Conduct of Participants at an Appeal Hearing
The purpose of an in-person hearing is to provide the parties to
a hearing with an opportunity to present their arguments and evidence.
Parties to a hearing may include the injured worker, the employer,
and their representative(s). In some cases, witnesses and other
interested individuals may also attend. An in-person hearing gives
the parties an opportunity to be heard, provide further evidence
and interact with the decision-makers.
The Appeals Commission strives to create a comfortable, informal
atmosphere during its hearings. The hearing chair for the panel
of commissioners manages the hearing process. The goal is to promote
a free exchange of relevant information. The hearing chair will
monitor the tone and content of the discussions to ensure they are
respectful, pertinent to the issue(s) under review, and non-combative.
It is recommended that each party provide the hearing panel with
a brief written summary of their key arguments and supporting rationale.
If the hearing chair considers the behavior of any person attending
an appeal to be inappropriate, that individual will be cautioned
and, if necessary, removed from the proceedings. The hearing panel
may proceed with the appeal in that individual’s absence. Therefore,
to ensure a smooth and comfortable hearing, the Commission asks
that the parties attending the hearing adhere to the following guidelines:
- All parties conduct themselves in a polite and respectful manner.
- All questions, answers and information pertain to the issue(s)
under review.
- Personal opinions, irrelevant questioning or unrelated information
should be avoided.
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