Associated Press

Employees at North Dakota's workers compensation agency are not willing to speak up at a legislative hearing about the agency's problems.

The North Dakota Legislature's interim Industry, Business and Labor Committee is looking into recent difficulties at Workforce Safety and Insurance.

The meeting is being held at WSI's Bismarck headquarters. Committee chairman Rick Berg of Fargo set aside time for WSI employees to speak, but no one did.

Jim Long is WSI's chief of support services. He's been suspended from his job because of disagreements with other managers.

Long says WSI employees are afraid of retaliation if they tell their stories to legislators. He says the panel should develop a way for employees to give their comments anonymously.