Here, we explain how having Rural Protect meant that a holiday cottage proprietor was able to settle a claim for a significantly lower amount than the value brought forward by a former employee who was claiming against the insured employer for disability and sex discrimination.
Business type: Holiday Cottage Proprietor
Section of cover: Employment Practices Liability
Applicable cover: Claims by Employees Cover
Circumstance: Former employee claims for disability and sex discrimination
Legal fees value: £7,336
The scenario:
A former housekeeper and cleaner filed a complaint and claim against a holiday cottage proprietor for discrimination against their disability and sex.
What happened?
The holiday cottage proprietor did not accept that the claimant had a disability and went on to defend themselves in court, with help from rradar, as they were covered by Rural Protect. To hear all of the evidence from both parties, a four-day hearing was fixed for this case.
The outcome:
Due to the low value of this claim, it was determined that the more economical outcome for this case was to consider a settlement rather than proceed to a tribunal. The sum of £1,500 (the equivalent of the insured holiday cottage proprietor’s excess) was settled for the claimant.
Things to consider:
Employment Practices Liability is an optional cover available under Rural Protect. It protects a business when faced with allegations of unfair dismissal, discrimination, and sexual harassment.
The most frequent types of claims covered under Employment Practises Liability (EPL) include:
- Wrongful termination
- Discrimination
- Sexual harassment
- Health and safety incidents
- Other procedural breaches.
Rural Protect provides defence when faced with allegations of unfair dismissal, discrimination, and sexual harassment from any former, current or potential employee. There is an any-one-claim limit up to the limit of liability and an excess of £1,500 for each claim for this section of cover. The standard excess will not apply where the advice of the employment helpline/rradar is followed for any matter that may lead to a claim.
If you would like to know more about Rural Protect, call us on 01653 609090 or email enquiries@hbunderwriting.co.uk.
