Employee Lawsuits Happen—Stay Protected

Ask these 3 key questions to ensure you're prepared.

The employment decisions you make are imperative; however, even if you complete numerous interviews, conduct background checks, vet your staff, and build a winning team, you are susceptible to immense risks. One of the most significant: employment practices liability (EPL). And even if you are not found liable, an accusation can be detrimental to your business.

Employee lawsuits aren’t just a risk for large corporations. Small and midsize businesses are just as likely to have an employment practices claim filed against them. In fact, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reported that 50% of the discrimination claims filed with the agency were against small and midsize companies.

With a workforce often spread out over multiple locations, extensive time traveling between jobs, and limited supervision, your operation is a potential hotbed of EPL lawsuits ranging from sexual harassment to retaliation to wrongful termination. Even if you are innocent and the suit is unwarranted, you may still be left with thousands of dollars in legal fees or settlements.

PLANNING AND PREPARATION IS KEY

3 Important Questions to Ask

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Am I in compliance?

With extensive federal and state regulations, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and other various regulations, your company is exposed to a vast variety of unforeseen employment liability.

Take the following steps to ensure you are in compliance:

Ask your HR department (or a proven HR consultant) to formalize your employment policies and practices.
Engage legal experts to ensure you’re in full compliance.

Next Question

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Is my staff in the know?

Companies that provide training see a dramatic drop in EPL claims. Take the following steps to help your staff:

Be proactive in educating your staff on hot button issues like harassment and discrimination.
Ensure that your supervisors and managers receive regular training on how to handle potential issues in the field.

In addition to reducing your vulnerability to lawsuits, a strong training regimen also demonstrates your company’s commitment to workplace fairness should a claim occur.

Last Question

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Am I covered?

A strong employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) policy can be a great asset for your organization.

Here’s why:

You may receive an unfavorable judgment.
The cost of going to court can spiral out of control.
It’s designed to ensure that your business is shielded from outstanding costs no matter the outcome of the verdict.
EPLI provides a powerful layer of protection for employers against claims resulting from a broad range of lawsuits, reimbursing the insured for legal defense costs, judgments, and settlements.
It covers your directors, officers, and management so they can handle their high-level responsibilities with confidence in an increasingly litigious world.

Remember that it takes an experienced insurance partner and industry expert to craft the ideal coverage. An experienced partner will help to minimize the impact of deductibles and exclusions and maximize coverage provisions. EPL claims are costly and common, but they don’t need to hamper your operations. You need the right plan and the right coverage.

First Question

The Harsh Realities of EPLI

Justified or not, an EPL claim can cost you tens of thousands of dollars in defense costs alone. The industry is filled with scenarios just like these. Anyone can find themselves in one of these circumstances; protect your company and yourself from these unfortunate situations:

Scenario 1

A job applicant is passed up for a position by a large, national company. Although the employer stated that the applicant was not hired due to lack of experience, the applicant sued the company insisting that he was denied employment due to a perceived disability.

Scenario 2

An installer is unable to return to work due to an injury that restricts him from strenuous physical activity. When the employer fails to create a new position for the employee, he sues the company.

Scenario 3

An installation manager is terminated based on a range of performance issues, most notably poor customer service. The employee responds by filing an age discrimination suit, alleging that he was terminated based on his age in order to be replaced by a younger employee.

Scenario 4

A female customer service representative files a sexual harassment suit, alleging that her hours were cut and opportunities for advancement ceased after she failed to respond to a male supervisor’s advances.

EPLI for Azione

The Azione Insurance Program provides the necessary coverage in case a dealer or manufacturer has a claim. An essential part of that coverage is EPLI.

EPLI protects your business against a variety of employee lawsuits, including claims arising from:

Sexual harassment
Discrimination
Deprivation of career opportunity
Wrongful discipline
Wrongful termination
Breach of employment contract

Negligent evaluation
Mismanagement of employee benefit plans
Failure to employ or promote
Wrongful infliction of emotional distress
Wage and hour (Fair Labor Standards Act) violations

DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF

Employee Lawsuits Happen—Stay Protected

Download Article PDF

Azione Insurance

The Azione Insurance Program is the exclusive insurance partner of Azione Unlimited. Created by Alliant Insurance Services, Inc., Azione Insurance is the only program custom-built to address the unique risks faced by Azione members, unlocking a wealth of benefits, including lower rates, broader coverage, and enhanced convenience. Because of the customized nature of the program and the strength of Alliant, the majority of Azione members can save significantly on insurance costs while broadening their coverage upon switching to Azione Insurance.