Discover why EPLI policies with shared limits create blind spots and how Jencap helps brokers deliver stronger coverage with monoline solutions.
When it comes to employment-related risks, the wrong Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) placement can cost your clients far more than they expect and damage the trust you’ve built. That is why more brokers are moving away from EPLI with shared limits and leaning on standalone solutions.
We spoke with Allison Arnold, Professional Lines Broker at Jencap, about why standalone EPLI is gaining popularity and how agents can differentiate themselves with this stronger coverage solution.
Why Standalone EPLI Is the Stronger Choice
Including EPLI in a P&C packaged policy can be an efficient approach. But in reality, it often creates blind spots that leave businesses underinsured. That’s why brokers who want to protect their clients—and themselves—have their sights set on standalone, or monoline, solutions.
“All too often, when EPLI is bundled in with other coverages like General Liability or Property, the limits and enhancements just don’t measure up,” explains Arnold. “Standalone policies clearly spell out the EPLI limits, and they regularly offer sublimits or endorsements that address exposures like Wage and Hour.”
There are exceptions, though. Arnold points out that EPLI frequently gets paired with Directors & Officers (D&O) coverage, and in that context, it can work well. “It makes sense with D&O because you can get separate, distinct limits for each line,” she says. “The problems usually come when EPLI gets tossed in with broader P&C packages, where the limits or exclusions may leave gaps.”
Standalone EPLI avoids those pitfalls by providing:
- Clear, dedicated limits that reflect today’s settlement values
- Enhancements like Wage & Hour or Immigration Practices coverage
- Fewer exclusions that could cut into protection when claims arise
With settlements averaging tens of thousands of dollars for individual suits, and class actions stretching into the millions, those differences aren’t theoretical. Monoline EPLI is built to withstand real-world pressure in ways a bundled add-on simply can’t.
With single-plaintiff settlements averaging tens of thousands of dollars and class actions reaching into the millions, shared EPLI limits often fail to withstand real-world pressure.
Why Agents Are Turning to Monoline EPLI
Dedicated EPLI solutions allow you to secure higher limits, add critical enhancements, and show clear value to your clients.
Arnold has seen industries of every type reach for standalone coverage. “Car dealerships and hospitality risks typically realize these exposures a bit more as they see a lot of turnover in employment, and the environments can easily lead to EPLI exposures like discrimination or harassment,” she says. From engineering firms to comedy clubs, every employer is exposed, making this an easy conversation for agents to initiate.
The Enhancements That Win Accounts
Wage and Hour Coverage
Among all the available enhancements in a monoline policy, Wage and Hour stands out. Arnold emphasizes, “Wage and Hour is an essential coverage we always like to see on our EPLI policies. It is more of a hot topic now due to our nation being very litigious and movement on laws and regulations from the government. This coverage helps companies cover lawsuits regarding the Fair Labor Standards Act issues, like overtime pay, minimum wages, child labor, and more.”
These disputes are not only common, they are costly. Recent industry data shows that the top wage and hour settlements in the U.S. have surpassed $600 million in a single year. For employers in sectors like hospitality, healthcare, staffing, and retail, where hourly workforces dominate, the exposure is constant and financially significant. Without a monoline policy that offers dedicated sublimits for Wage and Hour, businesses could be left footing enormous bills. For agents, this enhancement is one of the simplest ways to prove real value and protect client relationships.
Immigration Practices Coverage
Another growing exposure is immigration-related investigations, and immigration practices coverage is often included on a monoline EPLI policy with a sublimit. Arnold explains, “Typically, we see this sublimited, and it is intended to help a company deal with a lawsuit regarding violations of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. For example, this act makes it illegal to hire or recruit undocumented immigrants. Insureds may not think this is an exposure for them, but with the climate in our country, it is always good to have coverage included as opposed to not having it when an issue comes down the pipeline.”
This is not just a concern for large corporations. Given the heightened enforcement environment and the public scrutiny of hiring practices, businesses of all sizes could suddenly find themselves facing compliance challenges they never anticipated. Sublimited immigration coverage provides a safety net that many employers do not realize they need until it is too late. For brokers, raising this issue in client conversations signals foresight and positions you as the advisor who can anticipate risks before they surface.
Case Study: Winning with Monoline EPLI in the E&S Marketplace
Arnold recalled an account where the agent trusted Jencap to take a second look. “I recently won an account that had quoted EPLI standalone through a standard market already, but the agent trusts me regarding coverages and markets, so he sent it to me to try my carrier connections.. I was able to come in well under the pricing of the other quote, and my option had enhanced coverages like Wage and Hour and Immigration Practices that the other quote did not include.”
The result was better pricing, stronger coverage, and a competitive edge for the agent.
How to Position Monoline EPLI With Your Clients
Agents should bring monoline EPLI to the table when working with:
- Clients in hospitality, healthcare, staffing, or retail
- Schools and nonprofits
- Employers with large hourly workforces
- Businesses with high turnover or prior EPLI claims
Framing EPLI as a standalone conversation shows you are protecting the client fully, not just checking a box.
The Jencap Advantage
Your clients expect you to anticipate risks they may not see. By partnering with Jencap, you gain access to expertise, market reach, and coverage recommendations that aren’t out-of-the-box solutions.
Stronger coverage means stronger client relationships. Connect with Jencap to start winning more EPLI placements.
FAQ: EPLI Coverage Questions Agents Ask
Q: Is packaged EPLI ever enough?
A: Sometimes. Packaging EPLI with Directors & Officers (D&O) coverage can be a strong option, as it allows you to secure separate, distinct limits for each line on a single policy. But when EPLI is bundled into broader Property & Casualty packages, that’s when coverage tends to fall short. Those versions typically have low limits, restrictive sublimits, and are often missing key enhancements. For most employers, a standalone policy remains the most precise and most reliable protection.
Q: What makes monoline EPLI competitive?
A: Monoline EPLI gives agents flexibility. It allows you to customize limits, add enhancements like Wage and Hour or Immigration Practices coverage, and negotiate better pricing. This not only protects your client but also helps you stand out against competing brokers.
Q: Which clients should I approach with monoline EPLI?
A: Any employer with employees faces EPLI exposure. It becomes especially critical for clients in hourly-workforce industries like hospitality, healthcare, staffing, and retail, as well as schools, nonprofits, and companies with higher turnover.
