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Employment Practices and Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Domestic Staff

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Comprehensive Protection for Household Employers and Your Domestic Staff

When you welcome domestic staff into your home — from nannies and housekeepers to estate managers, chefs, and groundskeepers — you take on important responsibilities as an employer. Brown & Brown’s Private Client and Family Office specialists help you you navigate the complexities of this role with tailored insurance solutions designed to help protect you, your family, and your employees.

Workers’ Compensation and Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) work together to provide essential protection for households that employ staff. While Workers Compensation helps cover medical and wage costs following on-the-job injuries, EPLI protects against employment-related claims such as discrimination, harassment or wrongful termination. Together, these coverages form a cornerstone of a personal risk management strategy.

Workers' Compensation Coverage for Domestic Staff

Many states require families to carry Workers' Compensation insurance for household employees who work a set number of hours per week. Even in states where it's not mandatory, this coverage is a vital safeguard for both you and your employees. 

private Chef Plating A Dessert

 

What it can cover:

  • Medical expenses and lost wages: Covers medical care, rehabilitation and lost income for staff who are injured or become ill while performing job duties
  • Employer protection: Without this coverage, you could be held personally liable for your employee's medical costs and related expenses, creating significant financial exposure
  • Legal compliance: Requirements vary by state, often depending on the number of hours worked, wages paid, or number of employees
  • Separate household policy: Homeowners insurance typically excludes coverage for domestic workers who are legally required to have Workers Compensation; however, a standalone Domestic Workers or Household Employees policy can provide proper protection

Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) Solutions for Domestic Staff

When employing residential staff, it's important to consider potential employment-related exposures. EPLI can provide coverage for legal defense costs, settlements, and judgments that may arise from allegations made by household employees. 

Common claims that can be covered include:

  • Wrongful termination
  • Discrimination
  • Sexual harassment
  • Breach of employment contract
  • Invasion of privacy
  • Failure to employ or promote

Additional benefits:

  • Reputational harm coverage: Helps address public relations and media concerns following a claim to help protect your family's reputation and privacy

  • Pre-hire protection: Coverage should be in place before hiring — even a rejected applicant could file a discrimination claim

  • Flexible policy options: EPLI can sometimes be added to an existing homeowners or umbrella policy when total staff numbers are low or purchased as a standalone policy for broader protection

hands arranging the stack of towels

 

How Workers' Compensation and EPLI Work Together 


Workers' Compensation and EPLI address different, but related, risks for household employers:

  • Workers' Compensation: Helps protect employees who are injured or become ill while working in your home or traveling with your family
  • Employment Practices Liability Insurance: Helps protect from claims alleging wrongful actions, discrimination or harassment 
State by State Differences

Because many affluent households employ multiple staff members — often across multiple properties and states, Workers' Compensation and EPLI policies are best coordinated together and managed by an advisor familiar with each state's legal requirements. Brown & Brown can help your coverage align with the specific employment laws and exposures of each state where you employ staff. In some states, we can also help provide Disability Insurance for domestic employees and facilitate background checks through our carrier relationships. These additional services, together with Workers' Compensation coverage and EPLI, support a complete approach to household employment risk management and compliance.

Helping Protect Your Household and Staff for What's Ahead

Employing domestic staff brings convenience and trust into your home — but it also introduces added responsibilities. With Brown & Brown, you gain more than coverage. You gain a team of knowledgeable advisors focused on protecting your household, your staff, and your peace of mind. From Workers' Compensation to EPLI, we help you stay compliant, confident, and well protected for what's ahead.

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Schedule a consultation with our Brown & Brown team to review your household employment insurance needs to help protect your home, your staff and your peace of mind.

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