PRODUCT: Restaurant Guard Insurance

COMPANIES: Underwritten by U.S. Risk Insurance Group

BEST RATING: A (Excellent)

AVAILABILITY: Appointed agents or brokers only. Learn more about appointments.

FOCUS: Utilizing 20 years of experience, Restaurant Guard introduced Employment Practices Liability Protection to its portfolio of coverage areas to mitigate the unique set of risks that can threaten the health and sustainability of a restaurant.

“Over the last few years the number of lawsuits filed by employees against their employers has been rising,” says Crystal Jacobs, vice president and program director, Restaurant Guard. “While most suits are filed against large corporations, no company is immune to such lawsuits, including small and medium-sized independent restaurants.”

“Our new Employment Practices Liability Protection is designed to provide restaurant owners with a broad range of coverage areas that specifically address the employee litigation threats that restaurant owners face today, she adds.”

COVERAGE DETAILS: Coverage starts with a coverage area that many standard liability policies won’t cover, wage and hour violations, and expands to cover many other employee litigation threats, such as sexual harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination, as well as other lesser-known issues that can impact a restaurant today.

Coverage highlights include:

• Wage and hour insurance coverage
• Breach of employment contract
• Negligent Evaluation
• Failure to employ or promote
• Wrongful Discipline
• Deprivation of career opportunity
• Wrongful infliction of emotional distress
• Mismanagement of employee benefit plans
• Sexual harassment
• Discrimination
• Wrongful Termination

“Small and medium-sized restaurants continue to be sued every day by current and former employees,” Jacobs says. “Unlike their larger counterparts, many of these restaurant owners lack a substantial defense against employment practice claims. We pledge to continue evolving and expanding our policy offerings to ensure that restaurants of all sizes are protected against the many risks they face today.”

UNDERWRITING: Rates vary by state and employee size, but special discounts may be available for risks that purchase multiple product lines. 

MINIMUM PREMIUM: $2,000

TARGET: Restaurants and foodservice settings of all shapes and sizes based in North America. From small, independent spots to national chains.

COVERAGE AVAILABILITY: All U.S. states

COVERAGE TERRITORY: North America

CONTACT: Crystal Jacobs, vice president and program director, Restaurant Guard Insurance, U.S. Risk Insurance Group; 214-647-5003

Will Jones is IA managing editor.