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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Resignation vs Termination: When a Resignation Letter Is Not Enough in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a resignation is not voluntary and how employers must prove it to defeat illegal dismissal claims.
Independent Contractor or Employee: The Four-Fold Test in Philippine Labor Law
When is an insurance agent an employee, not an independent contractor? The Supreme Court explains the four-fold test and the crucial "control test" in Tongko v. Manulife.
Security of Tenure Prevails: Fixed-Term Contracts Must Not Circumvent Workers’ Rights
The Supreme Court rules that fixed-term contracts cannot be used to circumvent an employee's security of tenure under Philippine labor law.
Breach of Trust and Qualified Theft: When Employee Misconduct Justifies Dismissal
The Supreme Court clarifies when an employee's theft against a co-worker constitutes a valid cause for termination under Philippine labor law.
Employee Theft and Just Cause for Termination Under Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court rules on when employee theft against a co-worker justifies dismissal as a cause analogous to serious misconduct.
Wage Order Enforcement: Prescription Rules for Money Claims vs Final Judgments
Learn the difference between the 3-year prescription for money claims and the 5-year period to enforce final judgments in Philippine labor law.
Finality of Judgments: Understanding Motions for Reconsideration in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when a second motion for reconsideration may be allowed, emphasizing finality of judgments and notice to counsel rules.
Loss of Confidence as a Just Cause for Dismissal: When Can Employers Terminate Trusted Employees?
The Supreme Court clarifies when employers may validly dismiss managerial employees for loss of trust and confidence under Philippine labor law.
San Miguel Corp. v. NLRC: When Dismissal for Unauthorized Absences Is Justified
Explore when unauthorized absences justify dismissal under Philippine labor law, as clarified in San Miguel Corp. v. NLRC (2008).
Breach of Trust in Employment: When a Demand Letter Leads to Dismissal
A managerial employee's demand letter against her employer can justify dismissal for breach of trust under Philippine labor law.
Overload Pay and 13th Month Pay: Defining Basic Salary in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies whether teaching overload pay forms part of basic salary for 13th month pay computation under Philippine law.
Regular Employee vs Independent Contractor: Security Guard Rights Under Labor Law
Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a security guard is a regular employee, not an independent contractor, and the rights that follow.
When a Manager's Discretion Becomes Willful Disobedience in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine jurisprudence on insubordination: when a manager's refusal to follow company policy crosses the line into willful disobedience justifying termination.
Supervisory Employees and Overtime Pay: The Limits of Benefit Preservation in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when overtime pay is a preserved benefit for supervisory employees under Article 100 of the Labor Code.
Redundancy Dismissal: Fair Criteria and Due Notice Under Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on redundancy dismissal: employers must prove fair criteria and give proper notice to DOLE and employees.
Trade Union Centers Cannot Directly Create Local Chapters: Clarifying Labor Organization Legitimacy
Supreme Court rules trade union centers cannot directly charter local chapters, clarifying registration requirements under Philippine labor law.
The Indispensable Appeal Bond in Illegal Dismissal Cases: A Lesson from Forever Security
Why failing to post an appeal bond in illegal dismissal cases is fatal, and what abandonment really requires under Philippine labor law.
Distinguishing Employees From Independent Contractors: The Control Test in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court explains the control test for distinguishing employees from independent contractors in labor law disputes.
Voluntary Resignation vs Constructive Dismissal: What Philippine Employees Must Prove
When is a resignation forced? The Supreme Court clarifies the burden of proof in constructive dismissal cases under Philippine labor law.
When Is Employee Misconduct Serious Enough for Dismissal? A Philippine Labor Law Guide
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employee misconduct justifies dismissal, and when it is too minor a penalty. Learn the rules.
Misconduct vs. Serious Misconduct: Grounds for Employee Dismissal in the Philippines
Explaining the difference between misconduct and serious misconduct as grounds for dismissal under Philippine labor law, using a Supreme Court ruling.
Redundancy and Release: Examining the Validity of Dismissal and Waiver in Philippine Labor Law
A look at when redundancy dismissals are valid and when quitclaims bar illegal dismissal claims, based on a PLDT case.
Regular vs Project Employment: Security of Tenure in Philippine Labor Law
When repeated rehiring for vague "projects" turns project employees into regular workers entitled to security of tenure.
Regular vs Contractual Employment: Key Distinctions and Rights in the Philippines
Understand the key distinctions between regular and contractual employment in the Philippines, including employee rights and management prerogatives under labor law.