---
title: "Founder Shield vs Lockton: Employment Practices Liability Insurance"
description: "Lockton documents broader EPL: third-party harassment, immigration claims, punitive damages where insurable, and a separate wage-and-hour policy. Founder Shield covers the core employee claims and places only with insurers rated A- or better, aimed at first-hire startups and high-turnover employers."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-lockton/employment-practices"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-25"
comparison-pair: "foundershield-vs-lockton"
provider-a: "foundershield"
provider-b: "lockton"
coverage-line: "employment-practices"
---

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

## Agent Guide

**What this page is:** Focused comparison of Founder Shield and Lockton 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 Founder Shield versus Lockton. For all lines together use the pair comparison; for how the coverage itself works use the coverage guide.

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

**Key facts:**
- Line: Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Providers: Founder Shield and Lockton.
- 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 2026-09-25.

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

# Founder Shield vs Lockton: How Do They Compare for Employment Practices Liability Insurance?

Founder Shield markets EPLI to startups hiring their first employees and says it can be packaged with D&O. Lockton designs EPL programs for organizations that hire people and says typical policies cover defense costs and damages.

Lockton places broader EPL programs with third-party, immigration and separate wage-and-hour cover, while Founder Shield places core EPLI with A-rated insurers for startups and high-turnover employers.

## Founder Shield vs Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance Summary

Lockton documents broader EPL: third-party harassment, immigration claims, punitive damages where insurable, and a separate wage-and-hour policy. Founder Shield covers the core employee claims and places only with insurers rated A- or better, aimed at first-hire startups and high-turnover employers. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") [3](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?")

## What Are the Key Differences Between Founder Shield and Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance?

### Broad Placed Grants and Wage-and-Hour vs Core Employee Claims

Both broker EPL rather than underwrite it. Lockton says a typical policy it places covers defense of employee claims and official investigations, third-party discrimination or harassment, punitive damages where insurable, and immigration-related claims, and it sells wage-and-hour cover separately because EPL usually excludes it. Founder Shield lists defense, settlements and judgments for wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation only. Choose Lockton if you face wage-and-hour, immigration or customer-harassment risk; choose Founder Shield if you're a startup making first hires and need the core cover. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance")

### Any Employer vs Startups and High-Turnover Businesses

Lockton says any organization that hires people faces employment risk, regardless of size, industry, location, union status or contractor use. Founder Shield targets first-hire startups, high-turnover retail and hospitality, professional services, tech companies and nonprofits with volunteers, and places only with insurers rated A- or better by AM Best, a measure of financial strength. Lockton's EPL page names no insurers. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") [3](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?")

### Claims Counsel From Day One vs Online Request and Placement

Lockton puts insurance and claims counsel on the broking team from the start, so you have a claim strategy before a charge is filed. Founder Shield starts with a website or advisor request, then its placement team approaches insurers; it doesn't describe in-house EPL claims counsel. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") [2](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") [3](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?")

## What Should You Confirm in Founder Shield and Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes?

- Ask Lockton whether wage-and-hour is a separate policy, what sublimit applies, and whether third-party and immigration cover are on the quote. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")
- Ask Founder Shield which A-rated insurer is quoting and whether D&O should sit with EPLI, since officers can be sued personally. [3](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance")
- Ask Lockton how the form treats punitive damages; Founder Shield's page doesn't address them. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance")
- Ask Lockton how its claims counsel will work with the insurer's defense lawyers if a charge is filed. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")

## Founder Shield vs Lockton Employment Practices Liability Compared

| Criteria | Founder Shield Employment Practices Liability Insurance | Lockton Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Insurance Brokerage |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Who It’s For | Founder Shield markets EPLI to startups hiring their first employees, retail and hospitality businesses with high turnover, professional-services firms, technology companies, and non-profits with volunteers. [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: EPLI product page..) | Lockton says any organization that engages people for hire, regardless of size, industry, location, union participation or use of independent contractors, faces employment-related risk and should consider EPL insurance. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: EPL product page as read 2026-09-23..) |
| Coverage Features | Founder Shield lists defense costs, settlements and judgments, and claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation as what EPLI responds to. [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage..) | Lockton says a typical EPL policy it places covers legal defense costs for employee claims and official employment investigations, third-party discrimination or harassment claims from non-employees, punitive damages where insurable, and immigration-related employment claims. It separately offers standalone wage-and-hour coverage for claims like misclassification and unpaid overtime, since wage-and-hour claims are typically excluded from EPL policies. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: EPL product page as read 2026-09-23. Describes typical policy features Lockton places, not a specimen form for any one client..) |
| Role in This Line | Founder Shield is a retail insurance brokerage, described on its site as “the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group,” and places Founder Shield Employment Practices Liability Insurance with third-party carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. [2](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: About-us page; applies to Founder Shield's brokerage model generally, restated here for this line..)<br><br>Founder Shield says EPLI is often purchased standalone but is sometimes packaged with Directors & Officers coverage, since employee-related suits frequently name corporate officers personally. [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: EPLI product page..) | Lockton designs EPL insurance programs for clients as their risk advisor and broker; it does not underwrite the coverage it places. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: EPL product page as read 2026-09-23..) |

## About Founder Shield and Lockton and Employment Practices Liability

- [Founder Shield company profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/foundershield) · [Founder Shield customer reviews](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/foundershield/reviews)
- [Lockton company profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton) · [Lockton customer reviews](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton/reviews)
- [What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/employment-practices)

## Related Pages for Founder Shield vs Lockton

- [Founder Shield vs Lockton](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-lockton): 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.
- [Founder Shield Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/foundershield/employment-practices)
- [Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton/employment-practices)

## Sources for Founder Shield vs Lockton

### Sources About Founder Shield

1. [Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/). Founder Shield; What Is EPL Insurance?; Who Needs EPL Insurance Coverage?; What Does EPL Insurance Cover?. Accessed 2026-09-23.
2. [About Us](https://foundershield.com/about-us/). Founder Shield; “Founder Shield is the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group”; company history and mission. Accessed 2026-09-23.
3. [How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/). Founder Shield; FAQ answer on carrier selection: works exclusively with A-rated (AM Best) carriers, matched by industry appetite. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Sources About Lockton

4. [Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability). Lockton; What is EPL insurance?; Who should purchase EPL insurance?; What can I expect in a typical EPL insurance policy?; What is Wage and Hour coverage?; Claims management. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Updated 2026-09-25. 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.

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