Practice question
A final judgment awards separation pay instead of reinstatement because reinstatement is no longer feasible. Does that award automatically eliminate backwages?
- Yes, because the two reliefs are identical.
- Yes, unless the employer consents.
- Yes, because every monetary relief replaces all others.
- Yes, if the employee is not a union member.
- No; separation pay in lieu of reinstatement and backwages are distinct reliefs that may both be awarded.
Legal references
- Labor Code, DOLE consolidated 2022 edition, Articles 219, 258–260, 262–264, 274 and 278–279: https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/15242/PHL15242%202022.pdf; Article 294.
- C.P. Reyes Hospital v Barbosa, G.R. No. 228357, April 16, 2024, en banc main decision, probationary backwages and academic-employment qualification: https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2024/apr2024/gr_228357_2024.html
- Bustamante v NLRC, G.R. No. 111651, November 28, 1996, en banc resolution, full backwages without deduction of earnings elsewhere: https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1996/nov1996/gr_111651_1996.html
- Angono Medics Hospital v Agabin, G.R. No. 202542, December 9, 2020, separation pay and backwages: https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2020/dec2020/gr_202542_2020.html
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