Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
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Perfecting Appeals: The Strict Requirements for Employers in Labor Disputes
Employers must strictly comply with appeal bond and deadline rules under Article 223 of the Labor Code or risk losing their appeal entirely.
Reinstatement During Appeal: Employer Must Pay Wages Until Final Reversal
Employers must pay reinstatement wages during appeal until the NLRC reversal becomes final. Learn the rule from Smart Communications v. Solidum.
Upholding Employers Right TO Discipline Dishonesty AS Just Cause FOR Termination
Supreme Court rules that a nurse’s theft of hospital supplies is just cause for dismissal, reaffirming management prerogative to discipline dishonest employees.
Employer Liability: Proving Due Diligence in Employee Negligence Cases
Employers face liability for employee negligence unless they prove due diligence in selection and supervision. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court case.
Employer Liability for Driver Negligence: R Transport v. Yu on Registered and Actual Owners
The Supreme Court holds employers directly and solidarily liable for a negligent driver's acts, even if another entity is the bus's registered owner.
When Business Closure Requires Separation PAY Employers Burden OF Proof
Seafarer Death Benefits After Contract Termination: What Employers Must Know
Supreme Court clarifies when death benefits apply under POEA contract—death must occur during employment term, not after pre-termination.
Employer Liability for Employee Negligence: Proving Diligence in Selection and Supervision
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employers can escape liability for employee negligence under Article 2180 of the Civil Code.
Retrenchment Requisites: Employers Bear the Burden of Proving Valid Grounds for Termination
In Am-Phil Food Concepts v. Padilla, the Supreme Court reiterates that retrenchment requires serious, actual, and real losses proven by clear and convincing evidence.
Closure Due to Losses: Employee Rights and Employer Obligations in the Philippines
Understand the rules on business closure due to losses in the Philippines—what employees are entitled to and what employers must do.
Minimum Wage vs Facilities: Employer Obligations for Fair Compensation and Workplace Standards
The Supreme Court clarifies when employers may count board and lodging as wages, protecting workers from minimum wage circumvention.
Loss of Trust and Confidence as a Just Cause for Dismissal: When Employers Can Terminate
Learn when Philippine employers may validly dismiss employees for loss of trust and confidence, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Bystander No More: Employers' Role in Certification Elections Under Scrutiny
The Supreme Court clarifies that employers are mere bystanders in certification elections, unable to block them based on pending union cancellation cases.
Burden of Proof in Labor Disputes: Employers Must Substantiate Claims of Payment
Employers who claim they paid workers' wages and benefits must prove it with payroll records. Learn the rule from a 2014 Supreme Court case.
Proving Wage Payment: Employer's Burden and the Cost of Missing Records
Employers must prove wage payment with payroll records. Missing records can defeat defenses and lead to liability for money claims.
Due Process in Termination: Employer's Duty to Ensure Fair Hearing and the Scope of Nominal Damages
Supreme Court clarifies employers' duty to observe procedural due process in dismissals and the proper basis for awarding nominal damages.
Termination Due to Illness in the Philippines: Balancing Employer Rights and Employee Protection
The Supreme Court clarifies when employers may validly terminate employees due to disease, and the procedural due process required under Philippine labor law.
Redundancy vs Retrenchment: Protecting Employees From Illegal Dismissal
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between redundancy and retrenchment, and the rules employers must follow to avoid illegal dismissal.
Accrued Wages and Reinstatement: Employer's Obligation Despite Appeal
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that employers must pay accrued wages when they delay reinstatement pending appeal, even if the dismissal is later upheld.
Burden of Proof in Illegal Dismissal: Employer's Duty vs Employee's Obligation
Who must prove what in illegal dismissal cases? A Supreme Court ruling clarifies the burden of proof for employers and employees.
Labor Appeals and the Appeal Bond: Strict Rules on Timely Perfection in Philippine Law
A surety bond issued but not received on time means no perfected appeal—what employers must know about the 10-day rule.
Closure Due to Serious Losses: When Separation Pay Is Not Required
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when business closure due to serious losses exempts employers from separation pay, but still requires proper notice.
Voluntary Resignation Defense in Illegal Dismissal Cases: The Burden on Employers
When can an employer rely on a resignation letter? The Supreme Court clarifies the burden of proof in illegal dismissal cases involving claims of voluntary resignation.
Abandonment vs. Constructive Dismissal: Proving Intent in Philippine Labor Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the elements of abandonment of employment and why employers must prove clear intent to sever the employer-employee relationship.