CHAPTER 1: Sara Dimagiba

Sara Dimagiba is a single mother who works as a regular product designer in Do Dirty’s
Research & Development (R&D) department. She was used to working late until she
accidentally got pregnant at the age of 20. Her social life was affected but her flirty personality
remains.

Due to Sara’s exceptional skills, she got hired by the company right after she graduated from
college. As a fresh graduate and a single mother, Sara grabbed the chance and immediately
entered into an employment contract with Do Dirty. Her contract stated her job description,
monthly compensation, and the company policies that she needs to follow.

Sara’s employment with Do Dirty is best described by the right of control or control test of
employer-employee relationship. She is a regular employee who works on weekdays from 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m., and does overtime work every time there is a rush product design needed. The
company gives her a creative brief that she needs to follow in creating the design. The company
can also make her do overtime work as the need arises. This means that Do Dirty has the right to
control not only the end achieved but also the manner and means used to achieve that end.

Years have passed and Sara has been rendering service to Do Dirty for three years now. Her
work may not be usually necessary or desirable in the usual business or trade of Do Dirty, but
she is now considered as a regular employee because of her years of service in the company.

Sara plans to continue working in Do Dirty to support her growing child, which is not a problem
at all because Sara likes her job and how the company treats her. Although she needs to do
overtime work at times, Sara is not thinking of leaving her job because she is well compensated
and she receives all the benefits prescribed by laws. She also manages to be a full-time mother
during her leaves and on rest days because her boss has a policy in their department: no work-
related concerns during weekends and leaves.

What Sara likes the most about Do Dirty is the fact that the company acknowledges her rights as
a solo parent. The company also commends her even though she is the youngest among her
workmates, who are mostly male employees, in the R&D department.

One working day, Do Dirty introduced Matty Gee, the newest member of Sara’s team. Matty is a
fresh graduate who was hired by Do Dirty as a product designer just like Sara. To welcome
Matty, Sara’s boss invited the whole team to a company dinner. Since Sara has not enjoyed her
social life ever since she got pregnant, she took the opportunity of escaping all her
responsibilities at home and joined the dinner.

During the dinner, Sara had too many drinks. She danced and sang her heart out. Everyone was
having fun except Matty who was still shy at that time. When Sara saw Matty, her flirty
personality came out once again. She invited Matty to dance, but Matty refused.

As Sara intimately danced in front of Matty, she was too drunk to realize that she accidentally
kissed Matty. Matty immediately stood up and went out of the room. Sara continued to sing and
dance as if nothing happened. Her teammates were telling her to stop drinking already but she
still enjoyed the rest of the night.

The following week, Sara received a notice asking for her presence before the office of the
company lawyer of Do Dirty. It turned out that Matty wrote a letter of complaint against Sara
because of what happened during the company dinner. Matty said that he felt harassed and
invoked his right as provided in the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 or R.A. No. 7877.

The company lawyer explained to Sara what the law says and told her that the law does not
really apply to Matty’s case. This is because she does not have authority, influence, or moral
ascendancy over Matty. The company lawyer further explained that Sara’s act was not a demand,
request, or requirement of sexual favor in consideration of a favorable result for Matty. However,
Sara is still subject to administrative sanctions based on Do Dirty’s company policies.

Sara eventually received a written warning and was transferred to another team to avoid further
conflicts with Matty.

Months after, an unexpected turn of events happened. Sara and Matty became a couple and
decided to live together. Sara feels like she found a father for her child even though she and
Matty had a rough start.

When Sara’s child turned five, she requested for educational support from Do Dirty. She claims
that as a solo parent, she is entitled to educational benefits. However, Do Dirty’s Human
Resources Department, through its company lawyer, explained that she is no longer entitled to
said benefits. They contend that the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000 provides that a change in
the status or circumstance of the parent claiming benefits under this Act, such that he/she is no
longer left alone with the responsibility of parenthood, shall terminate his/her eligibility for these
benefits.

When Matty found out that Do Dirty denied Sara’s request, he reassured Sara that he will
support both Sara and her child. This comforted Sara making her love Matty even more.