Pennsylvania EPLI: Four-Person PHRA Threshold and Filing Choice

Pennsylvania’s Human Relations Act generally includes employers with four or more people in the Commonwealth, but it excludes certain workers and distinguishes religious, fraternal, charitable, or sectarian entities by the protected basis and public funding. PHRC guidance says complaints generally must be filed within 180 days and describes a court option after agency filing.

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. Read the national Employment practices liability guide.

Pennsylvania Employment Practices Liability Insurance Requirements

RequirementDetails
PHRA employer thresholdGenerally four or more persons within Pennsylvania; state and political subdivisions are included, with separate language for certain religious, fraternal, charitable, and sectarian entities. 1

What to Watch for With Employment Practices Liability in Pennsylvania

  • Entity type and claim basis affect scope

    PHRA §4(b) generally excludes religious, fraternal, charitable, or sectarian corporations and associations unless supported in whole or part by government appropriations, while naming several bases for which those entities employing four or more persons are included. Counsel should map entity status and protected basis before the business estimates exposure. 1

  • Some worker relationships are excluded

    The statute’s employee definition excludes agricultural workers, domestic service, some live-in workers, and employment by a parent, spouse, or child. The PHRC’s public guide summarizes the four-person company threshold but says there are other entity exceptions. Check the actual workforce relationship and insured-person wording. 1,2

  • The PHRC uses a short intake window

    Current PHRC guidance says that, in general, a complaint should be filed within 180 days. It also describes service on the respondent and a one-year point for seeking court action if the complaint remains unresolved or is dismissed. Ask whether the policy treats intake, service, or an agency investigation as a claim. 2

Providers With Pennsylvania License Records

These providers publish a national listing for Employment practices liability; the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Pennsylvania. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

  • Coalition

    Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28

    Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc.

    Coalition’s license page lists producer and surplus-lines licenses for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The page separately lists insurers; this record covers the brokerage entity only. 11

    Coalition offers employment practices liability through its executive-risks product for private and nonprofit US organizations.

  • Corgi

    Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28

    Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.

    Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. 12

    Corgi lists employment practices liability among its business-insurance offerings.

  • TechInsurance

    Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28

    Specialty Program Group LLC

    TechInsurance’s current licensing page names Specialty Program Group LLC / SPG Insurance Solutions and lists state license numbers, but labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses” rather than identifying a license for the named agency. RI is omitted because this disclosure does not establish agency authority there; this is a search limitation, not an assertion that the company is unlicensed. The remaining state entries are company-reported and are not an insurance product availability map. 15

    TechInsurance arranges employment practices liability insurance for small businesses.

  • Vouch

    Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28

    Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC

    Vouch’s licenses page, effective January 16, 2025, lists producer licenses in all 50 states and DC. Its separate surplus-lines table includes Idaho number 870820, while a footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses. Because those statements conflict for Idaho, this record keeps Idaho producer-only and does not treat the table number as established agency surplus-lines authority. The page is company-reported and does not establish product availability. 16

    Vouch lists employment practices liability within its insurance programs for technology companies.

Who Regulates Insurance in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania Insurance Department

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department publishes state tools to check licensed producers, agencies, and insurers, and its Consumer Services Online portal accepts complaints about insurers, agents, brokers, and public adjusters. The department also oversees Pennsylvania insurance business and consumer services. 3,4,5

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Pennsylvania

Reported tax rate. 3% of gross premium (2% for eligible surplus-lines risk retention groups) 6,7,8,9

Pennsylvania charges 3% of gross surplus-lines premiums (2% for an eligible surplus-lines risk-retention group); the tax is in addition to premium, is borne by the insured, and is collected by the producer. For multistate risks, the 2025 Revenue instructions say all gross premiums are taxable when Pennsylvania is the home state, while Insurance Company Law §1621(d) says tax is levied only on premium reasonably ascribable to Pennsylvania risk; confirm allocation with your producer or the state. Surplus-lines coverage is excluded from the guaranty association, and qualifying large risks or exempt commercial purchasers may use distinct no-search routes, with the ECP route requiring disclosure and written request.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Employment Practices Liability in Pennsylvania

  1. Which legal entities meet the four-person threshold in Pennsylvania, and which employees count?
  2. Does the business have a religious, fraternal, charitable, or sectarian status relevant to the allegation?
  3. Does the policy’s notice language trigger on the PHRC complaint or earlier intake materials?
  4. How will the company coordinate the PHRC process and any court action with the insurer?

Employment Practices Liability Insurance in Pennsylvania: FAQ

Does the PHRA generally apply to a company with four employees?

The statute defines employer to include a person employing four or more persons within Pennsylvania, but the definition also has detailed entity and employee exclusions. Check the full statutory definition for the specific organization. 1,2

What does PHRC say about the deadline and court option?

The agency’s current guidance says the general complaint period is 180 days. It says court action may be brought within one year after filing if the complaint remains unresolved or PHRC dismisses it. Get legal advice on the specific route and dates. 2

Employment Practices Liability Insurance Guides for Other States

Other coverage in PennsylvaniaEvery coverage guide for Pennsylvania, plus the regulator and surplus-lines details.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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