Philippine Labor Law Glossary
Definition: Analogous causes are other just causes for dismissal that are comparable to the grounds expressly listed in Labor Code Article 297 and that involve a voluntary or willful act or omission by the employee.
What Analogous Causes Mean
Article 297 lists specific just causes for dismissal and also includes other causes analogous to the foregoing. Supreme Court jurisprudence explains that an analogous cause must be sufficiently comparable to one of the listed just causes and must involve a voluntary or willful act or omission.
This prevents employers from treating any undesirable conduct as an automatic just cause. The alleged ground still has to be legally comparable to the statutory causes and supported by substantial evidence.
Example from Jurisprudence
The Supreme Court has recognized that certain conduct may constitute a cause analogous to serious misconduct when the facts show a voluntary or willful act of comparable gravity. The specific result always depends on the proven facts and the doctrine applied in the case.
Common Misunderstanding
Misunderstanding: Article 297(e) allows an employer to invent any additional ground for dismissal.
Correct approach: The cause must be genuinely analogous to the statutory just causes and must satisfy the standards developed in jurisprudence.
Related Terms
- Just Cause
- Serious Misconduct
- Willful Disobedience
- Gross and Habitual Neglect
- Loss of Trust and Confidence
Sources and Legal Citations
- Labor Code Article 297 — statutory just causes, including other causes analogous to the foregoing. Supreme Court E-Library.
- Supreme Court jurisprudence on analogous causes — explains comparability and the voluntary or willful act-or-omission requirement. Supreme Court E-Library.
Editorial Review and Legal-Review Status
Prepared by: LaborCode.ph Editorial Team
Source verification: Supreme Court sources checked on August 8, 2026
Article-level legal review status: No named lawyer-review credit has been assigned to this glossary entry.
Disclaimer
Whether conduct is an analogous cause for dismissal is fact-specific and depends on the statutory comparison, evidence and applicable jurisprudence.