What’s The Difference between D&O, E&O and EPLI Insurance?

After the Enron and WorldCom scandals, many businesses realized the importance of having additional insurance coverage for potential mistakes made by their directors, officers, other managerial staff or by the company itself.

The Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, passed in response to Enron, WorldCom and others, establishes new or enhanced standards for all public company boards, management and accounting firms in the United States. As a result of the Act, insurance companies have often made is more difficult, and costly, to obtain D&O (Directors and Officers) insurance, and sometimes even E&O (Errors and Omissions) and EPLI (Employment Practices Liability) insurance. Employees and shareholders now have additional protections against employer fraud and misstatements – and employers are seeing more lawsuits being filed against them.

Differences in insurance

Insurers offer employers a variety of insurance options and will likely sell you more than you need – especially if you don’t really understand the differences between the types of coverages. D&O insurance, E&O and EPLI each protect employers, and/or the managers who work for them, in different ways. Here’s a quick overview:

• D&O: D&O insurance liability policies provide insurance for negligent acts, omissions or misleading statements committed by directors and officers of a company that result in lawsuits being filed against the company. D&O coverage can be purchased to reimburse the company when it indemnifies directors or officers, to specifically cover directors or officers when the company doesn’t indemnify them or can provide entity coverage to cover claims made specifically against the company.
• E&O: Errors and omissions insurance is coverage that protects those people that give advice, make educated recommendations, design solutions or represent the needs of others. As the name suggests, it protects these people when they’ve done something they shouldn’t have (error) or when they neglected to do something they should have (omission). It is also referred to as Professional Liability or Malpractice Insurance.
• EPLI: Although somewhat different, many confuse EPLI with D&O and E&O insurance. EPLI covers employers from claims made by workers who have sued the company for violating their legal rights as employees. Possible lawsuits include claims for sexual harassment, breach of employment contract, wrongful termination, discrimination and failure to hire or promote.

Evaluate Your Risk

Insurance companies may offer one or all of the above coverages as part of a business owner’s policy. It’s important to evaluate your risk to know whether to purchase these types of policies, and if so, how much coverage to buy.

To do that, look at the type of industry you’re in (financial services companies are likely at a higher risk than hardware stores), the size of your company (more employees generally increases your risk for lawsuits), the makeup of your company (your risk generally increases if you have shareholders).

If you do decide to purchase coverage, make sure to have your agent provide details, and examples, about what is covered, what is not and what limits, deductibles and exclusions apply to each type of coverage so that your exposure to errors, omissions, misstatements, fraud or employee rights violations are minimal.

Case Studies: D&O, E&O, and EPLI Insurance

Case Study 1: Directors and Officers (D&O) Insurance

Sunshine Corporation is a publicly traded company with a board of directors and executive officers. The board of directors makes important decisions, and the executive officers oversee the day-to-day operations of the company. The board of directors and executive officers of Sunshine Corporation are concerned about potential legal actions that could be taken against them personally for decisions made in their official capacities.

They decide to purchase Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance to protect themselves from personal liability. With Directors and Officers insurance in place, the directors and officers of Sunshine Corporation have peace of mind knowing that they are financially protected in case of claims or lawsuits related to their roles and responsibilities.

Case Study 2: Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance

Moonlight Consulting Firm provides professional services to its clients, including advice, recommendations, and solutions for various business challenges. One of Moonlight Consulting Firm’s clients alleges that the firm’s advice led to financial losses. The client decides to file a lawsuit against the consulting firm, claiming negligence and errors in the advice provided.

Thanks to Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance coverage, Moonlight Consulting Firm has financial protection against claims of professional negligence or errors. The insurance helps cover legal costs, settlements, or judgments arising from such claims, allowing the firm to continue its operations without significant financial setbacks.

Case Study 3: Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)

Starlight Company is a medium-sized organization with numerous employees. The company’s management team is concerned about potential lawsuits related to employment practices, such as wrongful termination, discrimination, or harassment claims. Starlight Company decides to purchase Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) to protect itself from potential legal costs associated with employment-related claims.

This coverage helps mitigate the financial impact of defending against lawsuits or settling claims related to employment practices. With Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) in place, Starlight Company is better equipped to handle potential employment-related claims. The insurance coverage helps protect the company’s financial resources and reputation in case of lawsuits arising from employment practices.