{"id":829,"date":"2018-03-21T12:58:45","date_gmt":"2018-03-21T12:58:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quincymutual.com\/blog\/?p=829"},"modified":"2023-11-07T16:03:54","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T16:03:54","slug":"why-you-need-employment-practices-liability-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quincymutual.com\/blog\/why-you-need-employment-practices-liability-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Need Employment Practices Liability Insurance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did you know that according to the <\/span>U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission<\/span><\/a>, there were over 84,000 total lawsuits filed against employers in 2017 alone? Moreover, the EEOC reports that these types of lawsuits are on the rise. While this number may seem staggering, it\u2019s not at all surprising in today\u2019s increasingly litigious society \u2014\u00a0making it especially important for business owners to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from these time consuming and costly lawsuits. Luckily, Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) is available to help. <\/span><\/p>\n

Employment lawsuits and complaints often stem from a range of issues including discrimination based on race, sex, or disability, retaliation, and sexual harassment. While most business insurance policies do not cover employment suits, EPLI can protect you from the financial consequences of an employment lawsuit, including coverage for defense costs. It can also protect you from administrative actions filed for wrongful discharge, defamation, and invasion of privacy.<\/span><\/p>\n

You may be thinking that employee claims and lawsuits only happen to large companies and corporations. But no company is immune to lawsuits \u2014 not even small businesses. Roughly \u2153 of recent charges have been made against small businesses. Companies with even one employee may be subject to liability under some federal and state laws. Here is a partial listing of applicable statutes for businesses of all sizes: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Federal and Massachusetts Laws<\/b> (Partial Listing)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# of Employees<\/span><\/td>\nApplicable Statute<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1 or more<\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Equal Pay Act<\/span><\/li>\n
  • MA Fair Employment Practices Act<\/span><\/li>\n
  • MA Employment Pay Equity Act<\/span><\/li>\n
  • MA Civil Rights Act<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15 or more<\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Title VII of Civil Rights Act<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20 or more<\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
50 or more<\/span><\/td>\n\n