[Superman]

Yes, hearings of this type are quite informal, typically. Objections are nearly always denied (that is, the arbitrator is going to want to hear everything the parties want to say). Also, theoretically the labor department's agenda is to protect workers. Employers make the rules, and have the clout, so they arguably do not fall into the 'underpriveleged' category, although you'd get the impression from their remarks that they think they are unfairly victimized at every step of the way. Sorry to my entrepeneurial friends for that value judgement, but this issue is fairly clear-cut in my mind. Yes, employers deserve a fair shake in all proceedings, and sensitivity to their concerns is entirely appropriate. But as a brute fact, and with all due respect to employers, their protection is not the purpose of the law, or the mandate of the labor commission.