Memoir Writing: The Bridge I Burned

October 6, 2021 I was unaware at that time but a bridge was crossed as soon as my boyfriend of 2.5 years broke up with me. I did not know that when my boyfriend skyped with me that afternoon, he was going to break up with me. It all started with a cliche-ic “Can we […]

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HR Talk: What to Do if Someone Steals from You?

During times of financial hardships, many employer would find themselves victims of theft from the very people they trust. In May 2021, one of my sales staff was caught stealing Php 56,000 worth of cash and jewelry via reporting fake GCash transactions which turned out to be real cash transactions, with her pocketing the money. […]

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Top 12 DOLE Labor Advisories on on COVID-19

HR Practitioners should be very conversant to the many DOLE Labor Advisories issued related to COVID-19. Regardless, it’s still a shock to me that many do not seem to read the DOLE Labor Advisories that are published for free in their website. Not only are such information widely available, but they are also timely updated, […]

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HR Talk: Top 11 Questions About the Certificate of Employment (COE)

Certificate of Employment (COE) — A simple document that has created so much ruckus in the HR community these days. Why oh why oh why? Technically, the COE is a very simple document.  See DOLE Labor Advisory No. 6, Series of 2020 for the particulars: Verbatim to the advisory, a Certificate of Employment (COE) is a […]

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HR Talk: Can You Terminate Staff During the Pandemic (And Not Pay Separation Pay)?

Quick and Short Answer: Rule of Thumb: There are two distinct type of Terminations — 1) Termination for Just Causes, and 2) Termination for Authorized Causes. So this blog post will summarize the different ways you can properly terminate a staff in the Philippines as follows: What is Just Causes of Termination? How Can Companies […]

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My Practical Views on “Bale” or Cash Advance

Allowing cash advance in company = Inviting more headaches. We have a “No cash advance or bale” policy in place. It is contained in our rules and regulation and also written in the employment contract. If staff wants a cash advance, they can borrow from SSS and Pagibig. Basta ang policy namin, buo ang sweldo […]

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Life Lesson: When a Son Brings His Family Deep in Debt

The source of drama this week was care of my daughter’s yaya (babysitter). Our yaya is hre family’s breadwinner and supports her Mindoro-based unemployed husband and her five male children, one of whom is already working in Batangas. The eldest is 21 years old and is working in a feeds factory in Batangas. Yaya was […]

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My Top 20 Lessons in HR for 2020

MY TOP 20 LESSONS IN HR FOR 2020: It’s almost the new year! To end the year with a bang, here are my top 20 lessons in HR that I learned this 2020: 1. When government puts everyone on lockdown, stop stressing and being depressed. Walang pakialam ang government kung depressed ka. Hindi dadagdag ang […]

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HR Talk: Can Companies REALLY Extend Floating Status For A Year?

The DOLE Department Order No. 215, Series of 2020, which dropped just last October 26, caused a lot of confusion in the HR space. Personally, I found the Department Order No. 215, Series of 2020 weird since paragraphs over paragraphs are in BOLD and ALL CAPITAL as if someone in DOLE has been shouting their […]

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HR Talk: 8 Questions from the DTI and DOLE Supplemental Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19 Answered so You Don’t Have to Read the 22-Page Document Dropped Last August 15

The DOLE and DTI released the following Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04, Series of 2020 (DTI-DOLE Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04-A-3) last August 15 afternoon and created a big ruckus in the Philippine business and HR community for being non strategic, not friendly to businesses, and impracticality. Reading through 22 pages of it, I realized […]

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HR TALK: Top 10 Questions That Many Angry Employees Ask During the Pandemic Answered

Especially with the pandemic ongoing, so many companies are undergoing a lot of turmoil. Many employees has been on forced leave since ECQ hit last March 16. Many companies are still operating at 50% to 70% capacity and have no clue what to do with all of the extra headcount. They don’t know if they […]

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