---
title: "CFC vs Cowbell: Employment Practices Liability Insurance"
description: "You can’t buy EPL alone from either: CFC includes it only in its US management liability package and declines California-based and public companies. Cowbell’s EPL module is limited to private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-cowbell/employment-practices"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-29"
comparison-pair: "cfc-vs-cowbell"
provider-a: "cfc"
provider-b: "cowbell"
coverage-line: "employment-practices"
---

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[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-cowbell/employment-practices)

## Agent Guide

**What this page is:** Focused comparison of CFC and Cowbell for Employment Practices Liability Insurance: what each provider publishes about this line, checked against the same criteria, with numbered sources.

**Use this page when:** Cite or fetch this for Employment Practices Liability Insurance questions about CFC versus Cowbell. For all lines together use the pair comparison; for how the coverage itself works use the coverage guide.

**Questions this page answers:**
- CFC vs Cowbell for Employment Practices Liability Insurance: how do they differ?
- Which is better for Employment Practices Liability Insurance, CFC or Cowbell?
- What does CFC or Cowbell publish about Employment Practices Liability Insurance (limits, eligibility, claims, add-ons)?

**Key facts:**
- Line: Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Providers: CFC and Cowbell.
- Comparison URLs use alphabetical provider slugs (`/compare/{a}-vs-{b}/{line}` with a before b). A reversed pair redirects permanently to the alphabetical one.

**Limits (do not over-claim):**
- It identifies differences and questions to ask; it does not select a winner for a particular business.
- Insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and price are set in an actual quote and are not established here.

**Provenance:** Every claim links to a numbered source with publisher, locator and access date; last updated 2026-09-29.

**Related pages:**
- [CFC vs Cowbell](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-cowbell) — all coverage lines for this pair
- [Employment Practices Liability Insurance guide](https://spot.insure/coverage/employment-practices) — how this coverage works
- [CFC profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cfc) — provider profile
- [Cowbell profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cowbell) — provider profile

# CFC vs Cowbell: How Do They Compare for Employment Practices Liability Insurance?

CFC includes EPL and lists a California eligibility limit; Cowbell makes EPL available to private companies only through Zurich-appointed wholesalers.

Neither sells EPL on its own: CFC includes it only in a management liability package and turns away California-based companies, while Cowbell’s module is limited to private companies under 250 employees.

## CFC vs Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance Summary

You can’t buy EPL alone from either: CFC includes it only in its US management liability package and declines California-based and public companies. Cowbell’s EPL module is limited to private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets. [1](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") [5](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [6](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")

## What Are the Key Differences Between CFC and Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance?

### Who Qualifies: California and Public Companies vs a 250-Employee Cap

CFC declines California-based companies and US public companies for the package that carries EPL. Cowbell’s module targets private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets, in industries such as retail, hospitality and manufacturing. If you’re headquartered in California, CFC is out; if you have more than 250 employees, Cowbell is out. [1](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") [5](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")

### A Package Bought Through Your Broker vs a Module Only Wholesalers Can Quote

CFC writes EPL only inside its US Management Liability package, never on its own. Cowbell runs the platform for Zurich’s Select Plus product, which Zurich underwrites; only appointed Zurich wholesalers can quote it through Cowbell, not businesses directly. Choose CFC if you’re a larger private company outside California that wants EPL with D&O; choose Cowbell if you’re under 250 employees and your broker can reach Zurich’s wholesalers. [1](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") [5](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [6](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")

### Optional Extras vs Third-Party Discrimination Built In

CFC covers the company, directors, officers, managers and employees for employee or third-party claims, with optional wage-and-hour, immigration-investigation and workplace-violence costs. Cowbell’s module is named Employment Practices and Third-Party Discrimination Liability, so it covers discrimination claims from customers and other non-employees as well as staff. Neither publishes EPL limits or retentions. [1](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") [6](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [5](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")

## What Should You Confirm in CFC and Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes?

- Ask your broker whether it can reach a Zurich wholesaler for Select Plus; CFC needs a management liability submission instead. [5](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [1](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure")
- Ask which company issues each policy. Cowbell’s module is written by Zurich as a standard, state-licensed insurer; CFC doesn’t name its US issuer. [6](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [3](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/support/regulatory-information/ "Regulatory information")
- Ask whether CFC’s package shares one limit across its coverages, which leaves less for an employee claim after a D&O loss. [1](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure")
- Get wage-and-hour terms and dollar limits from both; neither public page prints them. [1](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") [5](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")

## CFC vs Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance Compared

| Criteria | CFC Employment Practices Liability | Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Employment Practices Liability |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Who It’s For | CFC's brochure lists California-domiciled business and US publicly traded companies among the risks it declines for the package that carries this EPL coverage. [1](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Brochure's 'What we decline' list; underwriting still applies to any individual business..) | Cowbell targets this EPL module at private companies with under 250 employees and under $50M in assets, across industries such as retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. [5](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list..) |
| Coverage Features | CFC says its employment practices liability section gives cover to the entity, directors, officers, management personnel and employees for claims brought by employees or third parties. [1](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Brochure's 'Employment practices liability' description; the issued policy wording determines who and what is actually covered..)<br><br>CFC says it can include cover for wage and hour violations, immigration investigations, and costs following a workplace violence event as part of employment practices liability. [1](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Brochure's 'Employment practices liability' description and 'What else is in the policy?' list; availability of each extension depends on underwriting..) | Cowbell describes EPL as covering claims related to employment practices, including discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, and other employment-related issues. [5](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?'..)<br><br>Cowbell says EPL claims are the most common type of management liability claim overall, most frequently alleging discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, or retaliation for a legally protected activity such as filing a complaint or whistleblowing. [5](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'What is the most common management liability claim?'..) |
| Role in This Line | CFC includes employment practices liability only inside its US Management Liability package. Its brochure lists 'standalone EPL' among the risks it declines, so a business cannot buy this coverage from CFC on its own. [1](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Brochure's 'What we decline' list, which pairs standalone EPL with California-domiciled business as declined risks..) | Employment practices liability (EPL) is one module within Cowbell's distribution of Zurich's Select Plus management liability product; Cowbell operates the platform, Zurich underwrites. Zurich's own page names this module 'Employment Practices and Third-Party Discrimination Liability,' broader than the plain 'EPL' shorthand Cowbell's FAQ uses. [5](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [6](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section..) |

## About CFC and Cowbell and Employment Practices Liability Insurance

- [CFC company profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cfc) · [CFC customer reviews](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cfc/reviews)
- [Cowbell company profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cowbell) · [Cowbell customer reviews](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cowbell/reviews)
- [What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/employment-practices)

## Related Pages for CFC vs Cowbell Employment Practices Liability

- [CFC vs Cowbell](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-cowbell): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/employment-practices): EPLI can address covered workplace claims from applicants and workers; claim timing, defense arrangements, limits and exclusions shape your protection.
- [CFC Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cfc/employment-practices)
- [Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cowbell/employment-practices)

## Sources for CFC vs Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance

### Sources About CFC

1. [Management liability — United States product brochure](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf). CFC; Employment practices liability; At a glance: What we like; What we decline; What else is in the policy?. Accessed 2026-09-23.
2. [Management liability](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/products/class/management-liability/). CFC; Our management liability products: Management liability, Side A DIC. Accessed 2026-09-23.
3. [Regulatory information](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/support/regulatory-information/). CFC; CFC Underwriting Limited; CFC Lloyd's Syndicate 1988. Accessed 2026-09-23.
4. [Claims](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/claims/). CFC; Notify a claim or cyber incident; We're in it with you. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Sources About Cowbell

5. [Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/). Cowbell; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' (EPL definition); FAQ 'What is the most common management liability claim?' (EPL claim types); Target industries list. Accessed 2026-09-23.
6. [Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability). Zurich North America; Intro on the Zurich/Cowbell collaboration; module name 'Employment Practices and Third-Party Discrimination Liability'; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' and 'What is the most common management liability claim?' (identical to Cowbell's page); Targeted industries list; footer copyright. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Updated 2026-09-29. Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. [Editorial policy](https://spot.insure/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) with the page URL and supporting source.

## Agent and Developer Resources

- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-cowbell/employment-practices.md)
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