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EPLI Insurance in Ohio: Protection when an employee claim lands on your desk.

Wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims can hit employers of any size. We're an independent agency in Marion and Powell, and we compare several insurance companies for you.

Get My Free EPLI Quote or call (740) 387-8335
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The Quick Answer

Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) can help pay defense costs, settlements and judgments when a current, former or prospective employee claims wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment or retaliation. Third-party EPLI can extend to claims from customers, patients or vendors. EPLI is not workers' comp: in Ohio, workplace injury benefits come through the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC). Some carriers offer EPLI as an endorsement to a Business Owners Policy; others write it standalone. eGoodwin Insurance is an independent agency in Marion and Powell that compares multiple carriers. Call (740) 387-8335.

Covers
Termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation
Pays
Defense, settlements, judgments
Not the same as
Workers' comp (Ohio BWC)
Call first
(740) 387-8335
EPLI, The Short Version

You did everything right. You can still get sued.

Most small business owners think employment lawsuits happen to big companies. They don't. A former employee who feels they were let go unfairly, a job applicant who wasn't hired, or a team member who says a supervisor crossed a line can all bring a claim, whether or not it has merit.

Even a claim you win costs money to defend. Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) is built for exactly that. It can help pay for your legal defense, plus settlements and judgments, when an employment-related claim is made against the business. Your general liability policy typically excludes these claims, so EPLI fills a real gap.

We're an independent agency, so we compare EPLI across several insurance companies. Some offer it as an endorsement to a Business Owners Policy and others write it as its own policy, and the difference can matter. Mark Goodwin has been a licensed insurance professional since 1990, and our offices in Marion and Powell work with employers throughout Ohio.

What EPLI can cover. The claims employers actually face.

Policies differ in what they include, so these are the common pieces. We'll show you exactly what a quote covers before you choose.

Core
Termination

Wrongful Termination

Claims that an employee was fired unlawfully or in breach of an employment agreement. These are among the most common employment claims small employers see.

Core
Discrimination

Discrimination

Claims that hiring, firing, pay, promotion or discipline decisions were based on a protected characteristic. Includes failure to hire or promote claims from applicants and staff.

Core
Harassment

Harassment

Claims of sexual harassment or a hostile work environment, whether involving a manager, a co-worker or, with some policies, a non-employee.

Core
Retaliation

Retaliation

Claims that an employee was punished for reporting a problem, filing a complaint or taking protected leave. Retaliation claims can come alongside other allegations.

Core
Defense

Defense Costs

Legal fees to respond to a claim, whether or not it has merit. Many policies include defense costs within the limit, so we'll check how yours works.

Ask us
3rd Party

Third-Party EPLI

Some policies can cover claims from non-employees, like a patient, customer or vendor who alleges discrimination or harassment by your staff. Worth asking about for practices and customer-facing businesses.

Also seen
Related

Related Employment Claims

Depending on the policy, coverage may extend to claims like wrongful discipline, negligent evaluation, emotional distress tied to an employment decision, and breach of an employment contract.

Not covered
Excluded

What EPLI Usually Won't Cover

Punitive damages, fines and penalties are often excluded or limited. Wage-and-hour claims are frequently excluded or sublimited. Workplace injuries go through the Ohio BWC, not EPLI.

Have employees? Let's talk EPLI.

Even a few employees can bring an employment claim. Tell us your headcount and how your business is set up, and we'll compare EPLI options across several carriers. Free, no pressure.

Check My EPLI Options Call (740) 387-8335

Why small employers need EPLI. Size isn't a shield.

Small businesses often don't have an HR department or an attorney on call, which can make an employment claim harder to handle. These are the employers we talk with most.

Dental & medical offices

Hygienists, assistants, front-desk staff and providers. Third-party EPLI can matter here too, since patients are in the office every day.

Aesthetic offices & med spas

Close client contact and a busy team. We look at both employee claims and third-party coverage for clients.

Restaurants & hospitality

Larger teams, turnover and shift work can mean more employment decisions, and more chances for a claim. EPLI is worth a conversation.

Growing small businesses

Hiring your first few employees or adding managers. That's a good time to put EPLI in place, before any decisions are questioned.

Property owners with staff

Apartment owners with managers or maintenance staff have employees too. EPLI can sit alongside your property and liability coverage.

Employers offering benefits

If you offer group benefits, ask how benefit-related claims are handled. We'll look at your EPLI and benefits together.
How It Fits

EPLI is not workers' comp. Here's the difference.

Workers' comp in Ohio: the BWC

Workers' comp pays benefits when an employee is hurt on the job. Ohio is a monopolistic state, so that coverage comes through the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC), not a private insurance company. EPLI does something completely different: it responds to claims about how employees were treated, like firing, hiring, harassment and retaliation. Most employers with staff need both, and we help you coordinate and review your BWC coverage alongside the rest of your program.

Endorsement or standalone

Some carriers offer EPLI as an endorsement to a Business Owners Policy. Others write it as its own policy, which may offer higher limits or broader terms. We'll compare both where they're available.

Good practices help

Clear written policies, consistent hiring and discipline, supervisor training on harassment and discrimination, and good documentation can all help reduce claims and make them easier to defend. Some policies also include access to HR or legal hotlines. For employment-law questions, talk to an employment attorney. We handle the insurance, and nothing here is legal advice.

The rest of the program

EPLI usually sits alongside general liability, property, cyber liability and a commercial umbrella. Note that most umbrellas don't extend over EPLI. See our business insurance overview for the full picture.

EPLI questions. Straight answers.

What is employment practices liability insurance?

EPLI is coverage that can help pay defense costs, settlements and judgments when a current, former or prospective employee claims the business violated their employment rights.

Common claims include wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Exact coverage depends on the policy.

Does my general liability policy cover employee lawsuits?

Usually not. General liability policies typically exclude employment-related claims like wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment.

That's the gap EPLI is designed to fill.

How is EPLI different from workers' comp?

Workers' comp pays benefits when an employee is injured on the job. In Ohio, that coverage comes through the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC).

EPLI covers claims about how employees were treated, such as firing, hiring decisions, harassment and retaliation. They solve different problems, and most employers with staff need both.

I only have a few employees. Do I really need EPLI?

Employment claims can come up in any size business, and smaller businesses often don't have in-house HR or legal help. Even a claim without merit can be expensive to defend.

If you have employees, EPLI is worth a conversation. We'll help you weigh the cost against the risk.

What is third-party EPLI?

Third-party EPLI can cover claims from people who aren't your employees, like a customer, patient or vendor who alleges discrimination or harassment by your staff.

It's often an option rather than automatic, so ask us whether a quote includes it.

Does EPLI cover legal defense even if the claim is false?

Generally, yes. EPLI is designed to help pay defense costs for covered claims, including claims that turn out to have no merit.

Many policies include defense costs within the limit, which means legal fees reduce the amount left for a settlement. We'll explain how your policy handles it.

What does EPLI usually not cover?

Punitive damages, fines and penalties are often excluded or limited. Wage-and-hour claims are frequently excluded or carry a lower sublimit. Workplace injuries are handled by workers' comp through the BWC.

Exclusions vary by carrier, so we'll go through them with you.

How much does EPLI cost?

It depends on your industry, number of employees, turnover, claims history, the limit and the retention you choose. There's no one price for every employer.

Because we're an independent agency, we shop your coverage across several carriers and compare. Call us and we'll quote your actual business.

Still have questions? Call (740) 387-8335. We'll give you a straight answer.

Protection for your business and your team.

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Protect the business you built.
And the team that runs it.

Tell us about your employees and how you're set up today. We'll compare EPLI across several carriers, explain what each option covers and help you fit it with the rest of your program.

Get My Free EPLI Quote or call (740) 387-8335