To help design professionals address potential claims for wrongful employment practices, XL Catlin is adding an employment practices liability insurance option to its professional liability insurance for architects, engineers and other design businesses in the US. 
According to 2015 data, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received 89,385 charges against businesses of all sizes for workplace discrimination, harassment, wrongful retaliation, and other questionable employment practices. In 2015, the EEOC also reported that it secured more than USD 525 million for victims of discrimination in private sector and state and local government workplaces through voluntary resolutions and litigation.
"No company is immune from employment litigation," said Doug Strong, Chief Underwriting Officer for XL Catlin's Design Professional insurance business. "The cost of litigating such claims can be overwhelming - settlements can easily run in the $250,000 to $300,000 range, even for single employee claims against small companies."
Available under XL Catlin's Design Professional liability policy form, XL Catlin's Employment Practices Liability for Design Professionals coverage, with dedicated EPL limits separate from design professional liability limits, offers:
•Broad definition of Insured Person
•Broad definition of Employment Practice Wrongful Act
•Definition of Loss includes back and front pay, pre- and post-judgment interest, multiplied damages and attorney fees
•Defense for ADA and written employee contract claims
•Third-party coverage for claims from non-employees
With capacity up to USD 1 million, XL Catlin Design Professional's EPL coverage is accompanied by loss prevention services such as a risk management website and a loss prevention hotline with access to employment legal expertise to address issues before they become a problem.
XL Catlin's Design Professional business provides professional liability insurance for architects, engineers and design consultants. Coverage is available for firms of all sizes and disciplines. XL Catlin's design professional coverage is accompanied by a variety of loss prevention assistance and risk management assistance including continuing education courses and access to XL Catlin's Contract eGuide to help firms incorporate strong contract language.