---
title: "Founder Shield vs The Hartford: Employment Practices Liability Insurance"
description: "The Hartford builds EPLI, with third-party claims and wage-and-hour defense costs, into most business owner's policies, but not in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York; Founder Shield is a broker that places EPLI for startups and high-turnover employers with insurers rated A- or better."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-the-hartford/employment-practices"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-25"
comparison-pair: "foundershield-vs-the-hartford"
provider-a: "foundershield"
provider-b: "the-hartford"
coverage-line: "employment-practices"
---

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

## Agent Guide

**What this page is:** Focused comparison of Founder Shield 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 Founder Shield versus The Hartford. 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 The Hartford for Employment Practices Liability Insurance: how do they differ?
- Which is better for Employment Practices Liability Insurance, Founder Shield or The Hartford?
- What does Founder Shield or The Hartford publish about Employment Practices Liability Insurance (limits, eligibility, claims, add-ons)?

**Key facts:**
- Line: Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Providers: Founder Shield and The Hartford.
- 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 The Hartford](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-the-hartford) — 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
- [The Hartford profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/the-hartford) — provider profile

# Founder Shield vs The Hartford: 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. The Hartford builds EPLI into its Business Owner's Policy for most classes, but not in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York.

The Hartford builds EPLI into most small-business BOPs except in California, Minnesota, North Dakota and New York, while Founder Shield is a broker that shops EPLI with A- or better insurers for startups and high-turnover employers.

## Founder Shield vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance Summary

The Hartford builds EPLI, with third-party claims and wage-and-hour defense costs, into most business owner's policies, but not in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York; Founder Shield is a broker that places EPLI for startups and high-turnover employers with insurers rated A- or better. [4](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?") [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance")

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

### Built Into Your BOP vs a Broker Shopping by Industry

The Hartford writes EPLI itself, built into most Business Owner's Policy (BOP) classes, but there's no built-in EPL in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York. On Spectrum business written by Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company, the built-in limit is $25,000, which covers little more than early defense costs. Founder Shield is a retail broker that places EPLI with outside insurers rated A- or better by AM Best, picked for your industry, and markets it to first-hire startups, high-turnover retail and hospitality, professional services, technology companies and volunteer nonprofits. It doesn't publish a default limit. Choose The Hartford if you're buying a BOP outside those four states and a small built-in limit is enough; choose Founder Shield if you're in one of those states or need a higher, standalone limit. [4](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | 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?") [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance")

### Third-Party and Wage-and-Hour Defense vs Employee Claims Only

The Hartford says third-party EPLI is included for most businesses and its BOP EPLI includes Wage and Hour Defense Cost coverage. Founder Shield lists employee-side termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation, and doesn't describe third-party or wage-and-hour cover. If customers could bring harassment claims against your staff, ask Founder Shield to show that cover on the quote. [4](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance")

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

- If you operate in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York, ask The Hartford whether any EPL product is available beyond the BOP built-in. [4](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 Hartford company issues it. [4](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance")
- Ask Founder Shield which insurer would issue the policy, the limit, and whether D&O is packaged with it. [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 both to show third-party and wage-and-hour defense on the form. [4](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") [1](https://foundershield.com/coverage/employment-practices-liability-insurance/ "Employment Practices Liability Insurance")

## Founder Shield vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Compared

| Criteria | Founder Shield Employment Practices Liability Insurance | The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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..) | 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. [4](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. [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..) | 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. [4](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..) |
| 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..) | 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. [4](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. [4](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..) |

## About Founder Shield and The Hartford

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

## Related Pages for Founder Shield vs The Hartford

- [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): 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)
- [The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/the-hartford/employment-practices)

## Sources for Founder Shield vs The Hartford

### 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 The Hartford

4. [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.

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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