Hearings by the Labor Commissioner under Sections 98 et seq., of the Labor Code shall be presided over by a Deputy Labor Commissioner. The hearing shall be reported or phonographically recorded. Either party may request a copy of the transcript or recording, and shall bear all costs incidental to the preparation of same. If the record of the hearing is transcribed by any party, a copy thereof shall be provided to the Labor Commissioner free of any charge or cost within five (5) days of such transcription. Proceedings need not be conducted according to technical rules relating to evidence and witnesses. Any relevant evidence shall be admitted if it is the sort of evidence on which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs, regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory rule which might make improper the admission of such evidence over objection in civil actions.