually lack a legal department or employee handbook detailing the policies and procedures that guide hiring, disciplining or terminating employees.

Don’t simply hope one of these claims is never made against you or your business. Protect yourself with the right employment practice insurance policy.

The cost of insuring your business for EPLI coverage depends on a variety of factors, such as:

• The number of people you employ
• Whether you’ve had prior suits lodged against your company
• The percentage of employee turnover
• Whether you have established rules and practices in place

Depending on the size of your company, EPLI can be offered as an endorsement to a business owner’s policy or a general liability insurance policy. Also, a specific stand-alone policy can be written in conjunction with a BOP.

Based on your unique business and employment situation, we will create a policy that’s right for you.