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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Separation Pay in the Philippines: How to Compute It Correctly
Learn how separation pay is computed in the Philippines under the Labor Code, who qualifies, and what employees are entitled to receive.
When Do Employees Become Regular in the Philippines? The 6-Month Rule Explained
Learn the 6-month regularization rule under the Labor Code of the Philippines, how probationary employment works, and when an employee becomes a regular employee.
Just Cause vs. Authorized Cause: The Two Legal Ways to Terminate an Employee
Understand the difference between just cause and authorized cause for employee termination in the Philippines under the Labor Code.
Overtime Pay in the Philippines: Rates and How to Compute It
Overtime pay in the Philippines: learn the legal rates, how to compute overtime, and what the Labor Code says about extra work hours.
Determining Employer-Employee Relationship: The Indispensability of a Worker's Role in Business Operations
When does a worker become a regular employee? The Supreme Court clarifies the test under Article 295 of the Labor Code.
PNCC Ruling: Labor Code Applies to Non-Chartered GOCCs, But RA 10149 Limits Benefits
Supreme Court clarifies that non-chartered GOCCs like PNCC are under the Labor Code, yet RA 10149 restricts employee benefits without presidential approval.
Non-Diminution of Benefits: When a Company Car Plan Change Is Allowed
The Supreme Court clarifies when changing a company car plan violates the non-diminution rule under Article 100 of the Labor Code.
Fiduciary Rank-and-File Employees: When Job Titles Do Not Bar Labor Benefits
The Supreme Court clarifies that fiduciary rank-and-file employees, despite supervisory-sounding titles, remain entitled to labor standards benefits under the Labor Code.
Optional Retirement Under Labor Code: When Early Retirement Requires Employee Consent
SC clarifies optional retirement rules: employees cannot be forced to retire before 65 without explicit, voluntary consent under Article 302.
Retirement Pay Law Prevails Over Company Manual in Optional Retirement Case
Supreme Court rules company retirement plans cannot provide benefits lower than the Labor Code's minimum under Article 287.
Optional Retirement Pay Must Meet Labor Code Minimum, SC Rules in University of Cebu Case
Supreme Court rules company retirement plans cannot give less than the Labor Code's 22.5 days per year of service minimum.
Retirement Benefits: Labor Code Prevails Over Inferior Company Plans
Philippine Supreme Court rules company retirement plans cannot provide benefits lower than the Labor Code's minimum under Article 287.
Redefining Family Driver Civil Code Rules In The Absence Of Labor Code Coverage
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that family drivers are governed by Civil Code rules, not Labor Code, after the Kasambahay Law's repeal.
CBA vs Company Policy: Protecting Employee Rights in SSS Loan Availment
Supreme Court rules company policy capping employee loans at 50% of pay violates CBA and Labor Code.
Voluntary Retirement vs Illegal Dismissal: When Floating Status Becomes Constructive Dismissal
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the six-month floating status rule and when it ripens into constructive dismissal under Article 301 of the Labor Code.
Willful Disobedience as Just Cause for Termination: Mamaril v. The Red System Company
The Supreme Court clarifies when an employee's repeated violation of safety rules justifies dismissal for willful disobedience under the Labor Code.
Breach of Trust in Employment: When Can an Employer Validly Terminate an Employee
The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on dismissing managerial and fiduciary employees for loss of trust and confidence under the Labor Code.
Retirement Benefits: Company Plans Prevail Over Labor Code Minimums
Supreme Court rules company retirement plans prevail over Labor Code when they provide superior benefits, citing PAL pilot case.
UST v. Samahang Manggagawa ng UST: When Repeated Hires Make Workers Regular Employees
The Supreme Court clarifies when repeated fixed-term hires for maintenance work create regular employment, not project employment, under the Labor Code.
Redundancy and Fair Compensation: Balancing Business Needs and Employee Rights in Termination
The Supreme Court clarifies when redundancy dismissals are valid and when separation pay falls short of the Labor Code's requirements.
Union Registration Misrepresentation Claims and the Limits of Cancellation Under the Labor Code
The Supreme Court clarifies that only grounds listed in Article 247 of the Labor Code justify cancellation of union registration, not lack of mutuality of interests.
Appeal Bonds: Financial Hardship Is Not a Valid Excuse for Non-Compliance
The Supreme Court rules that financial difficulty alone cannot excuse an employer from posting the full appeal bond required under the Labor Code.
Union Dues and Agency Fees: When Can Labor Unions Validly Increase Them?
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the documentary requirements for valid union dues and agency fee increases under the Labor Code.
Union Dues Increase: Supreme Court Requires Strict Compliance for Agency Fees
The Supreme Court ruled that increased union agency fees require strict compliance with Labor Code approval and documentation requirements.