Lockton vs 
The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance
Lockton brokers EPL with typical wage-and-hour and third-party terms; The Hartford underwrites EPLI in BOP, package, and stand-alone forms with four-state carve-outs.
What Is Lockton?
Lockton is a privately held insurance brokerage that arranges commercial risk, employee benefits and retirement programs. US pages describe a technology practice and intermediary placement with insurers, not Lockton as the policy’s insurer. 1,2,3
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. 5,6,7
What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance?
Employment practices liability insurance addresses claims alleging workplace wrongdoing, such as discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination. 9
Key Differences in Employment Practices Liability Insurance
Placed Program Versus Hartford Products
Lockton designs EPL programs as broker and does not underwrite. The Hartford’s EPLI is built into its Business Owner’s Policy for most classes, included in Private Choice Premier, and sold stand-alone as Employers Premier Choice. You are comparing a brokerage program with Hartford paper. 4 8
Wage-and-Hour Treatment
Lockton says wage-and-hour claims such as misclassification and unpaid overtime are typically excluded from EPL, so it offers standalone wage-and-hour. The Hartford says its BOP automatically includes Wage and Hour Defense Cost coverage as part of built-in EPLI. Those are different products: defense-cost cover on a package versus a standalone wage-and-hour policy Lockton places. Hartford also says third-party EPLI is included for most businesses; Lockton lists third-party discrimination or harassment as a typical EPL feature. 4 8
States, Limits and Services
Hartford footnotes say there is no built-in EPL in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York, that the described program does not apply to EPL written in California, and that a $25,000 limit applies to Spectrum business in Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company. Lockton’s EPL page names no carriers and no limits. Hartford offers hartfordhelp.com training and model handbooks when you buy increased EPL limits. Lockton integrates Professional & Executive Risk Claims counsel with the broking team from the start. 8 4
What to Confirm in Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes
- If you need more than wage-and-hour defense costs, ask whether Hartford’s BOP cover is enough or whether Lockton’s standalone wage-and-hour product is the structure you want. 8 4
- Confirm state eligibility for Hartford’s built-in EPL and which market Lockton would use in those four states. 8 4
- Compare the $25,000 Spectrum figure with the limit on Lockton’s placed form. 8 4
- Ask whether hartfordhelp.com or Lockton’s pre-claim counsel is included in the engagement. 8 4
Offering Details
Lockton vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Lockton Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Insurance Brokerage | The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Lockton designs EPL insurance programs for clients as their risk advisor and broker; it does not underwrite the coverage it places. 4Company-reported. EPL product page as read 2026-09-23. | 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. 8Company-reported. EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23. |
| Issuing Insurer | The EPL page does not name the insurance carriers Lockton places employment practices liability coverage with. 4Not publicly disclosed. EPL product page checked 2026-09-23. | 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. 8Company-reported. EPLI product page footnote as read 2026-09-23. |
| Who It’s For | Lockton says any organization that engages people for hire, regardless of size, industry, location, union participation or use of independent contractors, faces employment-related risk and should consider EPL insurance. 4Company-reported. EPL product page as read 2026-09-23. | 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. 8Company-reported. EPLI product page footnotes as read 2026-09-23 (page last updated by The Hartford November 26, 2025). |
| Coverage Features | Lockton says a typical EPL policy it places covers legal defense costs for employee claims and official employment investigations, third-party discrimination or harassment claims from non-employees, punitive damages where insurable, and immigration-related employment claims. It separately offers standalone wage-and-hour coverage for claims like misclassification and unpaid overtime, since wage-and-hour claims are typically excluded from EPL policies. 4Company-reported. EPL product page as read 2026-09-23. Describes typical policy features Lockton places, not a specimen form for any one client. | 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. 8Company-reported. 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. 8Company-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. |
| 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. 8Company-reported. EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23. |
| Claims Support | Lockton's Professional & Executive Risk Claims team integrates insurance and claims counsel within the broking team from the start of the engagement, which Lockton says is meant to prepare the claims strategy before an EPL claim arises. 4Company-reported. EPL product page as read 2026-09-23. | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
Full Comparison
More Lockton vs The Hartford Comparisons
Other Employment Practices Liability Insurance Comparisons
Sources
Lockton
- Lockton United States. Lockton; Opening description of independent insurance brokerage for risk, benefits and retirement; Ask an Expert link to contact-us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Technology. Lockton; Industry introduction; cyber liability heading; dedicated technology team; listed services including claims advocacy, contract review, directors and officers liability, and international program design; 24/7 service model. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- US Terms of Business. Lockton; Opening entity definition; Surplus Lines; Use of a Particular Insurer; Compensation Disclosure; servicing, claims handling and renewal language in Confidentiality section; Intermediaries. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance. Lockton; What is EPL insurance?; Who should purchase EPL insurance?; What can I expect in a typical EPL insurance policy?; What is Wage and Hour coverage?; Claims management. Accessed 2026-09-23.
The Hartford
- 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.
- SaaS Insurance for Your Business. 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.
- Find a Local Insurance 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.
- Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL 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
- Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Opening; What EPLI covers; Steps to limit employment liability risk. Accessed 2026-09-16.
