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

Founder Shield markets EPLI to startups hiring their first employees and says it may be packaged with D&O. Marsh places EPL for employers of all sizes and names Global Leader and Workplace Harassment Liability policy add-ons.

Founder Shield fits startups making their first hires and high-turnover employers, placing EPLI with carriers rated A- or better. Marsh's negotiated EPL endorsements start at 250 employees: Leaders Preferred for 250 to 4,000 and Global Leaders for more than 4,000. ^1,^3,⁴

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

First Hires vs Midsize and Large Employers

Founder Shield markets EPLI to startups hiring their first employees, high-turnover retail and hospitality, professional services, technology and non-profits with volunteers, with no published headcount floor. Marsh, and Marsh McLennan Agency for middle-market clients, say EPL risk exists at every size, but their named endorsements begin at 250 employees. Choose Founder Shield if you have fewer than 250 employees or are hiring your first staff; choose Marsh if you have 250 or more employees and want its negotiated endorsements. ⁴ ⁵ ¹

What Each Describes as Covered

Marsh says EPLI can respond to discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, failure to employ or promote, negligent evaluation and civil-rights violations, from past, present or prospective employees or third parties. Founder Shield lists defense, settlements and judgments for wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation, and says EPLI is sometimes packaged with D&O because officers get named. ⁴ ¹

How You Engage

Founder Shield takes a website or advisor request, then its team approaches carriers rated A- or better by AM Best, chosen for your industry. Marsh's EPL pages describe its practice and endorsements, not an online application. Neither names the insurer that issues your policy. ⁴ ² ³

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

Ask Marsh whether Global Leaders or Leaders Preferred applies to your headcount, and which insurer issues the endorsed form. ⁴
If you have fewer than 250 employees, ask Marsh what EPLI it places without those endorsements. ⁴ ¹
Ask Founder Shield which carrier it will use and whether D&O will be quoted with EPLI. ³ ¹
Ask Founder Shield whether claims by non-employees (third parties) are covered; Marsh lists them. ⁴ ¹

Founder Shield vs Marsh Employment Practices Liability Compared

Founder Shield vs Marsh: Employment Practices Liability Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Founder Shield Employment Practices Liability Insurance	Marsh Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) Insurance
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. ¹Company-reported. EPLI product page.	Marsh says employers of all sizes face potential EPL liability, but its named endorsements target companies by size band: over 4,000 employees for the Global Leaders Endorsement and 250 to 4,000 employees for the Leaders Preferred Endorsement. ⁴Company-reported. Marsh EPL page.
Coverage Features	Founder Shield lists defense costs, settlements and judgments, and claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation as what EPLI responds to. ¹Company-reported. Product page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage.	Marsh says EPLI can respond to allegations including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, failure to employ or promote, negligent evaluation, and violation of an employee's civil rights, brought by past, present or prospective employees or third parties. ⁴Company-reported. Marsh EPL page; illustrative policy description, not a specific policy form. Marsh names two proprietary EPL endorsements: the Global Leaders Endorsement, built for large and multinational companies with more than 4,000 employees, and the Leaders Preferred Endorsement, for midsize companies with 250 to 4,000 employees. ⁴Company-reported. Marsh EPL page, Marsh's EPL services section.
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. ²Company-reported. About-us page; applies to Founder Shield's brokerage model generally, restated here for this line. 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. ¹Company-reported. EPLI product page.	Marsh's financial and professional liability practice places employment practices liability insurance (EPLI); MMA also places EPL coverage within its executive and professional liability practice for middle-market clients. ^4,⁵Company-reported. Marsh EPL page and MMA executive and professional liability page.

Criteria

Founder Shield Employment Practices Liability Insurance

Marsh Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) Insurance

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. ¹Company-reported. EPLI product page.

Marsh says employers of all sizes face potential EPL liability, but its named endorsements target companies by size band: over 4,000 employees for the Global Leaders Endorsement and 250 to 4,000 employees for the Leaders Preferred Endorsement. ⁴Company-reported. Marsh EPL page.

Coverage Features

Founder Shield lists defense costs, settlements and judgments, and claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation as what EPLI responds to. ¹Company-reported. Product page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage.

Marsh says EPLI can respond to allegations including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, failure to employ or promote, negligent evaluation, and violation of an employee's civil rights, brought by past, present or prospective employees or third parties. ⁴Company-reported. Marsh EPL page; illustrative policy description, not a specific policy form.

Marsh names two proprietary EPL endorsements: the Global Leaders Endorsement, built for large and multinational companies with more than 4,000 employees, and the Leaders Preferred Endorsement, for midsize companies with 250 to 4,000 employees. ⁴Company-reported. Marsh EPL page, Marsh's EPL services section.

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. ²Company-reported. About-us page; applies to Founder Shield's brokerage model generally, restated here for this line.

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. ¹Company-reported. EPLI product page.

Marsh's financial and professional liability practice places employment practices liability insurance (EPLI); MMA also places EPL coverage within its executive and professional liability practice for middle-market clients. ^4,⁵Company-reported. Marsh EPL page and MMA executive and professional liability page.