I too have been on the employer side for over twenty years and have been to a number of hearings. My impression is that the civil servants that act as judges in these cases tend to lean strongly in favor of the employee. In many cases the judge rules incorrectly in favor to the employee. However, if the amount is significant, I would bring in an employment attorney and have the ruling appealed. I never lost such a case.
Fortunately The employer had an attorney present, but if I didn’t have ample documentation it would have been bad. The poor little Latina made sure to dress herself, husband and three children in ragged clothes to try and sway opinion. I was actually cheered by the other Hispanics for getting rid of her.