Professional Liability or Errors and Omissions

Professional liability – also known as errors and omissions – responds to claims arising from acts of professional negligence. 

Examples of professional negligence situations include:

  1. Financial Loss. Your corporation provides financial advice. Advice from one of your employees who is trained as a professional financial advisor leads an individual to lose their life savings. The person seeks compensation from your organization.
  2. Bodily Injury. As part of your non-profit organization's teen suicide hotline service, an employee who is a trained psychologist speaks to a teen caller. Subsequently, the teen commits suicide and the victim's family sues your organization and alleges professional negligence.

Who Is A Professional?

There is no single definition of who is considered a professional. Ask your insurance representative how your insurer defines who is a professional to determine if any of your corporate employees or volunteers are in this category. 

Corporate employees or volunteers who act as professionals in their duties for your organization should consider securing professional liability coverage to ensure that their personal interests are covered. 

Non-Profit Funder Requirements for Professional Liability Coverage

Depending on the programs and services a non-profit offers, may require that certain types of professional liability insurance be in place. Carefully review all activities of the organization and talk to your insurance representative to determine what coverage you need to protect your organization.