Commercial Lines

The use of social-media sites—Facebook, YouTube, Twitter—has surged at a record-breaking pace over the past few years, and they are now used by employees and employers in almost every workplace—a development that has opened new vehicles for harassment, discrimination and employment-related defamation.

While proposed statutes may fuel an increase in lawsuits against employers who allow bullies to work for them, right now it’s not illegal to be a jerk at work, according to employment practices liability experts.

While there is sizable demand from insureds for coverage against the increasing tide of wage-and-hour claims made under the Fair Labor Standards Act, carriers remain largely reluctant to write policies—fearing a good chance of losing their shirts if they do.

The use of social-media sites has surged at a record-breaking pace over the past few years, and they are now used by employees and employers in almost every workplace—a development that has opened new vehicles for harassment, discrimination and employment-related defamation.

Employers and their insurers will have a new tool, grounded in the science of human behavior, available to assess an organization’s vulnerability to employment practices liability lawsuits when Montage Analytics officially rolls out its EPL Risk Index later this year.

What are the most relevant factors that make businesses vulnerable to significant damages from employment practices risk? Kathleen Long, co-founder and CEO of Montage Analytics, which is rolling out the EPL Risk Index later this year, says employees’ perceived lack of “organizational justice” and poor employee appraisal processes are among...

What are the most relevant factors that make businesses vulnerable to significant damages from employment practices risk? Kathleen Long, co-founder and CEO of Montage Analytics, which is rolling out the EPL Risk Index later this year, says employees’ perceived lack of “organizational justice” and poor employee appraisal processes are among...

Nearly 150 people died 100 years ago during a fire at a garment factory in New York City. From their deaths was born workers’ compensation insurance and safety reforms still used by property insurers today.