---
title: "Founder Shield vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance"
description: "The Hartford underwrites BOP-included EPLI with state carve-outs; Founder Shield brokers A-rated EPLI."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-the-hartford/employment-practices"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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# Founder Shield vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance

The Hartford underwrites BOP-included EPLI with state carve-outs; Founder Shield brokers A-rated EPLI.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Founder Shield 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

The Hartford writes EPLI into most BOP classes, with no built-in EPL in four named states. Founder Shield places EPLI with A-rated carriers rather than issuing the policy. [11](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL 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 Is Founder Shield Insurance?

Founder Shield is a commercial insurance broker for venture-backed and growing businesses. Buyers can request coverage through its online portal and work with advisors on insurer selection, policy changes and claims reporting. [1](https://foundershield.com/ "Founder Shield") [2](https://apx.foundershield.com/ "Quote Portal") [3](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") [4](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/what-if-our-company-grows-a-lot-or-things-change-during-the-year/ "What If Our Company Grows A Lot or Things Change During the Year?") [5](https://foundershield.com/claims/ "Claims")

[Founder Shield profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/foundershield)

## What Is The Hartford?

The Hartford is the brand of The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc., whose subsidiaries underwrite property-and-casualty insurance and employee benefits. Small-business buyers can start online or by phone or work through independent agents, while the issuing company and state eligibility still have to be confirmed on a quote. [8](https://www.thehartford.com/legal-notice "Legal Notice") [9](https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/saas-insurance "SaaS Insurance for Your Business") [10](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?

Employment practices liability insurance addresses claims alleging workplace wrongdoing, such as discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination. [12](https://www.iii.org/article/employment-practices-liability-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance")

## Key Differences in Employment Practices Liability Insurance

### Who Issues the Policy

The Hartford underwrites EPLI on its own products, including built-in cover on most Business Owner's Policy classes. Founder Shield is a retail broker that places EPLI with third-party carriers rated A- or better by AM Best. [11](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") [7](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?")

For Spectrum business in Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company, The Hartford states a $25,000 EPL limit. Founder Shield's reviewed offering does not publish a default limit. [11](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL 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?")

### Eligibility: State Rules Versus Employer Types

The Hartford says there is no built-in EPL coverage in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York, and that the described program does not apply to EPL written in California. Founder Shield's reviewed offering does not describe those four-state built-in carve-outs. [11](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") [6](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance")

Founder Shield markets EPLI to first-hire startups, high-turnover retail and hospitality, professional services, technology companies and volunteer nonprofits. The Hartford's reviewed offering does not use that industry list; it ties built-in EPL to product class and state. [6](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") [11](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance")

### What the Policy Is Said to Cover

The Hartford says third-party EPLI is included for most businesses and that BOP EPLI includes Wage and Hour Defense Cost coverage. Founder Shield lists employee-side termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation. [11](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") [6](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance")

Founder Shield's reviewed offering does not describe third-party EPLI or wage-and-hour defense. A buyer comparing quotes still has to read those grants on the issued form from either side. [6](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") [11](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance")

## What to Confirm in Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes

- If you have California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York operations, ask The Hartford whether any EPL product is available, not only the BOP built-in. [11](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance")
- Ask The Hartford whether the quote is BOP-included, Private Choice Premier, or Employers Premier Choice, and which writing company applies. [11](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance")
- Ask Founder Shield for the named A-rated issuer, limit, and whether D&O is packaged. [3](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") [6](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance")
- Confirm third-party and wage-and-hour defense on both forms. [11](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") [6](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Founder Shield Employment Practices Liability Insurance | The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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. [7](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. [6](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: EPLI product page..) | 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. [11](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 | Founder Shield says it places policies, including Founder Shield Employment Practices Liability Insurance, only with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best, chosen for the client's industry. It does not name the issuing insurer for this line; that depends on which carrier the policy is placed with. [3](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: General carrier-selection FAQ, not specific to this line's placements..) | 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. [11](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 | 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. [6](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: EPLI product page..) | 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. [11](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 | Founder Shield lists defense costs, settlements and judgments, and claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation as what EPLI responds to. [6](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..) | 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. [11](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 | Not described in the reviewed sources. | The Hartford's EPLI footnote states a $25,000 limit applies to Spectrum business written in Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company. [11](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 | Not described in the reviewed sources. | 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. [11](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..) |
| How to Apply | You request Founder Shield Employment Practices Liability Insurance through Founder Shield's website or an insurance advisor rather than binding coverage directly; Founder Shield says its placement team then approaches carriers on the client's behalf. [7](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?") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: About-us and carrier-selection pages describe the general placement process, not a line-specific application form..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |

## Full Comparison

- [Founder Shield vs The Hartford](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-the-hartford): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/employment-practices): Employment practices liability insurance can help defend your business against covered claims of discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination.
- [Founder Shield vs The Hartford Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-the-hartford/commercial-property)
- [Founder Shield vs The Hartford Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-the-hartford/crime)
- [Founder Shield vs The Hartford Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-the-hartford/cyber)
- [Founder Shield vs The Hartford D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-the-hartford/directors-officers)
- [Founder Shield vs The Hartford Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-the-hartford/fiduciary)
- [Founder Shield vs The Hartford General Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-the-hartford/general-liability)
- [Founder Shield vs The Hartford Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-the-hartford/hired-non-owned-auto)
- [Founder Shield vs The Hartford Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-the-hartford/professional-errors-omissions)
- [Founder Shield vs The Hartford Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-the-hartford/workers-compensation)
- [Alliance Risk vs Founder Shield Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-foundershield/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 Founder Shield Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-foundershield/employment-practices)
- [Amelia Risk vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-the-hartford/employment-practices)
- [Beazley vs Founder Shield Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-foundershield/employment-practices)
- [Beazley vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-the-hartford/employment-practices)

## Sources

### Founder Shield

1. [Founder Shield](https://foundershield.com/). Founder Shield; Opening broker description; Specialized Practices; Smart Tech, Smarter People; quote and sign-in links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
2. [Quote Portal](https://apx.foundershield.com/). Founder Shield; Public landing screen, Create Account and Sign In links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
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.
4. [What If Our Company Grows A Lot or Things Change During the Year?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/what-if-our-company-grows-a-lot-or-things-change-during-the-year/). Founder Shield; Carl Niedbala answer, November 25, 2024: operational changes and coverage adjustments. Accessed 2026-09-15.
5. [Claims](https://foundershield.com/claims/). Founder Shield; Our Approach; How We Support Claims Management, steps 1–5; Make a claim link. Accessed 2026-09-15.
6. [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.
7. [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.

### The Hartford

8. [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.
9. [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.
10. [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.
11. [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

12. [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.

Updated 2026-09-23. 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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