FORMER MANAGER CLAIMS 300K WORTH OF FINAL PAY THRU DOLE’S SENA

Last year, a former operation manager deployed in a company located at Sto. Tomas City, Batangas, resigned from her job.

As part of the process before the receipt of final payment, an employee may undergo a clearance procedure required by the company, as the related jurisprudence states.

In an interview, the company representative explained the circumstances that led to the delay in releasing the final pay of the requesting party.

“While each company endeavors that the final pay will be released within the prescribed DOLE provision, that is about 30 days. However, with [concealed name of the worker], she did not process her clearance from our corporate finance. Corporate finance would not clear [concealed name of the worker] because [concealed name of the worker], as a Plant Manager has been allowed to use the credit card of the company during her official visit. However, like any other financial procedure the credit card should definitely be liquidated meaning, [concealed name of the worker] should make a report of the extension and provide a corresponding receipt, for it could be validated as an actual expense. However, [concealed name of the worker] did not do that,” the company representative explained.

Meanwhile, after months of waiting for her final pay, the worker requested assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment’s Single Entry Approach program.

“Bale nakikipag-usap po ako sa company from September all the way to March. Pero hindi po maresolve resolve yung issue with regards po dun sa clearance. So, may mga hinihingi silang tax documents na paulit ulit po every time na nag-fofollow up may additional requirements. Then nung march po nagdecide na kong magfile sa DOLE,” the requesting party shared in an interview.

To mediate and eventually resolve the conflict between the two parties, DOLE Batangas Provincial Office Single Entry Approach Desk Officer (SEADO), Ms. Necorita Anzaldo scheduled and facilitated a conference call.

DOLE BPO’s SEADO, Ms. Necorita Anzaldo facilitated the conference call with both parties. (Photo by: April Rose Magpantay/DOLE BPO)

According to Ms. Anzaldo, the finance department released the final pay after the requesting party completed all the necessary documents for her clearance, specifically, the receipts needed for the reimbursements of the transactions used through the company credit card.

“Then [after] ma-submit personally ‘yung copy ng kanyang mga receipts, April 24, na-receive ni Finance [Department] yung mga copy ng liquidation report at cash reimbursement. Then, nag-follow up kami ng May 3, kinonfirm ni [concealed name of the worker] na on May 3 in the afternoon na-receive n’ya na ang kanyang final pay,” Ms. Anzaldo narrated.

The requesting party received her final pay amounting to Php 300,377.40 last May 3, 2023.

Both parties extended their gratitude and commendation to the department’s mediation program.

“Na-fast track n’ya po yung process nung clearance. Nakuha ko na po yung backpay ko…Very helpful po. Clear po yung instructions nya about sa akin and then about sa company,” the requesting party uttered.

Meanwhile, the company representative also applauded DOLE’s aid in utilizing proper and lawful means to resolve conflicts before becoming a full-blown labor case.

Furthermore, since both parties reside significantly distant from the DOLE BPO, they opted to conduct the conferences through technological means such as group calls and email.

“DOLE is there hindi sya yung basta na lang kumakampi sa employer or sa employee…Very easy hindi kailangan magpunta at the same time very accommodating,” the company representative remarked.

According to Ms. Anzaldo, the program allows every SEADO to utilize innovative means to conduct conferences that can expedite and simultaneously accommodate both parties' needs and circumstances.

DOLE BPO’s SEADO, Ms. Necorita Anzaldo utilized innovative means to facilitate the conference calls with both parties. (Photo by: April Rose Magpantay/DOLE BPO)

“Compared before na ang notice was sent through registered mail or LBC or Fax mas mabilis ngayon. Kasi sa SENA we are allowed to use yung mga lahat ng kung baga paano namen mafafast track. Ang pinaka mabilis is through phone calls. Through call pwede naman nating gamitin yung Teleconference wherein para na rin kaming magkakaharap kasi tatlo kaming nasa linya na magkakausap. So, naaaddress properly hindi yung kagaya nung regular call na isa lang yung kausap ko,” Ms. Anzaldo said.

e-SENA is an online facility of DOLE that receives requests for conciliation mediation, all for free.