Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs The Hartford: How Do They Compare for Employment Practices Liability Insurance?

Heffernan Insurance Brokers places EPL for a range of business types, with an older article discussing wage-and-hour limits within the policy. 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 includes EPLI with wage-and-hour defense in most business owner’s policies, except in California, Minnesota, North Dakota and New York. Heffernan is a broker with dedicated home-care and family-office practices that shops EPL with outside insurers. ^6,^1,^2,³

What Are the Key Differences Between Heffernan Insurance Brokers and The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance?

Built-In BOP Coverage vs Niche Broker Practices

The Hartford underwrites EPLI itself: built into most business owner’s policy (BOP) classes, included in Private Choice Premier, or standalone as Employers Premier Choice. Heffernan shops EPL with outside insurers as part of corporate and executive protection, with dedicated practices for home-care agencies and family offices. Choose The Hartford if you are a small business buying a BOP outside California, Minnesota, North Dakota and New York; choose Heffernan if you run a home-care agency or family office, or operate in those states. ⁶ ¹ ² ³

Four-State Carve-Out vs No Published State Limits

The Hartford has no built-in EPL in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York, and its program does not apply to EPL written in California. Heffernan publishes no such carve-out. ⁶ ¹

Wage-and-Hour Defense Included vs Advice to Negotiate It

The Hartford says its BOP EPLI automatically includes wage-and-hour defense costs and covers claims from customers and vendors for most businesses. Heffernan’s 2016 staff commentary told buyers to request wage-and-hour cover, then commonly sublimited at $100,000, plus a full hammer clause and an immigration endorsement. That advice is dated, but it shows what to ask Heffernan to negotiate. ⁶ ⁵

What Should You Confirm in Heffernan Insurance Brokers and The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes?

Ask The Hartford which product applies and how it writes EPL in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York. ⁶
Ask Heffernan which insurers it would use and which company issues the policy. ¹
Check wage-and-hour limits: The Hartford publishes a $25,000 EPL limit on its Spectrum BOP, written by Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company; ask Heffernan for the current wage-and-hour sublimit on its placement. ⁶ ⁵

Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Compared

Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs The Hartford: Employment Practices Liability Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Heffernan Employment Practices Liability Insurance	The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)
Limits and Retentions	The same 2016 article says wage-and-hour EPL sublimits were then commonly $100,000, with some carriers offering $150,000 to $250,000 for additional premium. ⁵Company-reported. Market commentary in a 2016 article, not a current quote or a limit Heffernan guarantees today.	The Hartford's EPLI footnote states a $25,000 limit applies to Spectrum business written in Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company. ⁶Company-reported. 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.
Who It’s For	EPL appears in three separate parts of Heffernan's site: the general business-insurance page, the home-care agency practice, and the family-office/financial-firm practice, indicating it is offered to a range of business types rather than one narrow niche. ^1,^2,³Company-reported. Direct practice-page listings; the pages do not publish a minimum size or industry restriction for EPL specifically.	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. ⁶Company-reported. EPLI product page footnotes as read 2026-09-23 (page last updated by The Hartford November 26, 2025).
Coverage Features	In a 2016 article, Heffernan advisor Tanner Fornesi says EPL policies are modular and recommends buyers specifically request wage-and-hour coverage, a 100% hammer clause (so the insurer, not the policyholder, bears settlement costs above an offer the policyholder declines), and an immigration claim endorsement. ⁵Company-reported. 2016 educational article about EPL coverage generally, not a current Heffernan product specification; endorsement availability depends on the carrier and current market terms.	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. ⁶Company-reported. EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23. General coverage description; the issued policy controls.
Role in This Line	Heffernan places employment practices liability (EPL) coverage as part of its corporate and executive-protection lineup within its general business-insurance brokerage. It shops and places the policy with insurers rather than underwriting it. ¹Company-reported. Business Insurance Brokerage page listing; no policy form or dedicated EPL product page was found.	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. ⁶Company-reported. EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23.