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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When Can Your Boss Transfer You? Understanding Lawful Orders and Insubordination in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court explains when a transfer is a valid management prerogative and when refusing it becomes insubordination.
Missed Deadlines Dismissed Cases Understanding Timely Appeals IN Philippine Labor LAW
Learn how appeal deadlines work in Philippine labor cases, including the 10-day rule, service of decisions, and the registered mail filing rule.
Retroactive Registration: How Late Filings Can Validate Labor Union Petitions in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when late union registration can retroactively validate a certification election petition under labor law.
Full Backwages for Illegally Dismissed Employees: Understanding Philippine Labor Law
Philippine law awards full backwages to illegally dismissed employees without deducting earnings from other jobs. Learn the rule from Times Transit case.
When Nature Calls: Can Your Employer Fire You for Using the Restroom?
Supreme Court rules answering the call of nature is not a just cause for dismissal—know your rights under Philippine labor law.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: Understanding Illegal Termination Under Philippine Labor Law
Learn the two-notice rule and just causes for valid dismissal in the Philippines from the Gothong Lines case on illegal termination.
Proportionality in Employee Discipline: When Dismissal Is Too Harsh in the Philippines
Philippine labor law requires penalties to fit the offense. Learn when dismissal is disproportionate and how the Supreme Court applies this rule.
When Managerial Discretion Becomes Defiance: Willful Disobedience in Philippine Labor Law
Explore when a manager's independent judgment crosses the line into willful disobedience, a valid ground for dismissal under Philippine labor law.
Managerial Discretion and Willful Disobedience: When Personal Judgment Leads to Dismissal
A manager's personal judgment cannot override lawful company orders. This case clarifies the limits of managerial discretion in Philippine labor law.
Breach of Trust: When Philippine Employers Can Validly Dismiss Employees
Explaining when loss of trust and confidence justifies dismissal under Philippine labor law, and the rules for managerial vs. rank-and-file employees.
Successor Liability in Philippine Labor Law: Enforcing Judgments Against Transferee Companies
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on enforcing labor judgments against successor companies that assume liabilities of the original employer.
Loss of Trust and Confidence as Just Cause for Employee Dismissal in Philippine Labor Law
When can an employer validly dismiss an employee for loss of trust and confidence? The Supreme Court explains the rules in this Philippine labor case.
Reinstatement vs. Separation Pay: Proportionality in Philippine Labor Law
PAL v. NLRC clarifies when redundancy justifies dismissal and why separation pay, not reinstatement, is the proper remedy.
Project Employee Rights Understanding Illegal Dismissal IN Philippine Labor LAW
Learn how the Supreme Court protects project employees from illegal dismissal under Philippine labor law, including rules on termination and remedies.
Employee vs Independent Contractor: The Control Test in Philippine Labor Law (Ushio Marketing Case)
The Ushio Marketing case clarifies the control test for determining employer-employee relationships in Philippine labor law.
Unwritten Company Policy and Illegal Dismissal: The Bangloy Case
Can an employee be fired under an unwritten policy? The Bangloy case shows why written, communicated rules are vital in Philippine labor law.
When Strikes ARE Legal Understanding Good Faith AND Illegal Dismissal IN Philippine Labor LAW
Valid Dismissal for Insubordination: Employee Rights and Company Discipline in the Philippines
Understand when a strike is legal and dismissal valid under Philippine labor law, based on a Supreme Court ruling on employee rights.
Seasonal Workers as Regular Employees: Rights Under Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when seasonal workers become regular employees entitled to CBA benefits and labor arbiter jurisdiction.
When Loss of Trust Fails: Understanding Illegal Dismissal in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employers face liability for illegal dismissal and wage claims of security guards under labor law.
Regular vs Project Employees: Understanding Employee Status in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the difference between regular and project employees, and the legal tests that determine employee status.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: Why Procedure Matters Even With Just Cause — Philippine Labor Law
Philippine labor law requires both substantive and procedural due process in dismissal. Even with just cause, failure to observe procedure can make termination illegal.
When "Independent Contractor" Labels Fail: The Four-Fold Test in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine courts look beyond contract labels to determine employer-employee relationships. Learn the four-fold test from Insular Life v. NLRC.
Volunteer or Employee? The Control Test in Philippine Labor Law
Learn how the control test determines employee status in the Philippines, using the landmark Filipinas Broadcasting v. NLRC case.