What Is The Hartford?
The Hartford suits SaaS and software small businesses seeking a BOP and an online quote; buyers needing commercial auto through self-service or built-in California EPL coverage should use another route. Eligible small-business quotes can start online in minutes. 1,2,3
Read the The Hartford 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
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
Key Differences in Employment Practices Liability Insurance
State availability and policy structure
The Hartford says built-in EPL coverage is unavailable in California, Minnesota, North Dakota, and New York for the program described on its page, and notes state and business-class variation. It also offers EPL through a BOP, Private Choice Premier, or standalone Employers Premier Choice. Zurich describes broad employee definitions, third-party coverage availability, and worldwide territory where legally permitted, without listing the same state carve-outs in the reviewed record. Employers in those four states should ask The Hartford which separate form, if any, applies and verify Zurich’s state-specific terms. 4 7
Wage defense and resources
The Hartford says its BOP automatically includes Wage and Hour Defense Cost coverage as part of built-in EPL, while its resource site with training and model policies requires increased limits and may not be available in every state. Zurich lists workplace-law resources, training, an employment hotline, and optional endorsements, with some portal resources potentially extra. Ask both quote teams whether wage-defense costs are included, sublimited, or separately priced. 4 7
What to Confirm in Employment Practices Liability Insurance Quotes
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.
The Hartford
Review Score
5 rated sources
The Hartford’s service record is mixed: NerdWallet rates it 4.5/5 but reports below-average small-business satisfaction. Low Trustpilot ratings add a service concern, although they mix policy types.[1][2][4][5][6][7]
Read The Hartford reviewsZurich U.S.
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. reviewsOffering Details
The Hartford vs Zurich U.S.: Employment Practices Liability Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | The Hartford Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) | Zurich Employment Practices Liability Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | 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. 4Company-reported. EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Issuing Insurer | 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. 4Company-reported. EPLI product page footnote as read 2026-09-23. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Who It’s For | 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. 4Company-reported. EPLI product page footnotes as read 2026-09-23 (page last updated by The Hartford November 26, 2025). | Confirm in your quote. |
| Coverage Features | 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. 4Company-reported. EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23. General coverage description; the issued policy controls. | 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 | The Hartford's EPLI footnote states a $25,000 limit applies to Spectrum business written in Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company. 4Company-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. | 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 | 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. 4Company-reported. EPLI product page as read 2026-09-23. | 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. |
Full Comparison
More The Hartford vs Zurich U.S. Comparisons
Other Employment Practices Liability Insurance Comparisons
Sources
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.
Zurich U.S.
- 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.
- Agents and Brokers | Zurich U.S. Zurich U.S.; Agent/broker route and locator. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- 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
- Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Opening; What EPLI covers; Steps to limit employment liability risk. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- 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.
- 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.
