DISPOSITIVE:
WHEREFORE, the Petition is hereby GRANTED. The assailed September 16, 2011 Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 114964 is REVERSED AND SET ASIDE. Respondent Cathay Pacific Airways Limited is ORDERED to PAY petitioner Salvacion A. Lamadrid full backwages and separation pay based on her salary rate at the time of her termination. Let this case be remanded to the Labor Arbiter for this purpose. The benefits and bonuses she received during her separation amounting to HK.$622,077.54 should be deducted from the final monetary award that would be given to her.
SO ORDERED.
SUBJECTS/DOCTRINES/DIGEST:
WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE?
PETITIONER WAS DISMISSED FROM EMPLOYMENT FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING MINERAL WATER. SUPREME COURT SAID SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT PETITIONER COMMITTED INFRACTION, DISMISSAL IS HARSH PENALTY. THE COURT APPLIED THE PRINCIPLE OF TOTALITY OF INFRACTIONS.
However, while the weight of evidence points to Lamadrid’s infraction of company policy, We should also consider that this is Lamadrid’s first infraction in her 17 years of service in the airline which involved a mere bottle of water. Concededly, the company laid down the penalties for violation of its policies; however, the evaluation of an employee’s infraction should be dealt with fairness and reason. Simply put, all surrounding circumstances must be considered and the penalty must be commensurate to the violation committed by an employee. Termination of the services of an employee should be the employer’s last resort especially when other disciplinary actions may be imposed, considering the employee’s long years of service in the company, devoting time, effort and invaluable service in line with the employer’s goals and mission, as in Lamadrid’s case. Thus, We emphasize the principle of totality of infractions, viz.:
x x x . It is here that totality of infractions may be considered to determine the imposable sanction for her current infraction. In Merin v. National Labor Relations Commission, the Court explained the principle of “totality of infractions” in this wise:
The totality of infractions or the number of violations committed during the period of employment shall be considered in determining the penalty to be imposed upon an erring employee.Xx x.65 (Citation Omitted).
During Lamadrid’s span of employment, she did not commit any infraction or was ever sanctioned except in the incident subject of the present controversy. To impose a penalty as grave as dismissal for a first offense and considering the value of the property allegedly taken would be too harsh under the circumstances. Therefore, Lamadrid was illegally dismissed from service.
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