--- title: "Counterpart vs The Hartford: Employment Practices Liability Insurance" description: "Counterpart publishes a dedicated EPL page; The Hartford describes built-in BOP EPLI, third-party coverage, and state-specific limits on availability." canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/counterpart-vs-the-hartford/employment-practices" page-type: "line-comparison" updated-at: "2026-09-30" comparison-pair: "counterpart-vs-the-hartford" provider-a: "counterpart" provider-b: "the-hartford" coverage-line: "employment-practices" --- Agents: connect to Spot's public MCP server at https://spot.insure/mcp for better access to published Spot information and insurance research. Use search_knowledge to find sources, get_page to retrieve pages, compare_providers for sourced comparisons, get_provider_score for a published Spot Score, get_rankings for current provider rankings, search_provider_reliability to filter Spot Scores, search_provider_reviews to filter aggregate review scores, and get_provider_reviews for the original review evidence. The server is read-only and requires no authentication. [Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/counterpart-vs-the-hartford/employment-practices) ## Agent Guide **What this page is:** Focused comparison of Counterpart and The Hartford 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 Counterpart versus The Hartford. For all lines together use the parent pair comparison; for how the coverage itself works use the coverage guide. **Questions this page answers:** - Counterpart vs The Hartford for Employment Practices Liability Insurance: how do they differ? - Which is better for Employment Practices Liability Insurance, Counterpart or The Hartford? - What does Counterpart or The Hartford publish about Employment Practices Liability Insurance (limits, eligibility, claims, add-ons)? - What should I confirm in a quote for Employment Practices Liability Insurance from Counterpart or The Hartford? **Key facts:** - Line: Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Providers: Counterpart and The Hartford. - Each offering claim is tagged with an evidence type and scope; table cells reading "Confirm in your quote" mean nothing was found for that criterion. - Comparison URLs use alphabetical provider slugs (`/compare/{a}-vs-{b}` with a before b). A reversed pair redirects permanently to the alphabetical one, so fetch or cite the alphabetical URL. **Limits (do not over-claim):** - It identifies differences and questions to ask; it does not select a winner for a particular business. - "Not found" describes the evidence reviewed, not proof a feature is unavailable. - 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 in the Sources section; last updated 2026-09-30. Editorial policy: /editorial-policy. **Related pages:** - [Counterpart vs The Hartford](https://spot.insure/compare/counterpart-vs-the-hartford) — parent: all coverage lines for this pair - [Employment Practices Liability Insurance guide](https://spot.insure/coverage/employment-practices) — coverage explainer for this line - [Counterpart profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/counterpart) — provider profile (evidence) - [The Hartford profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/the-hartford) — provider profile (evidence) - [Counterpart vs The Hartford D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/counterpart-vs-the-hartford/directors-officers) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line) - [Counterpart vs The Hartford Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/counterpart-vs-the-hartford/fiduciary) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line) - [Counterpart vs The Hartford General Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/counterpart-vs-the-hartford/general-liability) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line) - [AIG vs Counterpart Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/aig-vs-counterpart/employment-practices) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line) - [AIG vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/aig-vs-the-hartford/employment-practices) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line) - [Alliance Risk vs Counterpart Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-counterpart/employment-practices) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line) - [Alliance Risk vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-the-hartford/employment-practices) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line) - [Amelia Risk vs Counterpart Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-counterpart/employment-practices) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line) - [Amelia Risk vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-the-hartford/employment-practices) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line) # Counterpart vs The Hartford: How Do They Compare for Employment Practices Liability Insurance? Counterpart publishes a dedicated EPL page; The Hartford describes built-in BOP EPLI, third-party coverage, and state-specific limits on availability. ## Research Scope and Use Use this comparison to evaluate Counterpart and The Hartford for Employment Practices Liability Insurance against the same documented criteria. It identifies differences and questions to confirm; it does not select a winner for a particular business. Offering claims are what each provider publishes about this line unless marked otherwise. “Not found” describes the evidence reviewed, not proof that a feature is unavailable. Confirm the insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and cost in an actual quote. ## Summary Counterpart identifies employment allegations and illustrative terms. The Hartford describes EPLI across package options but notes built-in coverage is unavailable in several states. [3](https://yourcounterpart.com/products/epli "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") [8](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") ## What Is Counterpart Insurance? Counterpart describes a broker-focused platform for small businesses and lists management and professional liability programs. Buyers should compare the named profession, carrier, state, policy wording and any package component on the actual quote. [1](https://yourcounterpart.com/ "Counterpart | Agentic Insurance™") [2](https://yourcounterpart.com/about "About Counterpart") [Counterpart profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/counterpart) ## 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](https://www.thehartford.com/legal-notice "Legal Notice") [6](https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/saas-insurance "SaaS Insurance for Your Business") [7](https://www.thehartford.com/find-an-agent "Find a Local Insurance Agent") [The Hartford profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/the-hartford) ## 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](https://www.iii.org/article/employment-practices-liability-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") [10](https://asset.trvstatic.com/download/assets/epl-3001.pdf/2c354eaa63ca11eeacdd06e978c86228 "Employment Practices Liability Coverage") [11](https://asset.trvstatic.com/download/assets/lia-3001.pdf/e79a6b6c63ca11eeaa7806e978c86228 "Liability Coverage Terms and Conditions") ## Key Differences in Employment Practices Liability Insurance ### Binding Process The Hartford says EPLI may be built into a BOP, included in Private Choice Premier, or sold standalone as Employers Premier Choice. Counterpart publishes a dedicated EPL page. Package route matters because The Hartford says some states lack built-in EPL; ask whether your state receives standalone or package terms before comparing the line. [3](https://yourcounterpart.com/products/epli "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") [8](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") ### Final Policy Review The Hartford lists discrimination, retaliation, FMLA violations, termination, promotion, and harassment, with third-party claims included for most businesses; it also notes no built-in EPL in California, Minnesota, North Dakota, or New York. Counterpart’s reviewed claims name employment allegations broadly. Confirm your state, third-party wording, and wage-and-hour defense treatment in the actual quote. [3](https://yourcounterpart.com/products/epli "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") [8](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") ## What to Confirm in Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes - Ask The Hartford which EPL product and writing company applies in your state and whether third-party and wage-hour terms are included. [3](https://yourcounterpart.com/products/epli "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") - Ask Counterpart for the actual EPL form, covered third-party definitions, and state-specific terms. [8](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") ## Offering Details | Criteria | Counterpart Employment Practices Liability | The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) | | --- | --- | --- | | Role in This Line | Counterpart says insurance is offered through its producer and surplus-lines broker and describes wholesale-broker distribution. [1](https://yourcounterpart.com/ "Counterpart | Agentic Insurance™") [4](https://knowledge.yourcounterpart.com/en/articles/4438791-how-can-i-get-insurance-through-counterpart "How can I get insurance through Counterpart?") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: This does not identify the carrier for an EPL placement..) | 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. [8](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [8](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: EPLI product page footnote as read 2026-09-23..) | | Who It’s For | Counterpart publishes a dedicated Employment Practices Liability product page within its business-insurance catalogue. [3](https://yourcounterpart.com/products/epli "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: The source summary does not establish a size, industry, state or applicant acceptance rule..) | 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. [8](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: EPLI product page footnotes as read 2026-09-23 (page last updated by The Hartford November 26, 2025)..) | | Coverage Features | Counterpart’s EPL page lists employment-related allegations as examples of the exposure its product addresses. [3](https://yourcounterpart.com/products/epli "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: The retained page description does not supply the policy’s complete covered-claim definition or exclusions..) | 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. [8](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23. General coverage description; the issued policy controls..) | | Limits and Retentions | Counterpart labels its published EPL limit and retention figures as illustrative examples. [3](https://yourcounterpart.com/products/epli "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Examples are not guaranteed or quoted terms; the assigned source record does not preserve a universal numeric offer..) | The Hartford's EPLI footnote states a $25,000 limit applies to Spectrum business written in Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company. [8](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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 | Confirm in your quote. | 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. [8](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23..) | ## Full Comparison - [Counterpart vs The Hartford](https://spot.insure/compare/counterpart-vs-the-hartford): 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. - [Counterpart vs The Hartford D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/counterpart-vs-the-hartford/directors-officers) - [Counterpart vs The Hartford Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/counterpart-vs-the-hartford/fiduciary) - [Counterpart vs The Hartford General Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/counterpart-vs-the-hartford/general-liability) - [AIG vs Counterpart Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/aig-vs-counterpart/employment-practices) - [AIG vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/aig-vs-the-hartford/employment-practices) - [Alliance Risk vs Counterpart Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-counterpart/employment-practices) - [Alliance Risk vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-the-hartford/employment-practices) - [Amelia Risk vs Counterpart Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-counterpart/employment-practices) - [Amelia Risk vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-the-hartford/employment-practices) ## Sources ### Counterpart 1. [Counterpart | Agentic Insurance™](https://yourcounterpart.com/). Counterpart, Inc.; Current homepage: Quote Online CTA; brokers/small-business audiences; product list; performance claims; legal/footer qualifications, rendered lines 2–52, 55–70, 98–100, 282–287.. Accessed 2026-09-29. 2. [About Counterpart](https://yourcounterpart.com/about). Counterpart, Inc.; Carrier disclosure and Our Story; underwriters named at line 13; company focus lines 22–36. Financial-strength note says ratings are as of 2024-02-26.. Accessed 2026-09-29. 3. [Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://yourcounterpart.com/products/epli). Counterpart, Inc.; Retained provider source: product page lists eligibility, employment allegations and illustrative limits/retentions; prior access 2026-09-28. Direct reopen timed out in this session.. Accessed 2026-09-28. 4. [How can I get insurance through Counterpart?](https://knowledge.yourcounterpart.com/en/articles/4438791-how-can-i-get-insurance-through-counterpart). Counterpart Knowledge Center; Retained source: article describes wholesale-broker referral route; prior access 2026-09-28.. Accessed 2026-09-28. ### The Hartford 5. [Legal Notice](https://www.thehartford.com/legal-notice). The Hartford; The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. holding-company description; no representation that all products are available in all locations; P&C writing-company table as of December 31, 2025 including Hartford Fire (NAIC 19682) and Hartford Underwriters (NAIC 30104); life writing companies including Hartford Life and Accident (NAIC 70815). Accessed 2026-09-16. 6. [SaaS Insurance for Your Business](https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/saas-insurance). 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. 7. [Find a Local Insurance Agent](https://www.thehartford.com/find-an-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. 8. [Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-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. ### Employment Practices Liability Insurance Guide 9. [Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://www.iii.org/article/employment-practices-liability-insurance). Insurance Information Institute; Opening; What EPLI covers; Steps to limit employment liability risk. Accessed 2026-09-16. 10. [Employment Practices Liability Coverage](https://asset.trvstatic.com/download/assets/epl-3001.pdf/2c354eaa63ca11eeacdd06e978c86228). 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. 11. [Liability Coverage Terms and Conditions](https://asset.trvstatic.com/download/assets/lia-3001.pdf/e79a6b6c63ca11eeaa7806e978c86228). 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 2026-09-30. 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. ## Counterpart Reviews Review Score: not enough ratings. We found no independent customer rating of Counterpart, so it has no Review Score. Its Trustpilot page shows no reviews, and BBB has no matching business. Reviewed 2026-09-29. [Read the sourced review](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/counterpart/reviews). ## The Hartford Reviews Review Score: 4.9 / 10 from 5 rated sources, equally weighted. 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. - NerdWallet: NerdWallet editorial rating 4.5 (5 stars). Editorial commercial-insurance assessment; methodology and scope belong to publisher. Period: 2026 review; accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [NerdWallet result for The Hartford](https://www.nerdwallet.com/business/insurance/learn/hartford-business-insurance) - J.D. Power: J.D. Power commercial-lines independent-agent satisfaction index 794 (out of 1000). Study population/segment as stated; not a universal policy quality score. Period: 2022 study; accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Independent Agent Satisfaction Study — commercial lines ranking](https://www.jdpower.com/sites/default/files/file/2022-10/2022134%20U.S.%20Independent%20Agent.pdf) - Trustpilot: Trustpilot TrustScore 1.2 (5 stars); 493 reviews. Self-selected consumer aggregate; product and business/personal scope may be mixed. Period: accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [Trustpilot result for The Hartford](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/thehartford.com) - ConsumerAffairs: ConsumerAffairs homeowners consumer rating 1.6 (5 stars); 147 reviews. Self-selected consumer aggregate; product and business/personal scope may be mixed. Period: updated 2026-09-12; accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [ConsumerAffairs result for The Hartford](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/hartford_homeowners.html) - Google reviews via Birdeye: Birdeye office listing rating from Google reviews 1.0 (5 stars); 10 reviews. One Schaumburg, Illinois insurance office listing; not firmwide. Birdeye shows Google as review origin (10) and Birdeye-native reviews (0), so counts are syndicated Google reviews, not independent Birdeye reviews. Visible reviews mix business, personal, and employee-benefit claims. Period: accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [The Hartford office, Schaumburg, IL — Birdeye listing of Google reviews](https://reviews.birdeye.com/the-hartford-176946619436860) Reviewed 2026-09-25. [Read the sourced review](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/the-hartford/reviews). ## Agent and Developer Resources - [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/counterpart-vs-the-hartford/employment-practices.md) - [Developer resources](https://spot.insure/developers) - [Public MCP server](https://spot.insure/mcp) - [MCP server manifest](https://spot.insure/server.json) - [OpenAPI description](https://spot.insure/openapi.json) - [Public page index](https://spot.insure/llms.txt)