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

Marsh places EPL for employers of all sizes, with named endorsements for companies over 4,000 employees and for 250 to 4,000; The Hartford builds EPLI into its Business Owner's Policy for most classes, but not in four states.

The Hartford suits small businesses that want EPL built into a Business Owner's Policy, though not in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York, and its Spectrum limit is $25,000. Marsh negotiates enhanced EPL endorsements for employers with 250 to 4,000 staff and more than 4,000. ^3,¹

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

Small-Business Package vs Negotiated Large-Employer Terms

The Hartford writes EPLI itself: built into its Business Owner's Policy for most classes, included in Private Choice Premier, and sold standalone as Employers Premier Choice. Marsh places EPLI with insurers it doesn't name, and its named endorsements are Leaders Preferred for 250 to 4,000 employees and Global Leaders for more than 4,000. Choose The Hartford if you're a small business outside the four excluded states and want EPL with your BOP; choose Marsh if you have 250 or more employees. ¹ ³

State Carve-Outs and Limits

The Hartford has no built-in EPL in California, Minnesota, North Dakota or New York, its EPL program doesn't apply to EPL written in California, and it footnotes a $25,000 limit on Spectrum. If you're in one of those states, the built-in Hartford route isn't open to you. ³

What Each Says the Policy Does

The Hartford covers discrimination (including age), retaliation, FMLA, wrongful discipline or termination, failure to promote and harassment. It includes third-party EPL for most businesses and automatic Wage and Hour Defense Cost on its BOP, and offers hartfordhelp.com when you buy higher limits. Marsh lists a similar set plus negligent evaluation and civil-rights violations, including third-party claims, but doesn't describe wage-and-hour defense. ³ ¹

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

If you have 250 or more employees, ask Marsh which endorsement applies and which insurer issues it. ¹
If you're in one of The Hartford's four excluded states, ask which EPL product it can sell you and which insurer Marsh would use instead. ³ ¹
Ask Marsh how wage-and-hour defense is handled, since The Hartford's BOP includes defense costs. ³ ¹
If The Hartford quotes Spectrum, check whether $25,000 is enough for your workforce. ³

Marsh vs The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Compared

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

Criteria	Marsh Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) Insurance	The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)
Who It’s For	Marsh says employers of all sizes face potential EPL liability, but its named endorsements target companies by size band: over 4,000 employees for the Global Leaders Endorsement and 250 to 4,000 employees for the Leaders Preferred Endorsement. ¹Company-reported. Marsh EPL page.	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. ³Company-reported. EPLI product page footnotes as read 2026-09-23 (page last updated by The Hartford November 26, 2025).
Coverage Features	Marsh says EPLI can respond to allegations including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, failure to employ or promote, negligent evaluation, and violation of an employee's civil rights, brought by past, present or prospective employees or third parties. ¹Company-reported. Marsh EPL page; illustrative policy description, not a specific policy form. Marsh names two proprietary EPL endorsements: the Global Leaders Endorsement, built for large and multinational companies with more than 4,000 employees, and the Leaders Preferred Endorsement, for midsize companies with 250 to 4,000 employees. ¹Company-reported. Marsh EPL page, Marsh's EPL services section.	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. ³Company-reported. EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23. General coverage description; the issued policy controls.
Role in This Line	Marsh's financial and professional liability practice places employment practices liability insurance (EPLI); MMA also places EPL coverage within its executive and professional liability practice for middle-market clients. ^1,²Company-reported. Marsh EPL page and MMA executive and professional liability page.	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. ³Company-reported. EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23.

Criteria

Marsh Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) Insurance

The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)

Who It’s For

Marsh says employers of all sizes face potential EPL liability, but its named endorsements target companies by size band: over 4,000 employees for the Global Leaders Endorsement and 250 to 4,000 employees for the Leaders Preferred Endorsement. ¹Company-reported. Marsh EPL page.

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. ³Company-reported. EPLI product page footnotes as read 2026-09-23 (page last updated by The Hartford November 26, 2025).

Coverage Features

Marsh says EPLI can respond to allegations including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, failure to employ or promote, negligent evaluation, and violation of an employee's civil rights, brought by past, present or prospective employees or third parties. ¹Company-reported. Marsh EPL page; illustrative policy description, not a specific policy form.

Marsh names two proprietary EPL endorsements: the Global Leaders Endorsement, built for large and multinational companies with more than 4,000 employees, and the Leaders Preferred Endorsement, for midsize companies with 250 to 4,000 employees. ¹Company-reported. Marsh EPL page, Marsh's EPL services section.

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. ³Company-reported. EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23. General coverage description; the issued policy controls.

Role in This Line

Marsh's financial and professional liability practice places employment practices liability insurance (EPLI); MMA also places EPL coverage within its executive and professional liability practice for middle-market clients. ^1,²Company-reported. Marsh EPL page and MMA executive and professional liability page.

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. ³Company-reported. EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23.