Diary of an Insurance Addict

Strange but true....I fell into the insurance business in 1978. I have been in love with the business ever since!



Tuesday, December 13, 2011

High Unemployment = Lawsuit Trouble for Employers

You have heard the saying "Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures."  This applies to the employment realm as the economy is forcing employers to consider layoffs and terminations at a faster rate than ever. 

Today's employees know their rights under employment laws.  Age discrimination, sexual harassment, lost wages, emotional distress, wage and labor issues - all are common terms to the modern employee. 

New employment laws make it easier for employees to file a charge against an employer.  Did you know that the Department of Labor recently made available a FREE Wage and Labor app for smartphones?   The app lets the employee record the hours worked and calculate the amount owed by the employer!

Does your insurance program protect you against these types of suits?  Unless you have an Employment Practices Liability policy (EPL), the answer is highly unlikely.

Did you know that Wage and Labor class action lawsuits now outnumber all other discrimination suits combined.  Even if you have an EPL policy, what are the chances it covers Wage and Labor claims?  

What might your defense costs be for a lawsuit like this?  The average cost to defend yourself in one of these allegations is well over $40,000.

The good news is that many insurance companies offer EPL coverage for as low as $500 a year.  In conjunction with many of these policies, you gain access to on-line resources to assist with sample employment policies, procedures manuals and forms.  Many policies also provide a toll-free hot line to put you in contact with a nationally recognized law firm with immediate answers to most EPL questions.

EEOC statistics show that 81 percent of employment-related claims settle for an average of $22,400 to $40,500.  Can you afford not to talk to your Trusted Advisor about securing an EPL quote today?

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