Legal Question in Employment Law in California

DLSE Hearing

DLSE hearing ended on Oct. 21, 2006 and was told by hearing officer decision would be issued in 45 days.(Nov. 9) I have called and sent letters with no response. My lawyer(state provided) says theres nothing he can do except wait for hearing officer. Who can I call? Who supervises Dlse? Who can I get help or answers from? Do I just have to wait untill they feel like getting to it? The more I ask the more I seem to irritate the hearing officer and legal dept. Thanks for any advice you may have!!!


Asked on 1/17/07, 2:33 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Michael Kirschbaum Law Offices of Michael R. Kirschbaum

Re: DLSE Hearing

The DLSE was designed to provide a cost and time efficient alternative to going to court over wage and hour issues. Unfortunately, budget cuts have reduced the number of hearing officers and support personnel, while the number of claims have substantially increased, causing severe backlogs scheduling hearings and rendering decisions. Some counties are worse than others but the problem seems to be getting worse statewide.

I can't offer any practical advice to you because they will render the decision whenever they get around to it and no amount of complaining will prompt them to move any faster. In fact, it may come back to haunt you.

If you really want to do something to change the system, you may wish to contact your state senator and assemblyperson and explain the hardship this has caused you and how the budget needs to include more funding to hire more hearing officers. The alternative would be to file more lawsuits causing an increase in judicial backlog.

Good luck.

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Answered on 1/18/07, 12:21 pm


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