Not all PEOs are able to offer their clients EPLI. But at Genesis Consolidated Services, every client automatically obtains EPLI insurance as part of our complete package of benefits and services.

When one of our clients is slapped with an employee lawsuit, we become a co-defendant, with most of the financial costs covered by the EPLI policy. When a lawsuit is filed, Genesis takes on the role of manager of the claim, working with the attorneys helping to meet all legal deadlines.

We are partners with our clients in good times and in bad. Over the years, we have faced dozens of employee lawsuits alongside our clients. We know what to expect, and can help our clients navigate the legal challenges and understand the process. At Genesis, we focus on the day-to-day issues of the lawsuit so our clients can focus instead on growing their business. And as a co-defendant, we have a vested interest in the successful outcome of the claim.

With hundreds of clients, we are able to obtain EPLI coverage at a much more reasonable cost. Our EPLI deductible, for example, is $10,000; an EPLI deductible on the open market would more likely be between $50,000 and $75,000. The premium is much lower, too.

Many of our clients would have difficulty obtaining EPLI coverage on their own. Insurance carriers will evaluate an employer’s risk for employment-related claims before agreeing to underwrite a policy. The insurer will want to know the answers to a laundry list of questions, such as:

• Does the company have employment policies in place?
• Who enforces the policies?
• Is there an employee handbook?
• Who conducts an investigation when a complaint arises?
• How does the company ensure the investigation is completed fairly?
• What kind of training does the company have?

Small- to medium-sized businesses typically don’t fare well with these questionnaires. They might have a handbook, but they probably don’t know how to conduct an internal investigation. They might have an HR manager, but they probably don’t conduct annual employee training.

An insurer will be reluctant to take on a company that it views as a risk. If the insurer is willing, the cost of the premium will be astronomical.

At Genesis, we minimize a client’s exposure to lawsuits, ensuring that each company has the correct policies and procedures in place. We conduct the necessary trainings and handle the internal investigations when problems arise.

No one can prevent lawsuits from happening. These days, discrimination and harassment claims have become just another cost of doing business. But a PEO like Genesis can ensure there are systems in place that will help small business owners better weather any legal storms.