CNA vs The Hartford: How Do They Compare for Employment Practices Liability Insurance?

CNA says EPL can address acts involving volunteers, interns and independent contractors. The Hartford describes third-party EPL for most businesses and automatic wage-and-hour defense cost coverage in its BOP, subject to state and class conditions. 4,8

CNA Small Business Insurance: Products, Agents and Service

CNA directs small-business buyers to independent agents and describes CNA Connect as a businessowners policy for more than 600 small-business classes. Issuer and availability vary by policy and state, so confirm both in a quote. 1,2,3

Read the CNA profile

Read the CNA Employment Practices Liability Insurance page

What Is The Hartford?

The Hartford suits SaaS and software small businesses seeking a BOP and an online quote; buyers needing commercial auto through self-service or built-in California EPL coverage should use another route. Eligible small-business quotes can start online in minutes. 5,6,7

Read the The Hartford profile

Read the The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance page

What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance?

EPLI can help pay covered defense costs and losses when applicants or workers allege discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination or other workplace wrongdoing. If you employ people, check the claim definition, defense costs and prior acts. 9,10,11

Read the full coverage guide

Key Differences in Employment Practices Liability Insurance

Third-party people and wage defense

CNA expressly lists volunteers, interns and independent contractors in its EPL coverage description. The Hartford describes third-party claims from customers, vendors and business invitees for most businesses, and says wage-and-hour defense costs are built into its BOP EPL. These are distinct extensions: confirm that your quote includes the specific people and claims relevant to your workplace, and whether defense costs are subject to a sublimit. 4 8

Policy route and state restrictions

The Hartford offers EPL within its Business Owner’s Policy for most classes, within Private Choice Premier, or as stand-alone Employers Premier Choice; its page says built-in EPL is not available in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York. CNA’s listed customer classes include public, private and nonprofit organizations without a matching route or state restriction stated in this claim. Ask which Hartford product is available in your state and compare it with CNA’s actual quote. 8 4

What to Confirm in Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes

  • For The Hartford, identify the product and writing company, and confirm whether your state and class can receive built-in EPL. 8
  • Ask both providers to state whether third-party claims involving contractors or volunteers are covered and whether wage-and-hour defense has a sublimit. 4

CNA and The Hartford Review Scores for 2026

These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.

CNA Review Score

9.0/ 10

Review Score

1 rated source

Customer feedback on CNA is mixed and hard to compare. NerdWallet gave it 4.5 out of 5 for manufacturers, while Trustpilot shows about 1.4 out of 5 from 49 mostly self-selected reviews.[1][5]

Read CNA reviews

The Hartford Review Score

4.9/ 10

Review Score

5 rated sources

The Hartford’s service record is mixed: NerdWallet rates it 4.5/5 but reports below-average small-business satisfaction. Low Trustpilot ratings add a service concern, although they mix policy types.[1][2][4][5][6][7]

Read The Hartford reviews

CNA vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance Compared

CNA vs The Hartford: Employment Practices Liability Insurance: documented features by provider

CriteriaCNA Epack 3 Employment Practices LiabilityThe Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)
Role in This Line

Confirm in your quote.

The Hartford's EPLI is built into its Business Owner's Policy for most classes, is included in its Private Choice Premier package policy, and is also sold stand-alone as Employers Premier Choice. 8Company-reported. EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23.

Issuing Insurer

Confirm in your quote.

The Hartford names Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company as the writing company for the described $25,000 Spectrum EPL limit, though other EPLI products on the page (BOP-included, Private Choice Premier, Employers Premier Choice) are not each tied to a named writing company on this page. 8Company-reported. EPLI product page footnote as read 2026-09-23.

Who It’s For

CNA identifies private, nonprofit and public organizations among the potential EPL customer classes. 4Company-reported. Entity: CNA brand; issuing company varies by form/state Product: Epack 3 Employment Practices Liability Jurisdiction: United States Research source scope: U.S. EPL under Epack 3; issuer/state terms vary Claim limitation: Eligibility remains subject to underwriting and policy state. Dated source: brochure ©2022; do not silently present this service or coverage detail as current. Source/date qualification: Copyright ©2022; brochure/service information is dated and should not be silently represented as current.

The Hartford's footnotes say there is no built-in EPL coverage in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York, and that the EPL program described on the page does not apply to EPL coverage written in California. Coverage and limits also vary by state and business class. 8Company-reported. EPLI product page footnotes as read 2026-09-23 (page last updated by The Hartford November 26, 2025).

Coverage Features

CNA EPL covers allegations including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to hire or promote, wrongful discipline and employment-contract breach. 4Company-reported. Entity: CNA brand; issuing company varies by form/state Product: Epack 3 Employment Practices Liability Jurisdiction: United States Research source scope: U.S. EPL under Epack 3; issuer/state terms vary Claim limitation: Company marketing summary only; issued policy forms, underwriting, jurisdictional availability, limits, exclusions and definitions control. Dated source: brochure ©2022; do not silently present this service or coverage detail as current. Source/date qualification: Copyright ©2022; brochure/service information is dated and should not be silently represented as current.

CNA says EPL coverage can address third-party discrimination/harassment and acts involving volunteers, interns and independent contractors. 4Company-reported. Entity: CNA brand; issuing company varies by form/state Product: Epack 3 Employment Practices Liability Jurisdiction: United States Research source scope: U.S. EPL under Epack 3; issuer/state terms vary Claim limitation: Company marketing summary only; issued policy forms, underwriting, jurisdictional availability, limits, exclusions and definitions control. Dated source: brochure ©2022; do not silently present this service or coverage detail as current. Source/date qualification: Copyright ©2022; brochure/service information is dated and should not be silently represented as current.

The Hartford says its EPLI covers claims of discrimination (including age), retaliation, FMLA violations, wrongful discipline or termination, failure to promote, and harassment, and that third-party EPLI (claims from customers, vendors or business invitees, not just employees) is included for most businesses. Its BOP also automatically includes Wage and Hour Defense Cost coverage as part of the built-in EPLI. 8Company-reported. EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23. General coverage description; the issued policy controls.

Limits and Retentions

Confirm in your quote.

The Hartford's EPLI footnote states a $25,000 limit applies to Spectrum business written in Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company. 8Company-reported. EPLI product page footnote as read 2026-09-23. Applies specifically to Spectrum-program business at that writing company; other products/limits are not addressed.

Risk Services

CNA advertises Beyond HR workplace training/resources and an employment-law helpline; it says the helpline does not provide legal advice on specific acts or claims. 4Company-reported. Entity: CNA brand; issuing company varies by form/state Product: Epack 3 Employment Practices Liability services Jurisdiction: United States Research source scope: U.S. EPL under Epack 3; issuer/state terms vary Claim limitation: Services are not legal representation or a guarantee of coverage. Dated source: brochure ©2022; do not silently present this service or coverage detail as current. Source/date qualification: Copyright ©2022; brochure/service information is dated and should not be silently represented as current.

The Hartford says it gives employers access to hartfordhelp.com, a proprietary site with web-based training on topics like sexual harassment and wrongful termination, current articles on employment-practices trends, and model employment policies and handbooks; this program requires purchase of increased EPL limits and may not be available in all states. 8Company-reported. EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23.

Related Pages for CNA vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability

Employment Practices Liability Pages for CNA and The Hartford

Other Coverage Lines Compared for CNA vs The Hartford

Other Employment Practices Liability Insurance Provider Comparisons

Sources for CNA vs The Hartford

Sources About CNA

  1. Insurance for Small Businesses. CNA; Insurance for Small Businesses, lines 38-50 and 65-67 (CNA Central and agent route); lines 79-106 (product and stated appetite lists); page footer line 132 (CNA registered service mark). Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. CNA Connect Small Businessowners Policy (BOP) | CNA Insurance. CNA; CNA Connect; coverages, product range, services. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. General Disclaimer. CNA; General Disclaimer paragraphs 1 and 5 (HTML lines 24 and 28): CNA describes Continental Casualty Company and its relevant affiliates; references to CNA may include one or more CCC affiliates; each particular policy/product/service is the responsibility only of the specific CNA company that issues or supplies it. Footer line 57 identifies CNA Financial Corporation as trademark registrant. Re-read 2026-09-29. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  4. Employment Practices Liability | CNA. CNA; pp. 1–3: wrongful practices, third-party acts, insured classes, risk services and claims. Accessed 2026-09-28.

Sources About The Hartford

  1. SaaS Insurance for Your Business. The Hartford; Audience list (software startups, SaaS, IT consulting); Get a Business Owner’s Policy; What Is Business Owner’s Policy Insurance?; general liability introduction and Get a Quote; Get Commercial Property Insurance; Commercial Property Insurance for Your Business; Benefits of The Hartford’s WC Insurance for Employers and Employees; cyber insurance and data breach descriptions; Get a quote for cyber insurance; EPLI introduction and Private Choice Premier; add-ons (workers’ compensation, data breach, commercial auto); technology professional liability mention; small-business availability banner; industry-average premium footnote; footnote 2 state restrictions; footer product-availability disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Find a Local Insurance Agent. The Hartford; Small-business and midsize agent locators; FAQ that buyers can purchase without an agent by calling or quoting online; statement that agents may charge fees. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance. The Hartford; What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance?; Why Do I Need EPLI?; If You Have Employees, You Need EPLI; Prevention Is Your Best Protection; footnotes 1-4 on state availability and Wage and Hour Defense Cost. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Sources for the Employment Practices Liability Insurance Guide

  1. Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Opening; What EPLI covers; Steps to limit employment liability risk. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Employment Practices Liability Coverage. Travelers; I.A/II.A p.1; III.A.4–6 p.7; II.F Employment Claim, PDF p.2; I.B p.1; II.U–V p.5; II.L p.3; III.A.9 and A.13, pp.7–8; III.B.2 p.8; IV.A Settlement, PDF pp.8–9. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Liability Coverage Terms and Conditions. Travelers; III.F–H p.6; III.O pp.8–9; III.F p.6; III.B–D, PDF pp.3–5; III.E–F, PDF pp.5–6. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated . 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. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with the page URL and supporting source.

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