G.R. No. 162994. September 17, 2004.
FACTS:
Tecson is an employee of Glaxo. Included in the contract of employment he signed is that he agrees to abide all company rules which includes disclosure of any existing future relationships with co-employees and employees of competing drug companies. If management perceives a conflict of interest on the relationship, the management and the employee will explore the possibility of a “transfer to another department in a non-counterchecking position” or preparation for employment outside the company after six months.
Subsequently, Tecson entered into a romantic relationship and married Bettsy, an employee of Astra, a competitor of Glaxo. Tecson’s superiors informed him that his marriage to Bettsy gave rise to a conflict of interest.
Tecson applied for a transfer in Glaxo’s milk division, thinking that since Astra did not have a milk division, the potential conflict of interest would be eliminated. However it was denied. In 1999, Glaxo transferred Tecson to the Butuan City-Surigao City-Agusan del Sur sales area. Tecson sought Glaxo’s reconsideration regarding his transfer but Glaxo remained firm in its decision.