An active assailant/workplace violent act is not limited to certain industries. “Active shooter events are distinct due to their dynamic, public, and unpredictable nature”.1 Any business, office, restaurant, retail store, or healthcare facility can be affected. When an incident occurs, the financial consequences extend well beyond the immediate event. Revenue drops. Employees may be unable to work. Property requires repair or replacement. The public response and media attention can continue to affect business long after the incident itself.
Standard insurance policies may provide limited coverage or they may not provide any relief for these losses. There may be no direct covered peril under those policies to trigger a business interruption response or there may be no liability coverage arising from customers and/or employees. In addition, standard insurance policies may not include services of an experienced risk management team to help the business navigate through the chaos. Professional Liability Insurance Services®, Inc. (PLIS®) has designed the Workplace Violent Act (WVA) Stand-Alone Insurance Program specifically to address these gaps.
What the WVA Program Covers
The WVA policy provides four distinct types of coverage:
Coverage A — Business Interruption Income stabilization through revenue reimbursement for losses sustained after a workplace violent act. Period of restoration is available for up to 18 months. Limits up to $25M. An optional Radius Expansion feature (1/4 miles to 5 miles, additional premium per mile) extends business interruption coverage when a workplace violent event occurs within a specified distance of a covered location.
Coverage B — Bodily Injury – Written demand or lawsuit alleging Bodily Injury from Employees or Third Parties arising out of a Workplace Violent Act Event or Threat Event at the Affected Covered Location. Limits up to $24M. Claims made and reported. Defense costs and damages (no Punitive and Exemplary damages). A 50% deductible reduction is available for qualified risks.
Coverage C — Property Damage Reimbursement coverage based on actual cash value, up to a $1M limit. Covers physical damage to the covered location, including glass replacement, temporary boards, and more. Includes a Third Party Personal Property Sublimit.
Coverage D — Incident Response Expenses Crisis Management Expenses outside the main policy limits with no deductible. Provided for the insured business, its employees and third parties affected. For the insured business, covered response expenses include public relations, rehabilitation and remarketing, security services, bio hazard cleanup, reward monies, post-incident investigation costs, legal costs to obtain a TRO, and temporary staff. For employees and third parties, covered expenses include counseling services, medical expenses, funeral expenses, salary of an employee who incurred bodily injury, job retraining costs, rest and recovery expenses, and childcare expenses.
Total aggregate limits of $50M available. Underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd’s.
Coverage Triggers
The WVA policy responds to four defined event types:
- Violent Act Event — use of a deadly weapon to cause bodily injury at a covered location
- Threat Event — brandishing of a deadly weapon at a covered location or a credible verbal or written threat to comment a Violent Act Event at a covered location, reported to government authorities
- Stalking Event — conduct or behavior considered threatening or with intent to do harm toward an employee, reported to government authorities (includes crisis management, counseling, and security services for up to 90 days)
- Off-Site Employee Event — use of a deadly weapon against an employee causing bodily injury outside the covered location
- Violent Act Against Remote Employees while operating within the course and scope of their remote employment from a remote location, that causes Bodily Injury.
The broad weapons definition includes any firearm, vehicle, device, instrument, material, or [1]substance. There is no terrorism exclusion.
What This Policy Does Not Replace
The WVA program addresses the business interruption, bodily injury, property damage, and response cost dimensions of an active assailant/ workplace violent act event. Active assailant means an individual(s) actively trying to kill or attempting to use deadly physical force on other people in a confined and/or populated area. WVA is not a general liability policy, and it does not replace standard P&C or GL coverage for standard liability exposures. It fills a specific gap where standard policies typically provide little to no relief, the revenue and operational consequences of a Workplace Violent Act event at a covered location.
A 24/7 Crisis Management Resource Is Included
The WVA program includes 24/7 crisis management assistance during a Workplace Violent Act Threat or Event (including active assailant) provided by SRM® (Specialty Risk Management®). Their assistance includes:
On-demand, 24/7 Crisis Management
Active Shooter Plans/Violence Prevention Program Resources (FBI-Active Shooter Incidents in the U.S. 2025)
Workplace Violence Prevention Consulting
Workplace Violence Risk Assessment
Violence Prevention Training Support & Resources
Media Response and Assistance (Including Social Media)
Post Workplace Violence Incident & Investigation Assistance
Marketing Response/Business Recovery Assistance
Hotline for Customers and/or Employees
And more…..
In addition, SRM can review and provide sample plans and procedures before a potential event, helping businesses prepare their response reflexes in advance. Clients have unlimited access to SRM throughout the policy period via phone and email.
PLIS® has designed specialty programs for businesses nationwide that address risks other carriers often overlook or limit. The WVA program is available as a stand-alone policy or as an endorsement to other PLIS policies.
To learn more, contact PLIS at 800.761.7547, underwriting@plisinc.com, or visit www.plisinc.com.
This content is an aid to understanding only. It is not part of the insurance contract and confers no rights. It does not amend, extend, or alter coverage afforded by the policy. For complete terms, refer to your policy, declarations page, and any endorsements. Actual terms and conditions may be amended by endorsement or affected by state laws. Coverage provided by certain underwriters at Lloyd’s. © Copyright PLIS®, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
