Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs 
Travelers Employment Practices Liability Insurance
Travelers underwrites EPL through independent agents; Heffernan brokers EPL for home-care, family offices and general business.
What Is Heffernan Insurance Brokers?
Heffernan Insurance Brokers is an independent, Walnut Creek–headquartered retail brokerage that arranges business insurance, employee benefits, and related services. Its technology practice markets to mid- and late-stage companies, including venture-funded and pre-IPO firms. 1,2,3
What Is Travelers Insurance?
Travelers is a U.S. property-casualty insurance group that markets business coverage, including a technology practice, through independent agents and brokers. Buyers can investigate CyberRisk Tech, a small-business technology-services policy, and other commercial lines, then confirm the issuing company and California availability on a quote. 8,9,10
What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance?
Employment practices liability insurance addresses claims alleging workplace wrongdoing, such as discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination. 12
Key Differences in Employment Practices Liability Insurance
Who Carries the Risk
Travelers underwrites EPL in Management & Professional Liability, sold standalone or with other management coverages, through a Travelers independent agent. Heffernan shops EPL with insurers rather than issuing the policy. 11 3
Travelers names Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America and affiliates, though the issuing entity can still vary. Heffernan's reviewed offering does not name the markets it uses. One path starts on Travelers paper; the other starts as a broker search. 11 3
Who Each Says the Line Is For
Travelers markets EPL to financial institutions, nonprofit organizations, private companies and public companies. Heffernan lists EPL for general business, home-care agencies, and family offices and financial firms. 11 4 5
A home-care or family-office buyer is in Heffernan's named practices; Travelers' reviewed offering does not name those practices. A bank or public company is in Travelers' stated audience; Heffernan's reviewed offering does not name those entity types. 4 11
What the Form Is Said to Do
Travelers says EPL covers defense costs and damages for wrongful termination, discrimination, workplace harassment and retaliation. Heffernan's 2016 staff commentary tells buyers to request wage-and-hour cover, a 100% hammer clause and an immigration endorsement. 11 7
The Heffernan note is dated commentary, not current Travelers wording. Ask both quotes whether wage-and-hour and hammer-clause terms are on the form you would buy. 7 11
Published Limits
Travelers does not publish EPL limits or premiums; it cites illustrative settlements from $45,000 to $280,000 as risk context, not policy terms. Heffernan's reviewed offering also does not publish current EPL limits. 11 3
What to Confirm in Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes
- Ask the Travelers agent which affiliate issues the policy. 11
- Ask Heffernan for current wage-and-hour, hammer-clause and immigration terms. 7
- Confirm whether a home-care or family-office risk sits in Travelers' stated audience. 4 11
- Get retentions from both; neither reviewed offering publishes them. 11 3
Offering Details
Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Travelers Employment Practices Liability Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Heffernan Employment Practices Liability Insurance | Travelers Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPL) |
|---|---|---|
| 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. 3Company-reported. Business Insurance Brokerage page listing; no policy form or dedicated EPL product page was found. | Travelers underwrites EPL insurance as part of its Management & Professional Liability line, sold standalone or alongside other management liability coverages. 11Company-reported. Product page general framing; confirmed against the broader Management and Professional Liability Insurance page. |
| Issuing Insurer | The reviewed pages do not name the insurer or insurers that issue EPL policies Heffernan places. 3Not publicly disclosed. Business Insurance Brokerage page as read on 2026-09-23. | The product page's video disclosure names Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America and its property casualty affiliates; the specific issuing entity for a given policy can vary. 11Company-reported. Product page video legal footer. |
| 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. 3,4,5Company-reported. Direct practice-page listings; the pages do not publish a minimum size or industry restriction for EPL specifically. | Travelers markets EPL coverage to financial institutions, nonprofit organizations, private companies and public companies. 11Company-reported. Product page "Who is this right for?" section. |
| 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. 7Company-reported. 2016 educational article about EPL coverage generally, not a current Heffernan product specification; endorsement availability depends on the carrier and current market terms. | Travelers says EPL insurance covers defense costs and damages tied to employment-related claims, including wrongful termination, discrimination, workplace harassment and retaliation. 11Company-reported. Product page "What is EPL insurance?" section; exact terms and exclusions are set by the issued policy. |
| 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. 7Company-reported. Market commentary in a 2016 article, not a current quote or a limit Heffernan guarantees today. | The reviewed page does not publish EPL limits, retentions or premiums; it references illustrative settlement examples (from $45,000 to $280,000, including defense costs) as general risk context, not as policy terms. 11Not found in reviewed sources. Product page video claim scenarios as read on 2026-09-23. |
| How to Apply | The reviewed pages describe no EPL-specific application or online quote process; buyers reach the coverage through Heffernan's general business-insurance brokerage contact route. 3Not found in reviewed sources. Business Insurance Brokerage page as read on 2026-09-23. | EPL coverage is bought through a Travelers independent agent. 11Company-reported. Product page "Find an insurance agent" call to action. |
| Claims Support | Heffernan's published claims-advocacy services cover workers' compensation, general liability, auto, and property claims; the page does not list employment-related claims handling as part of that service. 6Not found in reviewed sources. Claims Advocacy page as read on 2026-09-23; does not establish that EPL claims receive no support, only that this page does not describe it. | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
Full Comparison
More Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Travelers Comparisons
Other Employment Practices Liability Insurance Comparisons
Sources
Heffernan Insurance Brokers
- Our Story. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Headquartered in Walnut Creek; nationwide presence; founded 1988; employee owned; niche practices including technology. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Technology Company Insurance. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Pre-IPO and venture-funded heading; mid to late stage specialization; global expansion copy; self-insurance strategies; Key Markets list; Why Heffernan broker history; Joseph Talmadge practice leader; FAQ. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Corporate and executive protection, such as employment practices liability, directors and officers liability, fiduciary responsibility, cyber liability, and kidnap and ransom are also available through our comprehensive business insurance programs. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- Home Care Business Insurance. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; We offer comprehensive coverage for: Workers' Compensation Insurance, General and Professional Liability, Employment Practice Liability, Business/Owned Auto, Non-owned and Hired Auto, and more. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- Family Office. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Coverage for Family Offices, Trustees & Financial Firms: Family office liability, D&O, Professional liability, Employment practices liability insurance, Workers' compensation, Employee benefits, Trustee liability, Property and auto, Fiduciary liability, Fidelity/financial institution bond, Cyber, Crime, General liability, Excess liability. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- Claims Advocacy. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Services We Offer: Workers' Compensation Claims Expertise; Medical Triage Services; General Liability, Auto & Property Claims Support; Online Risk Management & HR Support; Streamlined Vendor Compliance. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- Employment Practices Liability 101: What You Need to Know. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; May 18, 2016 article by Tanner Fornesi, Assistant Vice President, Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Wage and Hour coverage, 100% Hammer Clause, Immigration Claim Endorsement. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Travelers
- Technology Insurance. Travelers; Technology insurance products we offer: CyberRisk Tech, Global Companion Plus+, general liability, commercial property, workers compensation, commercial auto, umbrella; startup-to-established-leader audience. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Travelers Producer Compensation Disclosure (United States). Travelers; Independent producers; seven compensation types; Simply Business, Inc. and InsuraMatch, LLC ownership; The Travelers Indemnity Company footer; Northfield Excess & Surplus Lines product list. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Contact Us. Travelers; Business insurance sold through independent agents; business claims 1.800.238.6225; MyTravelers for business features. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPL). Travelers; What is EPL insurance?; Who is this right for?; video legal footer naming Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Employment Practices Liability Insurance Guide
- Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Opening; What EPLI covers; Steps to limit employment liability risk. Accessed 2026-09-16.
