In strained employment relations, payment of separation pay in lieu of reinstatement

The finding that petitioners were illegally dismissed normally requires that they be reinstated to their former or equivalent positions with full backwages. In this case, however, the relationships between petitioners and private respondents have undoubtedly become very strained, hence, separation pay in lieu of reinstatement is proper. [G.R. No. 117582. December 23, 1996]