castro 2011
TRANSCRIPT
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SECOND DIVISION
CLIENTLOGIC PHILPPINES, INC.
(now known as SITEL), JOSEPH
VELASQUEZ, IRENE ROA, and
RODNE SPIRES,
Petitioners,
- versus -
!ENEDICT CASTRO,
Respondent.
G.R. No. "#$%&%
Present:
CARPIO, J.,
Chairperson,
NACHURA,
PERALTA,
ABAD, and
ENDO!A, JJ.
Pro"u#$ated:
Apri# %%, &'%%
x------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x
DECISION
NACHURA, J .'
T(is is a Petition )or Revie* on Certiorari under Ru#e + o) t(e Ru#es o)
Court, assai#in$ t(e epte"er %, &''/ De0ision1%2 and t(e 3anuar4 5, &''6
Reso#ution1&2 o) t(e Court o) Appea#s 7CA8, a))ir"in$ *it( "odi)i0ation t(e
Nove"er &6, &''5 reso#ution192 o) t(e Nationa# Laor Re#ations
Co""ission 7NLRC8, *(i0( (e#d t(at respondent Benedi0t Castro *as not
i##e$a##4 dis"issed. T(e CA, (o*ever, a*arded respondents "one4
0#ai"s, viz.:
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HEREORE, pre"ises 0onsidered, t(e instant Petition
is PARTL GRANTED. T(e Reso#utions dated &6 Nove"er
&''5 and &9 3anuar4 &''/ o) t(e Nationa# Laor Re#ations
Co""ission 7T(ird Division8 in NLRC CN. RAB-CAR-02-0091-
07 LAC NO. 08-002207-
07 are AIR*ED *it( *ODIICATION in t(at t(e "onetar4a*ards o) Ee0utive Laor Ariter ;ito C. Bose in (is De0ision
dated &6 3une &''5, as 0o"puted in Anne A t(ereo), ONL )or
(o#ida4 pre"iu"s o) P(p %<,6%9.9= servi0e in0entive #eave pa4
P(p/,+<.<= overti"e pa4 o) P(p 5/,59.%'= and rest da4 pa4 o)
P(p &<,9/+./' *(i0( 7petitioners8 s(a## >oint#4 and so#idari#4 pa4
to petitioner, are (ere4 REINSTATED. No pronoun0e"ent as to
0osts.
O ORDERED.1+2
T(e se0ond assai#ed issuan0e o) t(e CA denied petitioners "otion )or
re0onsideration.
T(e )a0ts:
Respondent *as e"p#o4ed 4 petitioner C#ientLo$i0 P(i#ippines, In0.
7no* ?no*n and s(a## (erea)ter e re)erred to as ITEL8 on @eruar4 %+,
&'' as a 0a## 0enter a$ent )or its Be## out( A00ount. A)ter si 7<8 "ont(s,
(e *as pro"oted to t(e entor position, and t(erea)ter to t(e Coa0(
position. A Coa0( is a tea" supervisor *(o is in 0(ar$e o) dea#in$ *it(
0usto"er 0o"p#aints *(i0( 0annot e reso#ved 4 0a## 0enter a$ents. In 3une
&''<, (e *as trans)erred to t(e Dot reen A00ount.
Durin$ respondents stint at t(e Dot reen A00ount, respondent noti0ed t(at
so"e o) t(e 0a## 0enter a$ents under (i" *ou#d o)ten "a?e e0uses to #eave
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t(eir *or? stations. T(eir "ost 0o""on e0use *as t(at t(e4 *ou#d visit t(e
0o"pan4s "edi0a# 0#ini0. To veri)4 t(at t(e4 *ere not usin$ t(e 0#ini0 as an
a#ii to 0ut t(eir *or? (ours, respondent sent an e-"ai# to t(e 0#ini0s
personne# reuestin$ )or t(e detai#s o) t(e a$ents a##e$ed "edi0a#
0onsu#tation. His reuest *as denied on t(e $round t(at "edi0a# re0ords o)
e"p#o4ees are (i$(#4 0on)identia# and 0an on#4 e dis0#osed in 0ases
invo#vin$ (ea#t( issues, and not to e used to ui#d an4 dis0ip#inar4 0ase
a$ainst t(e".
On O0toer %%, &''<, respondent re0eived a noti0e reuirin$ (i" to
ep#ain *(4 (e s(ou#d not e pena#ied )or: 7%8 vio#atin$ reen Dot
Co"pan4s Po#i04 and Pro0edure )or Dire0t Deposit Ban? In)o Reuest *(en
(e a00essed a 0usto"ers on#ine a00ount and t(en $ave t(e #atters routin$ and
re)eren0e nu"ers )or dire0t deposit= and 7&8 $rave#4 ausin$ (is dis0retion
*(en (e reuested )or t(e "edi0a# re0ords o) (is tea" "e"ers. Respondent
did not den4 t(e in)ra0tions i"puted a$ainst (i". He, (o*ever, >usti)ied (is
a0tuations 4 ep#ainin$ t(at t(e 0usto"er e$$ed (i" to a00ess t(e a00ount
e0ause s(e did not (ave a 0o"puter or an internet a00ess and t(at (e "ere#4
reuested )or a patient tra0?er, not "edi0a# re0ords.
In Nove"er &''<, a poster s(o*in$ ITELs or$aniationa# 0(art *as
posted on t(e 0o"pan4s u##etin oard, ut respondents na"e and pi0ture
*ere 0onspi0uous#4 "issin$, and t(e na"e and p(oto o) anot(er e"p#o4ee
appeared in t(e position *(i0( respondent *as supposed#4 o00up4in$.
On 3anuar4 &&, &''5, ITEL posted a noti0e o) va0an04 )or respondents
position, and on @eruar4 %&, &''5, (e re0eived a Noti0e o) Ter"ination.
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T(ese events pro"pted (i" to )i#e a 0o"p#aint )or i##e$a# dis"issa#= non-
pa4"ent o) overti"e pa4, rest da4 pa4, (o#ida4 pa4, servi0e in0entive #eave
pa4= )u## a0?*a$es= da"a$es= and attorne4s )ees e)ore t(e Laor Ariter
7LA8 a$ainst (erein petitioners ITEL and its o))i0ers, 3osep( ;e#asue
7;e#asue8, Irene Roa 7Roa8, and Rodne4 pires 7pires8.12
In t(eir position paper,1<2 petitioners averred t(at respondent *as
dis"issed on a00ount o) va#id and >usti)ia#e 0auses. He 0o""itted serious
"is0ondu0t *(i0( rea0(ed t(e trust and 0on)iden0e reposed in (i" 4 t(e
0o"pan4. He *as du#4 )urnis(ed t(e t*in noti0es reuired 4 t(e Laor
Code. @urt(er, (e is not entit#ed to overti"e pa4, rest da4 pa4, ni$(t s(i)t
di))erentia#, (o#ida4 pa4, and servi0e in0entive #eave pa4 e0ause (e *as a
supervisor, (en0e, a "e"er o) t(e "ana$eria# sta)).
In a de0ision dated 3une &6, &''5,152 t(e LA ru#ed in )avor o) respondent 4
de0#arin$ (i" i##e$a##4 dis"issed and orderin$ petitioners to pa4 (is )u##
a0?*a$es and, in #ieu o) reinstate"ent, (is separation pa4. T(e LA )urt(er
a*arded respondents "one4 0#ai"s upon )indin$ t(at (e *as not o00up4in$
a "ana$eria# position. T(e de0reta# portion o) t(e de0ision reads:
HEREORE, a## pre"ises du#4 0onsidered, t(e 7petitioners8 are
(ere4 )ound $ui#t4 o) i##e$a##4 dis"issin$ 7respondent8. As su0(,
7petitioners8 s(a## e >oint#4 and so#idari#4 #ia#e to pa4
7respondent8 (is )u## a0?*a$es )ro" t(e date o) (is dis"issa# to
t(e )ina#it4 o) t(is de0ision, 0o"puted as o) toda4 at On+Hnd-+d T/-01 E/20 Tosand S+3+n Hnd-+d /401 N/n+
P+sos and #%5"%% (P"6#,&78.#%) p#us, S+3+n Hnd-+d S/901
T-++ Tosand Two Hnd-+d o-01 E/20 P+sos and $&5"%%
(P&$6,:;#.$&) representin$ (is separation pa4 at one "ont( pa4
)or ever4 4ear o) servi0e, (o#ida4 pa4 and servi0e in0entive #eave
pa4 )or t(e t(ree 4ears prior to t(e )i#in$ o) t(is 0ase, overti"e pa4
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)or si 7<8 (ours dai#4, rest da4 and ten per0ent 7%'8 as attorne4s
)ees.
A## ot(er 0#ai"s are (ere4 dis"issed )or #a0? o) eviden0e.
T(e 0o"putation o) t(e )ore$oin$ "onetar4 0#ai"s is (ereto atta0(ed and"ade an inte$ra# part (ereo) as Anne A.
SO ORDERED.1/2
A$$rieved, petitioners appea#ed to t(e NLRC, *(i0(, in its Nove"er &6,
&''5 reso#ution,162 reversed and set aside t(e de0ision o) t(e LA 4
dis"issin$ t(e 0o"p#aint )or #a0? o) "erit on t(e $round t(at respondents
e"p#o4"ent *as ter"inated )or a >ust 0ause. T(e NLRC )ai#ed to dis0uss t(e
"one4 0#ai"s.
On epte"er %, &''/, t(e CA a))ir"ed t(e NLRCs )indin$ t(at t(ere *as
no i##e$a# dis"issa#. Anent t(e "one4 0#ai"s, (o*ever, t(e CA 0on0urred
*it( t(e LAs ru#in$.
1%'2
Petitioners and respondent respe0tive#4 "oved )or partia#
re0onsideration, ut t(eir "otions *ere denied in t(e CA Reso#ution dated
3anuar4 5, &''6.1%%2 @ro" t(e said denia#, on#4 petitioners sou$(t re0ourse
*it( t(is Court t(rou$( t(e petition at ar. Respondents )ai#ure to partia##4
appea# t(e CAs De0ision )indin$ (i" not i##e$a##4 dis"issed (as no*
rendered t(e sa"e )ina# and ee0utor4= (en0e, t(e instant petition s(a##
traverse on#4 t(e issue on "one4 0#ai"s.
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Petitioners ar$ue in t(e "ain1%&2 t(at, as a tea" supervisor, respondent *as a
"e"er o) t(e "ana$eria# sta))= (en0e, (e is not entit#ed to overti"e pa4,
rest da4 pa4, (o#ida4 pa4, and servi0e in0entive #eave pa4.
e den4 t(e petition.
T(e petition (in$es on t(e uestion o) *(et(er t(e duties and
responsii#ities per)or"ed 4 respondent ua#i)4 (i" as a "e"er o)
petitioners "ana$eria# sta)). T(is is 0#ear#4 a uestion o) )a0t, t(e
deter"ination o) *(i0( entai#s an eva#uation o) t(e eviden0e on re0ord.
T(e a##e$ed errors o) t(e CA #en$t(i#4 enu"erated in t(e
petition1%92 are essentia##4 )a0tua# in nature and, t(ere)ore, outside t(e a"it
o) a petition )or revie* oncertiorari under Ru#e + o) t(e Ru#es o) Civi#
Pro0edure. T(e Court does not tr4 )a0ts sin0e su0( statutor4 dut4 is devo#ved
upon t(e #aor triuna#s. It is not )or t(is Court to *ei$( and 0a#irate pie0es
o) eviden0e ot(er*ise adeuate#4 passed upon 4 t(e #aor triuna#s
espe0ia##4 *(en a))ir"ed 4 t(e appe##ate 0ourt.1%+2
Petitioners 0#ai" e0eption to t(e )ore$oin$ ru#e and assert t(at t(e
)a0tua# )indin$s o) t(e LA and t(e NLRC *ere 0on)#i0tin$. T(is is not
0orre0t. T(e #aor triuna#s de0isions *ere at odds on#4 *it( respe0t to t(e
issue o) i##e$a# dis"issa#. Anent t(e "one4 0#ai"s issue, it 0annot e said
t(at t(eir ru#in$s *ere 0ontradi0tor4 e0ause t(e NLRC, disappointin$#4, did
not "a?e an4 )indin$ t(ereon and it erroneous#4 0onstrued t(at t(e
reso#ution o) t(e "one4 0#ai"s *as intert*ined *it( t(e deter"ination o)
t(e #e$a#it4 o) respondents dis"issa#. Nonet(e#ess, t(e CA (as a#read4
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re0ti)ied su0( #apse *(en it "ade a de)initive revie* o) t(e LAs )a0tua#
)indin$s on respondents "one4 0#ai"s. A$reein$ *it( t(e LA, t(e CA (e#d:
Arti0#e /& o) t(e Laor Code states t(at t(e provisions o) t(e Laor Code on *or?in$ 0onditions and rest periods s(a## not
app#4 to "ana$eria# e"p#o4ees. enera##4, "ana$eria# e"p#o4ees
are not entit#ed to overti"e pa4 )or servi0es rendered in e0ess o)
ei$(t (ours a da4.
Arti0#e &%& 7"8 o) t(e Laor Code de)ines a "ana$eria#
e"p#o4ee as one *(o is vested *it( po*ers or prero$atives to #a4
do*n and ee0ute "ana$e"ent po#i0ies andFor to (ire, trans)er,
suspend, #a4-o)), re0a##, dis0(ar$e, assi$n or dis0ip#ine e"p#o4ees,
or to e))e0tive#4 re0o""end su0( "ana$eria# a0tions.
In (is Position Paper, 7respondent8 states t(at (e *or?ed
)ro" /:'' p.". to %':'' a.". or + p.". to %&:'' p.". o) t(e
)o##o*in$ da4= (e *as a#so reuired to *or? durin$ (is restda4s
and durin$ (o#ida4s ut (e *as not paid= (e *as a#so not paid
overti"e pa4= ni$(t s(i)t di))erentia#s, and servi0e in0entive #eave.
He *as e"p#o4ed as 0a## 0enter a$ent on %+ @eruar4 &'', t(en
pro"oted as entor in Au$ust &'', and a$ain pro"oted to
Coa0( position in epte"er &'', *(i0( *as t(e position (e (ad
*(en (e *as ter"inated. A 0oa0( is a tea" supervisor *(o is in0(ar$e o) dea#in$ *it( 0usto"er 0o"p#aints *(i0( 0ou#d not e
dea#t *it( 4 0a## 0enter a$ents, and i) a 0a## 0enter a$ent 0ou#d
not "eet t(e needs o) a 0usto"er, (e passes t(e 0usto"ers 0a## to
t(e 0oa0(. C#ear#4, 7respondent8 is not a "ana$eria# e"p#o4ee as
de)ined 4 #a*. T(us, (e is entit#ed to (is "one4 0#ai"s.
As 0orre0t#4 )ound 4 Ee0utive Laor Ariter Bose:
E"p#o4ees are 0onsidered o00up4in$ "ana$eria# positions i) t(e4
"eet a## o) t(e )o##o*in$ 0onditions, na"e#4:
%8 T(eir pri"ar4 dut4 0onsists o) "ana$e"ent o) t(e
esta#is("ent in *(i0( t(e4 are e"p#o4ed or o) a depart"ent or
sudivision t(ereo)=
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&8 T(e4 0usto"ari#4 and re$u#ar#4 dire0t t(e *or? o) t*o or "ore
e"p#o4ees t(erein=
98 T(e4 (ave t(e aut(orit4 to (ire or )ire ot(er e"p#o4ees o) #o*er
ran?= or t(eir su$$estions and re0o""endations as to t(e (irin$
and )irin$ and as to t(e pro"otion or an4 ot(er 0(an$e o) status o) ot(er e"p#o4ees are $iven parti0u#ar *ei$(t.
T(e4 are 0onsidered as o))i0ers or "e"ers o) a "ana$eria# sta))
i) t(e4 per)or" t(e )o##o*in$ duties and responsii#ities:
%8 T(e pri"ar4 dut4 0onsists o) t(e per)or"an0e o) *or? dire0t#4
re#ated to "ana$e"ent o) po#i0ies o) t(eir e"p#o4er=
&8 Custo"ari#4 and re$u#ar#4 eer0ise dis0retion and independent
>ud$"ent=
98 7i8 Re$u#ar#4 and dire0t#4 assist a proprietor or a "ana$eria#
e"p#o4ee *(ose pri"ar4 dut4 0onsists o) "ana$e"ent o) t(e
esta#is("ent in *(i0( (e is e"p#o4ed or sudivision t(ereo)= or
7ii8 ee0ute under $enera# supervision *or? a#on$ spe0ia#ied or
te0(ni0a# #ines reuirin$ spe0ia# trainin$, eperien0e, or
?no*#ed$e= or 7iii8 ee0ute, under $enera# supervision, spe0ia#
assi$n"ent and tas?s .
7Respondents8 duties do not )a## under an4 o) t(e 0ate$ories
enu"erated aove. His *or? is not dire0t#4 re#ated to "ana$e"ent
po#i0ies. Even t(e 0ir0u"stan0es s(o*n 4 t(e instant 0ase revea#
t(at 7respondent8 does not re$u#ar#4 eer0ise dis0retion and
independent >ud$"ent. 7Petitioners8 su"itted a #ist o) t(e
responsii#ities o) HR ana$erFupervisor and Division
ana$erFDepart"ent ana$erFupervisors ut t(ese do not
pertain to 7respondent8 *(o does not (ave an4 o) t(e said
positions. He *as >ust a tea" upervisor and not 7an8 HR or
Depart"ent upervisor.1%2
e )ind no reversi#e error in t(e aove ru#in$. T(e test o) supervisor4
or "ana$eria# status depends on *(et(er a person possesses aut(orit4 to a0t
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in t(e interest o) (is e"p#o4er and *(et(er su0( aut(orit4 is not "ere#4
routinar4 or 0#eri0a# in nature, ut reuires t(e use o) independent >ud$"ent.
1%<2 T(e position (e#d 4 respondent and its 0on0o"itant duties )ai#ed to
(urd#e t(is test.
As a 0oa0( or tea" supervisor, respondents "ain dut4 *as to dea#
*it( 0usto"er 0o"p#aints *(i0( 0ou#d not e (and#ed or so#ved 4 0a##
0enter a$ents. I) t(e "e"ers o) (is tea" 0ou#d not "eet t(e needs o) a
0usto"er, t(e4 passed t(e 0usto"ers 0a## to respondent.
T(is >o des0ription does not indi0ate t(at respondent 0an eer0ise t(e
po*ers and prero$atives euiva#ent to "ana$eria# a0tions *(i0( reuire t(e
0usto"ar4 use o) independent >ud$"ent. T(ere is no s(o*in$ t(at (e *as
a0tua##4 0on)erred or *as a0tua##4 eer0isin$ t(e )o##o*in$ duties
attriuta#e to a "e"er o) t(e "ana$eria# sta)), viz.:
%8 T(e pri"ar4 dut4 0onsists o) t(e per)or"an0e o) *or? dire0t#4re#ated to "ana$e"ent o) po#i0ies o) t(eir e"p#o4er=
&8 Custo"ari#4 and re$u#ar#4 eer0ise dis0retion and independent
>ud$"ent=
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98 7i8 Re$u#ar#4 and dire0t#4 assist a proprietor or a "ana$eria#
e"p#o4ee *(ose pri"ar4 dut4 0onsists o) "ana$e"ent o) t(e
esta#is("ent in *(i0( (e is e"p#o4ed or sudivision t(ereo)= or
7ii8 ee0ute under $enera# supervision *or? a#on$ spe0ia#ied or
te0(ni0a# #ines reuirin$ spe0ia# trainin$, eperien0e, or
?no*#ed$e= or 7iii8 ee0ute, under $enera# supervision, spe0ia#assi$n"ent and tas?s= and
+8 (o do not devote "ore t(an &' per0ent o) t(eir (ours *or?ed
in a *or?*ee? to a0tivities *(i0( are not dire0t#4 and 0#ose#4
re#ated to t(e per)or"an0e o) t(e *or? des0ried in para$rap(s
7%8, 7&8, and 798 aove.1%52
A00ordin$ to petitioners, respondent a#so per)or"ed t(e )o##o*in$
duties, as s(o*n in t(e 0o"pan4s tate"ent o) Po#i04 on Dis0ip#ine:
a. Gno* and understand in )u## t(e Po#i04 on Dis0ip#ine in0#udin$
t(eir under#4in$ reasons.
. I"p#e"ent stri0t#4 and 0onsistent#4 t(e Po#i04 on Dis0ip#ine.
0. Ensure t(at t(e said Po#i04 on Dis0ip#ine is 0o""uni0ated to
and understood 4 a## e"p#o4ees.
d. onitor 0o"p#ian0e 4 e"p#o4ees *it( t(e said Po#i04.
e. Advise HR ana$er on t(e state o) dis0ip#ine in t(eir respe0tive
depart"ents= pro#e"s, i) an4, and re0o""end so#ution7s8 and
0orre0tive a0tion7s8.
As 0orre0t#4 oserved 4 t(e CA and t(e LA, t(ese duties 0#ear#4
pertained to Division ana$ersFDepart"ent ana$ersF upervisors, *(i0(
respondent *as not, as (e *as "ere#4 a tea" supervisor. Petitioners
t(e"se#ves des0ried respondent as t(e superior o) a 0a## 0enter a$ent= (e
(eads and $uides a spe0i)i0 nu"er o) a$ents, *(o )or" a tea".1%/2
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@ro" t(e )ore$oin$, respondent is t(us entit#ed to (is 0#ai"s )or
(o#ida4 pa4, servi0e in0entive #eave pa4, overti"e pa4 and rest da4 pa4,
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pursuant to Boo? T(ree o) t(e Laor Code, spe0i)i0a##4 Arti0#e /&,1%62 in
re#ation to Arti0#es /5,1&'2 69,1&%2 and 61&&2 t(ereo).
HEREORE, pre"ises 0onsidered, t(e Petition is
(ere4 DENIED. T(e epte"er %, &''/ De0ision and t(e 3anuar4 5, &''6
Reso#ution o) t(e Court o) Appea#s are AIR*ED.
SO ORDERED.