Large businesses face mounting pressure from an increasingly complex risk landscape. New research found a near-universal intention among corporate decision-makers to revisit their insurance programs, with 98% planning to reassess in 2026.
According to Jeff Cole (pictured), assistant vice-president of national accounts, clients are not only re-evaluating their exposures but also closely examining how quickly investments in safety and insurance deliver measurable financial returns.
“Roughly half of respondents want to lower risk by adding coverage, while about 40% say they have coverage they no longer need,” Cole said. “So, it’s not just about adding more insurance, but about aligning coverage with how the business has evolved.”
The survey, conducted among 1,250 US executives, including more than 200 from companies with over 1,000 employees, highlights a widening gap between optimism and anxiety. Roughly half of respondents indicated they intend to add coverage to reduce risk exposure, while more than 40% said they carry policies that are no longer aligned with their current business needs.
Cost pressures are also a factor, cited by nearly two in five executives. Rather than a static purchase, Cole said, insurance is increasingly integrated into broader business decision-making.
Litigation risk has emerged as one of the most acute concerns. More than three-quarters of large-company leaders see rising lawsuits and multimillion-dollar verdicts as a major industry problem, while nearly two-thirds believe a single adverse ruling could threaten their company’s survival.
The growing prevalence of so-called “nuclear verdicts,” alongside the expansion of third-party litigation funding, has driven companies to reconsider their liability structures. Many are building higher towers of excess liability coverage to protect against catastrophic losses.
“The biggest verdicts tend to hit the most recognizable companies, so large firms feel this more acutely,” Cole noted.
Workforce-related risks represent another area of focus. Employers continue to grapple with labor shortages, retention challenges and rising expectations around workplace safety. In response, 85% of large US companies plan to increase investment in safety initiatives over the coming year.
Safety, said Cole, has become a “trifecta” issue encompassing employee protection, operational efficiency, and workforce appeal. As a result, companies are seeking closer collaboration with brokers and carriers, particularly in areas such as claims analysis and safety programme design.
“Companies are worried about hiring qualified candidates, retaining them, and keeping them safe. A safe work environment also helps attract talent, which has become a key factor for employees,” said Cole.
Despite these pressures. Sentry’s research found that nearly three-quarters of executives expect their businesses to remain stable or even thrive in the coming year. That confidence, however, is tempered by rising stress levels.
“Larger companies tend to be more exposed to global events, such as supply chain issues, oil price changes… so they’re feeling more pressure than smaller companies, and more than they did last year. So overall: more stress, but continued optimism,” said Cole.
Taken together, these trends have fueled a discernible shift in corporate risk financing strategies. Some organizations are also moving away from traditional guaranteed-cost insurance programs towards loss-sensitive models, which offer more immediate financial feedback on risk management efforts.
“There’s a growing confidence that if they invest in safety, they should see immediate benefits,” Cole said. “They want more immediate returns from safety investments. With higher deductibles, they see faster payback compared to waiting for experience mods to adjust premiums.”
Companies are seeking partners that can provide not only market access, but also insight into emerging threats, evolving insurance structures, and practical ways to improve risk performance. For brokers willing to evolve alongside their clients, the risk landscape presents an opportunity to play a far more strategic role in shaping long-term business resilience.
