Employment Practices Liability

Legal liability arising from employment issues is of increasing concern to employers. This is because they can be held liable for the decisions they make regarding employees, as well as the procedures they follow and the quality of the working environment provided.

Claims made by employees against their employers for wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment are on the rise in New Zealand. It is therefore important to remain protected - as it can be an expensive process to manage employment related litigation.

Employment Practice Liability Insurance (EPL) is designed to indemnify both the organisation and its employees (including Directors & Officers) against personal grievance claims brought by current, prospective or former employees.

The policy covers awards made against the insured parties and associated defence costs - even where the employee’s claim is unwarranted and has been successfully defended.

Typically an Employment Practice Liability policy will provide cover for personal grievance claims alleging the following:

• Unfair, harsh, unreasonable, unjust or unlawful dismissal or termination of employment
• Breach of contract of employment
• Failure to promote or unfair depravation of a career opportunity
• Workplace harassment of any kind