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June 2006 |  |
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EPL Claims are Emotional, Take More Than a Year to Settle
HSB Will Vigorously Defend Your Small Business Clients
The anxiety over workplace charges makes employment practices liability (EPL) claims challenging. The fact that most EPL charges made against smaller employers prove to be groundless can be distressing to employers who feel they've done nothing wrong. It takes specialized knowledge, experience and resources to resolve EPL claims.
DIFFERENT FROM PROPERTY CLAIMS
"Employment claims are different from other liability or property claims," said Jeffrey O'Shaughnessy, assistant vice president, who directs HSB's Portfolio EPL program for small businesses which is offered through other insurance companies. "On average, EPL cases take more than a year to settle. In order to resolve these claims efficiently, you need specially trained claim adjusters and skilled employment law firms."
CLIENTS FEEL BETRAYED
Business owners often feel betrayed by employees who file EPL charges. They worry the distraction will hurt their business and may not know how to respond. Clients often say they thought of the worker as "part of the family," instead of an adversary who may cost them thousands of dollars in defense and settlement expenses.
HSB DEFENDS THEM
That's why it's important for small business owners to have quality EPL coverage. HSB has the ability to vigorously defend small business clients against EPL claims. With our program, HSB adjusts the EPL claims for insurance companies that add our coverage to their policies and provides access to specialized employment law firms around the country that have extensive experience with EPL cases.
EASY, AFFORDABLE, FLEXIBLE
HSB's program is easy and affordable. When included as a standard part of a company's small business coverage, there is no application or collection of employee count. This portfolio approach helps spread the risk and keep the premiums lower. We're also flexible with eligibility and pricing and offer limits up to $250,000.
GET MORE INFORMATION
A growing number of leading property-casualty companies are offering or plan to offer HSB's Portfolio EPL coverage in the coming months. If the insurance companies you represent don't include the program, you might suggest that they do. Ask your carriers if they participate, or contact HSB toll-free at 1-888-665-3688.
