Dear Toby

Real HR questions from business owners and managers, answered in plain language. Dear Toby tackles the awkward, complicated and sometimes frustrating people situations that come with running a business, from difficult employees and hiring decisions to workplace conflict, performance, policies and more.

Dear Toby: My Employee Is Always Late. Now What?

An employee who is five or ten minutes late might not seem like a big deal, until it happens every day and the rest of the team starts noticing. Toby tackles when chronic lateness becomes a performance issue and what managers should do about it.

Shilo Burt

Oct 14 min read

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Dear Toby: My Best Employee is Making Everyone Miserable

What happens when your best performing employee is also your biggest headache?

Shilo Burt

Aug 183 min read

Understanding Employee vs. Contractor: A Guide for Small Business Owners

The Importance of Clarity in Employment Relationships Dear Toby, I am a small business owner, and honestly, everyone who works with me is a contractor. When I started, it made sense. I was small, cash flow mattered, and I did not want to deal with payroll, source deductions, vacation pay, CPP, EI, and all the things I know I would probably mess up. Contractors felt simpler. But now I am freaking out! A friend of mine who also runs a business just got audited by the CRA. They

Stephany Dergo

Jan 234 min read

Dear Toby: HR Advice Column: Workplace Christmas Party Gone Wrong

Welcome to our column, Dear Toby. We take real life HR questions and give real HR advice. Have a question or topic you'd love covered in our column? Send us an email at info@aandaconsulting.ca "Dear Toby, We just had our company Christmas party and overall it was great - until it wasn’t. One of my employees had way too much to drink and started making comments that crossed several lines. They weren’t malicious, but they were absolutely inappropriate. A few people laughed

System Administrator

Dec 11, 20254 min read

Dear Toby: HR Advice Column: Recognition

Welcome to our column, Dear Toby. We take real life HR questions and give real HR advice. Have a question or topic you'd love covered in our column? Send us an email at info@aandaconsulting.ca “Dear Toby, I want to thank my team this year but our budget is tight. Do you have any creative recognition ideas that don’t cost a fortune?” - Lost in Langley Dear Lost in Langley, First - thank you for even asking this question. The fact that you’re thinking intentionally about re

System Administrator

Nov 28, 20253 min read

Dear Toby: HR Advice Column: Hiring Woes

Welcome to our column, Dear Toby. We take real life HR questions and give real HR advice. Have a question or topic you'd love covered in our column? Send us an email at info@aandaconsulting.ca Dear Toby, I know I’ll need to hire in the new year, but I’ve been putting off planning because we’re slammed right now. How early do I actually need to start recruiting if I want someone in the role by January or February? - Growing Pains in Edmonton Dear Growing Pains, Ah, the great

System Administrator

Oct 30, 20253 min read

Dear Toby: HR Advice Column - Should My Small Business Try a 4-Day Work Week?

Dear Toby, I keep hearing about businesses switching to a 4-day work week, and I’m wondering if that’s something a small business like mine should consider. What are the real benefits, and how can I make sure it works without hurting operations? — Curious in Canmore Dear Curious, Fantastic question — and one a lot of small business owners are asking right now (usually around Thursday afternoon when the weekend still feels far away). The 4-day work week has gone from “interest

Stephany Dergo

Oct 24, 20253 min read

Dear Toby: HR Advice Column- Our Company is Growing Fast but it is Total Chaos!

Dear Toby, Our company is growing fast, which is exciting — but it’s also total chaos behind the scenes. We’ve never done a formal HR...

Stephany Dergo

Aug 15, 20253 min read

Dear Toby: HR Advice Column- I Think It’s Time To Let Someone Go... But I’m Scared To Screw It Up

Dear Toby, I’m a small business owner, and I’ve never had to fire anyone before. But one employee just isn’t cutting it—constant...

Stephany Dergo

Jul 18, 20252 min read

Dear Toby: HR Advice - Software Changes

Dear Toby, We just launched new project management software, and the team’s response has been… let’s just say underwhelming. Some are...

Stephany Dergo

Jun 16, 20252 min read