Lockton vs Zurich U.S.: How Do They Compare for Employment Practices Liability Insurance?

Lockton separates standalone wage-and-hour coverage from typical EPL policies; Zurich highlights broad employee and territory terms. 4,7

What Is Lockton?

Lockton suits technology companies and larger businesses seeking a broker across cyber, D&O, property, liability and benefits; small firms wanting an instant standard quote should compare digital agencies. 1,2,3

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Read the Lockton Employment Practices Liability Insurance page

Zurich U.S. Business Insurance: Products, Access, and Claims

Zurich U.S. serves Middle Market businesses and large or national accounts with commercial property-casualty and specialty insurance. Buyers can explore product lines and work through an agent or broker; the insurer named on a quote or policy identifies which Zurich company underwrites that coverage. 5,6

Read the Zurich U.S. profile

What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance?

EPLI can help pay covered defense costs and losses when applicants or workers allege discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination or other workplace wrongdoing. If you employ people, check the claim definition, defense costs and prior acts. 8,9,10

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Key Differences in Employment Practices Liability Insurance

Wage-and-hour and investigation coverage

Lockton says typical EPL policies it places cover employee claims, official employment investigations, third-party discrimination or harassment claims, and immigration-related employment claims; it offers standalone wage-and-hour coverage for misclassification and unpaid overtime because those claims are usually excluded from EPL. Zurich describes optional endorsements and broad employee and territory terms, but the reviewed record does not identify a wage-and-hour option. Employers facing overtime or classification exposure should ask for a separate Lockton proposal and ask Zurich what endorsement is available. 4 7

Broker advocacy and policy scope

Lockton integrates insurance and claims counsel within its broking team from the engagement’s start, with the aim of preparing a claim strategy before an EPL claim arises. Zurich’s cited material lists employment-law resources and an hotline but does not describe comparable broker-side claims counsel. These supports serve different moments: wording and claim advocacy versus workplace guidance. Buyers should establish who reviews notice and defense strategy and whether third-party allegations fit the chosen form. 4 7

What to Confirm in Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes

  • Ask Lockton to separate EPL and wage-and-hour limits and confirm how investigation defense is covered. 4
  • Ask Zurich for its employee definition, third-party terms, and contact for employment claims support. 7

Review Scores

These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.

Lockton

8.4/ 10

Review Score

3 rated sources

Lockton’s reviews vary by office and entity. Local Google-derived ratings provide some service feedback, but no reliable firmwide verdict.[2][6][7][8]

Read Lockton reviews

Zurich U.S.

-/ 10

Review Score

No reviews found

The available Zurich review evidence is mixed and comes from distinct populations: a car-rental-business editorial rating, broad global and U.S. review-platform snapshots, and a BBB business-profile grade. These are not a representative measure of every Zurich commercial policy or claim.[1][4][5][6][7]

Read Zurich U.S. reviews

Offering Details

Lockton vs Zurich U.S.: Employment Practices Liability Insurance: documented features by provider

CriteriaLockton Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Insurance BrokerageZurich Employment Practices Liability Insurance
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.

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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.

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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.

Confirm in your quote.

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.

Zurich EPLI can address defense costs, judgments and settlements for employment-related allegations including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and failure to hire/promote. 7Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; exact underwriting company may vary by policy and state; employment practices liability; United States. Company-reported product description; actual coverage, underwriting, limits and state availability are governed by issued policy terms.

Limits and Retentions

Confirm in your quote.

Zurich identifies a broad employee definition, third-party coverage availability, worldwide territory where legally permissible and optional endorsements. 7Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; exact underwriting company may vary by policy and state; employment practices liability; United States. Company-reported product description; actual coverage, underwriting, limits and state availability are governed by issued policy terms.

Risk Services

Confirm in your quote.

Zurich EPLI customers can access workplace-law resources, training, an employment hotline, sample policies and checklists; the page says some portal services may cost extra. 7Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; exact underwriting company may vary by policy and state; employment practices liability; United States. Company-reported product description; actual coverage, underwriting, limits and state availability are governed by issued policy terms.

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.

Confirm in your quote.

Full Comparison

More Lockton vs Zurich U.S. Comparisons

Other Employment Practices Liability Insurance Comparisons

Sources

Lockton

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

Zurich U.S.

  1. About Us | Zurich U.S. | Commercial Insurance. Zurich U.S.; About Zurich U.S.; customer and industry description; FAQ on U.S. product focus. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. Agents and Brokers | Zurich U.S. Zurich U.S.; Agent/broker route and locator. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) | Zurich U.S. Zurich U.S.; EPLI protection, coverage features, risk services. Accessed 2026-09-28.

Employment Practices Liability Insurance Guide

  1. Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Opening; What EPLI covers; Steps to limit employment liability risk. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Employment Practices Liability Coverage. Travelers; I.A/II.A p.1; III.A.4–6 p.7; II.F Employment Claim, PDF p.2; I.B p.1; II.U–V p.5; II.L p.3; III.A.9 and A.13, pp.7–8; III.B.2 p.8; IV.A Settlement, PDF pp.8–9. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Liability Coverage Terms and Conditions. Travelers; III.F–H p.6; III.O pp.8–9; III.F p.6; III.B–D, PDF pp.3–5; III.E–F, PDF pp.5–6. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated . 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. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with the page URL and supporting source.

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