Employment Practices Liability Insurance for Dental Offices

What Happened at the Lafayette Dental Office

Employment-related lawsuits can sneak up on you, especially if you think of your dental office as a family. In this real-life scenario, the office manager documented multiple issues with the receptionist’s behavior, but the termination still led to a claim. The dentist didn’t carry Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI), and was forced to pay out-of-pocket for legal defense and settlement costs.

What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)?

EPLI helps protect your dental office when current or former employees file claims related to their employment. That includes accusations of:

• Wrongful termination

• Sexual harassment

• Discrimination (age, race, gender, religion, disability, etc.)

• Retaliation

• Invasion of privacy

This coverage helps pay for legal defense, settlements, and even court judgments.

Common Employee Claims Dental Offices Face

Running a dental office means hiring and managing staff, which opens the door to possible disputes. Here are the most common types of employment claims:

Wrongful Termination

Even when there’s documentation, fired employees may claim their dismissal was unjust.

Discrimination

Claims of bias around hiring, promotions, or treatment related to protected categories.

Sexual Harassment

Unfortunately, even in smaller teams, inappropriate conduct can lead to lawsuits.

Retaliation

If an employee complains about work conditions or files a claim, then gets fired or demoted, it could be viewed as retaliation.

Why General Liability Doesn’t Cover These Claims

General liability policies protect against bodily injury or property damage. They don’t protect against employee-related lawsuits. That’s where EPLI comes in. Without it, your practice could face:

• Legal fees

• Settlement costs

• Public reputation damage

• Employee morale issues

What Does EPLI Typically Include?

EPLI usually includes coverage for:

• Legal defense costs, even if the claim is baseless

• Settlements or judgments

• Claims from full-time, part-time, seasonal, and temporary employees

Some policies may also cover third-party claims (for example, a patient alleging harassment by a staff member).

How to Get the Right Coverage for Your Practice

Not all EPLI policies are the same. Dental offices in Louisiana should look for:

• Clear definitions of covered claims

• Retroactive coverage for previous incidents

• Coverage for part-time and temporary staff

• Limits that reflect your office size and budget

You’ll also want to consider if you need standalone EPLI or if it’s better as part of a business owner’s policy (BOP) or professional liability package.

Protecting Your Team and Your Business

You can’t control every workplace situation—but you can reduce risk. Start by documenting all employment decisions and following fair HR practices. Then, back that up with EPLI coverage that’s built for your dental practice.

At Kastner Insurance, we help dental professionals across Louisiana protect what they’ve worked hard to build. If you own or manage a dental office in Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Youngsville, Broussard, or anywhere in Acadiana, let’s talk about smart coverage that keeps your business on solid ground.