Hearings
The Department of Labor conducts hearings to resolve disputes relative to payment of compensation and other benefits under the workers compensation law, wage claims, and whistleblower protection act claims.
Specific information about the three different hearing requests and processes are outlined below. General questions about Department of Labor hearing scheduling may be directed to the Hearings Bureau by telephone at (603) 271-5980 or via email to dolhearings@dol.nh.gov. The Department is responsible for provision of an interpreter for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. Please request an interpreter as quickly as possible for all hearings that require an interpreter.
Requests for Department level hearings related to workers compensation and other benefits must be submitted in writing, copied to the opposing party and "shall set forth the reasons for requesting the hearing and the questions in dispute which the applicant expects to be resolved". (RSA 281-A:43, I(a)).
The request should explain the basis for the hearing, and not merely list the sections of law for which the hearing is sought. Workers Compensation hearing requests may be submitted to the Department by mail or email:
Mailing Address:
Hearings Bureau
New Hampshire Department of Labor
95 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
Email: dolhearings@dol.nh.gov
Hearing requests relative to payment of indemnity benefits, made pursuant to RSA 281-A:48, must include the medical report which provides a work release to the injured employee or a doctor's report indicating that the injured employee is disabled.
Hearing requests relative to payment of medical benefits, made pursuant to RSA 281-A:23, must have copies of the denied bills attached or outline the specific dates of treatment and treatment providers applicable to the dispute in order to define the nature of the dispute. Hearings on prospective treatment and bills are usually not scheduled but unique circumstances may exist that would necessitate the scheduling of such a hearing.
Hearings are usually scheduled 4 to 6 weeks from the date the hearing request is received at the Department of Labor. Any request to continue a scheduled hearing, or to participate by hearing via video or telephone must be made in writing, with copy to the opposing side, to the Department in advance of the scheduled hearing via regular mail as specified above or via email to: dolhearings@dol.nh.gov.
A self-represented or pro se injured employee, upon receiving a denial, may contact the Workers Compensation Division Pro Se Dispute Resolution Coordinator at (603) 271-3587 or via email at WorkersComp@dol.nh.gov for information about how to request a hearing and/or about the hearing process. The Pro Se Dispute Resolution Coordinator may contact the insurance carrier to clarify a denial if needed. Any reports used to support the denial may also be requested, if not already submitted. All such reports must also be sent to the injured employee, if not already sent.
Any employee who is due unpaid wages may file a wage claim within 36 months from when the wages were due. To start the wage claim process, an employee must first complete and submit a Wage Claim form to the NH Department of Labor. The Wage Claim form may be completed online at Wage Claim Web Form or printed from Wage Claim form and submitted to the Department by mail or email:
Mailing Address:
Hearings Bureau
New Hampshire Department of Labor
95 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
Email: dolhearings@dol.nh.gov
Once the wage claim is accepted by the Department, notice of the wage claim will be mailed to the employer, who has 10 days to respond. If the employer responds with an objection, the objection will be forwarded to the employee. Whether the employer responds with objection or not, the employee will be asked if they wish to pursue the matter through a formal administrative hearing. The employee must respond within 10 days, in writing, to request a hearing.
Requests to schedule a hearing, continue a scheduled hearing, or to participate by hearing via video or telephone must be made in writing and submitted to the Department, with copy to the opposing side, by regular mail or email as specified above.
More detailed information about the wage claim and hearing process can be reviewed in the Wage Claim Process and Hearings Guide.
Any employee, public or private who alleges their employer has violated RSA 275:E:2, II may pursue a whistleblower claim and hearing for rights and remedies associated with RSA 275-E:4. To start a whistleblower complaint process, the employee must first complete and submit a Whistleblower Complaint Form to the NH Department of Labor. The Whistleblower Complaint form may be completed online at Whistlebowers' Complaint Web Form or printed Whistleblowers' Complaint form and submitted to the Department by mail or email:
Mailing Address:
Hearings Bureau
New Hampshire Department of Labor
95 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
Email: dolhearings@dol.nh.gov
Once the Whistleblower Complaint form is accepted by the Department, a notice of whistleblower complaint is mailed to the employer, who has 10 days to respond. If the employer responds with an objection, the objection will be forwarded to the employee. Whether the employer responds with objection or not, the employee will be asked if they wish to pursue the matter through a formal administrative hearing. The employee must respond within 10 days, in writing, to request a hearing.
Requests to schedule a hearing, continue a scheduled hearing, or to participate by hearing via video or telephone must be made in writing and submitted to the Department, with copy to the opposing side, by regular mail or email as specified above.
Detailed information about the whistleblower complaint and hearing process can be reviewed in the Whistleblowers’ Claim Process Guide.
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