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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Employee Handbook Requirements in the Philippines: What Must Be Included
Employee handbook requirements in the Philippines: what Philippine labor law requires employers to include, and what to leave out of your company policy manual.
Employment Contract Philippines Foreign Employer: Rules Filipino Workers Must Know
An employment contract in the Philippines with a foreign employer must follow Philippine labor rules on recruitment, wages, and deployment. Here is how.
Floating Status in the Philippines: Labor Law Rules on Pay and Reductions
Floating status in Philippine labor law allows temporary work suspension, but it has limits on pay reductions and dismissal. Know your rights and remedies.
Union and Collective Bargaining Rules for Employers in the Philippines
What Philippine labor law says about workers' right to organize and bargain collectively, and what employers must respect under the Labor Code.
Illegally Dismissed? Your Rights and Remedies Under Philippine Labor Law
Know your rights if illegally dismissed in the Philippines: reinstatement, full backwages, and how to file a labor complaint.
Floating Status in Philippine Labor Law: When Suspension Becomes Illegal Dismissal
Learn when an employee's floating status becomes illegal dismissal under Philippine law, based on a 2024 Supreme Court ruling.
HIV Status and Illegal Dismissal: Philippine Labor Law Protections for OFWs
The Supreme Court ruled that terminating an OFW solely because of HIV status is illegal dismissal, affirming Philippine law protections.
Independent Contractor vs. Employee: The Control Test in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when a "freelancer" is really a regular employee under Philippine labor law, using the control test.
OFW Illegal Dismissal: Philippine Labor Laws Protect Workers Abroad
Philippine labor laws protect OFWs from illegal dismissal, even abroad. Learn the rules on retrenchment, due process, and remedies.
Project vs Regular Employment: Defining Job Security in the Philippines
Understand the Supreme Court's distinction between project and regular employment, and what it means for job security under Philippine labor law.
Diminution of Benefits: Voluntary Employer Practices and GOCC Compliance
Learn how voluntary employer practices and GOCC compliance affect diminution of benefits claims, with insights from recent Philippine labor rulings.
Illegal Dismissal of Pregnant Employee: SPID Corp. v. Ballesteros Explained
The Supreme Court affirmed that dismissing a pregnant employee without substantial evidence is illegal, reinforcing due process in Philippine labor law.
Constructive Dismissal: Defining Unbearable Working Conditions in Philippine Labor Law
When does a difficult work environment become constructive dismissal? The Supreme Court clarifies the test in a seafarer's resignation case.
Independent Contractor vs Employee: How Unique Skills Determine Employment Status in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when unique skills and talent make a worker an independent contractor, not an employee, in Philippine labor law.
Redundancy Requisites: Burden of Proof on Employers in Philippine Labor Disputes
Philippine Clearing House Corp. v. Magtaan clarifies redundancy requisites, employer burden of proof, and quitclaim validity in illegal dismissal cases.
Redundancy in Philippine Employment: When a Valid Termination Becomes Illegal Dismissal
Learn when redundancy is valid in Philippine labor law, and how the Supreme Court protects employees from illegal dismissal disguised as redundancy.
Employment Contracts and Project Employee Status: Key Lessons from Steelweld v. Echano
A look at how unsigned contracts and continuous work affect regular employee status in Philippine labor law.
Employee Dismissal and Loss of Trust: Balancing Discipline with Fairness in Philippine Labor Law
Explore when loss of trust justifies dismissal in Philippine labor law and why the Supreme Court ruled a 17-year employee's termination too harsh.
Resignation and Commission Rights: Insights From a Philippine Labor Case
A seafarer's resignation and quitclaim can bar disability claims. Learn the rules on valid waivers and company doctor assessments.
Understanding Gross Negligence and Due Process in Employee Termination: Insights from a Landmark Philippine Ca
The Supreme Court clarifies probationary employment standards, performance appraisal, and due process in termination cases under Philippine labor law.
The Four-Fold Test in Philippine Labor Law: A Guide to Employment Status
Learn how the four-fold test determines employee status in the Philippines, with insights from a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
Racist Behavior as Serious Misconduct: What Ocampo v. International Ship Crew Management Means for Philippine
The Supreme Court ruled that a ship captain's racist treatment of crew members justifies dismissal for serious misconduct under Philippine labor law.
Loss of Trust and Confidence as Just Cause for Dismissal: What Employers Must Prove
The Supreme Court clarifies when loss of trust, gross neglect, or abandonment can justify terminating an employee under Philippine labor law.
Procurement Integrity Lessons from a Landmark Ruling on Misconduct and Due Diligence
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when an employee's concealment during an investigation justifies dismissal under Philippine labor law.