Capital Insurance Group® (CIG), the leading regional property and casualty insurer serving the Western U.S., has released a comprehensive Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) product for organizations with up to 250 employees and limits up to $1 million.
Organizations with 50 employees or less are covered up to $250,000 and are not required to submit an application. The insurance product includes complementary best practices resources, a legal advice hotline and optional third party coverage. EPLI provides protection for an employer against claims made by existing, former or prospective employees and covers a wide span of employment-related allegations.
"Many small business owners worry about employee claims and the increased number of suits but may not be aware that their exposure to risk begins before they even hire an employee," said Ken Stewart, CIG Commercial Lines Director. "Our EPLI provides broad coverage and helpful information on best employment practices to avoid claims in the first place. However, if one does occur, we offer full prior acts protection and the added enhancement of legal counsel, which can mean the difference between navigating an unpleasant situation and having to close your doors from crippling litigation."
The EPLI product includes Full Prior Acts protection for liability and defense costs arising from employee lawsuits alleging:
Wrongful Termination
Disciplinary Actions, Negligent Evaluations
Harassment
Sexual, Slander and/or Libel, Emotional Distress or Stress
Discrimination
Failure to Employ, Deprivation of Opportunity and others
In addition to EPLI coverage, CIG provides access to free resources to help small businesses mitigate risk by utilizing sound employment practices. Sample services include; model employee handbooks, forms, policies, training modules and detailed information and implications of new laws applying to respective employment.
This new coverage is now available as an optional endorsement to all Commercial Packages policies as of November 1, 2013 in AZ, CA, NV, OR, & WA. The product will be available for all business owner policies in 2014.