---
title: "Lockton vs The Hartford: Employment Practices Liability Insurance"
description: "The Hartford adds EPLI with wage-and-hour defense costs to most of its business owner's policies, but not in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York; Lockton is a broker that builds EPL programs and places a standalone wage-and-hour policy that pays more than defense."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/lockton-vs-the-hartford/employment-practices"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-25"
comparison-pair: "lockton-vs-the-hartford"
provider-a: "lockton"
provider-b: "the-hartford"
coverage-line: "employment-practices"
---

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

## Agent Guide

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

**Key facts:**
- Line: Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Providers: Lockton 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:**
- [Lockton vs The Hartford](https://spot.insure/compare/lockton-vs-the-hartford) — all coverage lines for this pair
- [Employment Practices Liability Insurance guide](https://spot.insure/coverage/employment-practices) — how this coverage works
- [Lockton profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton) — provider profile
- [The Hartford profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/the-hartford) — provider profile

# Lockton vs The Hartford: How Do They Compare for Employment Practices Liability Insurance?

Lockton is a broker that designs EPL programs for any organization with employees; 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 of its BOPs with wage-and-hour defense costs and a $25,000 Spectrum limit, except in four states, while Lockton is a broker that designs EPL programs and places standalone wage-and-hour cover.

## Lockton vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance Summary

The Hartford adds EPLI with wage-and-hour defense costs to most of its business owner's policies, but not in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York; Lockton is a broker that builds EPL programs and places a standalone wage-and-hour policy that pays more than defense. [1](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") [2](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance")

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

### EPLI in Your BOP vs a Broker-Built Program

The Hartford underwrites EPLI and builds it into its business owner's policy (BOP) for most classes, includes it in Private Choice Premier, and sells it standalone as Employers Premier Choice. On Spectrum business the built-in limit is $25,000, and there is no built-in EPL in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York. Lockton is a broker that designs EPL programs with insurers it does not name, and publishes no limits. Choose The Hartford if you want simple EPLI inside your BOP outside those states; choose Lockton if you want a program designed around your workforce, standalone wage-and-hour cover, or operate in one of those states. [1](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") [2](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance")

### Wage-and-Hour: Defense Costs vs a Standalone Policy

Lockton says EPL typically excludes wage-and-hour claims such as misclassification and unpaid overtime, so it places a standalone wage-and-hour policy. The Hartford's BOP includes Wage and Hour Defense Cost coverage, which pays your lawyers but not a settlement. If you have many hourly or contract workers, that difference decides who pays the settlement. Both include third-party discrimination or harassment claims as a typical feature. [1](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") [2](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance")

### Claims Counsel vs HR Training

Lockton's Professional & Executive Risk Claims counsel works with the broking team from the start. The Hartford offers hartfordhelp.com training and model handbooks, but only when you buy increased EPL limits. [2](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") [1](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")

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

- Decide whether wage-and-hour defense costs are enough or you need Lockton's standalone wage-and-hour policy. [2](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") [1](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")
- If you operate in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York, ask Lockton which insurer it would use. [2](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") [1](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")
- Compare The Hartford's $25,000 Spectrum limit with the limit on Lockton's placement. [2](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") [1](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")
- Ask whether hartfordhelp.com or Lockton's pre-claim counsel is included. [2](https://www.thehartford.com/employment-practices-insurance "Employment Practices Liability Insurance | EPL Insurance") [1](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance")

## Lockton vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Compared

| Criteria | Lockton Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Insurance Brokerage | The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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. [1](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [2](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 | 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. [1](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [2](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 | Lockton designs EPL insurance programs for clients as their risk advisor and broker; it does not underwrite the coverage it places. [1](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability "Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [2](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..) |

## About Lockton and The Hartford and Employment Practices Liability

- [Lockton company profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton) · [Lockton customer reviews](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton/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 Lockton vs The Hartford

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

## Sources for Lockton vs The Hartford

### Sources About Lockton

1. [Employment practices liability (EPL) insurance](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/employment-practices-liability). 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.

### Sources About The Hartford

2. [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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