HR Policies

Can employers ask for a sick note in Canada? Sick note rules vary significantly by province. This guide breaks down the current requirements across Canada, including important 2026 changes employers need to know.

B.C.’s pay transparency reporting requirement expands to employers with 50 or more employees in 2026. Here’s what to check, gather and publish before November 1.

Starting October 1, 2026, Manitoba employers will face new limits on when they can require employees to provide a sick note. Here's what employers need to know and what to update before the new rules take effect.

A manager's title or salary doesn't automatically make them overtime-exempt. Learn how manager overtime exemptions work across Canada and why an employee's actual duties matter.

IT employees aren't automatically exempt from overtime. Compare overtime rules for technology professionals across Canada and learn when an IT exemption may or may not apply.

Calling someone a contractor doesn't necessarily make them one. Here are five signs a worker may actually be functioning as an employee and what Canadian businesses should consider.

Are sales employees entitled to overtime? The answer depends on the province, type of sales role and sometimes how or where the employee works.

Ontario introduced new requirements for publicly advertised job postings in 2026. From compensation ranges and AI disclosure to vacancy statements and candidate follow-up, here's what employers need to know.

High-performing teams start with intentional hiring. Learn how success profiles, structured interviews and clearer hiring criteria can help organizations recruit for performance instead of relying on gut feel.

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

High-performing teams are not found. They are built. And the first place organizations feel the difference is in hiring. For small and growing businesses, one mis-hire does not just slow things down. It changes how leaders spend their time. Instead of building the business, they compensate. They coach basic expectations, fix errors, redistribute work, and quietly lower standards just to keep momentum. The stress does not come from one person. It comes from the ripple effect a

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

On May 28, 2025, the Ontario government introduced Bill 30: The Working for Workers Seven Act . If passed, it will make changes to three...

Employment contracts are meant to give clarity and protection for both employers and employees. But as a recent case shows, if they’re not written carefully, they can do the opposite—leaving businesses exposed to major financial risk. What Happened The Township of Ignace hired an employee on a three-year contract. Less than a year in, they ended her employment and offered two weeks’ pay, believing their contract covered them. It didn’t. Courts found several problems in

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...

Firing someone “for cause” might sound like a straightforward way to end a difficult employment relationship without severance pay. But here’s the reality: it’s rarely that simple—especially in Canada. In fact, trying to terminate for cause without meeting the strict legal threshold can backfire, leading to costly wrongful dismissal claims and reputational risk for your business. So, when can you terminate for cause? What red flags should you watch for? And why is the bar

When a customer complains about an employee’s conduct, it can feel like a clear-cut case for discipline—or even termination. But a recent...

It Depends on the Province Note: The advice in this blog is now out of date. Please check out our most up-to-date review of IT overtime exemptions by clicking here. When it comes to employment standards, IT professionals occupy a murky middle ground — sometimes exempt from overtime, sometimes not. If your business operates across multiple provinces or hires remote tech staff, you might be surprised how different the rules can be from province to province. To help you stay co

Hiring independent contractors can be a great way to bring in expertise without the overhead of a full-time employee. But what if that contractor is actually an employee in disguise? The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has been cracking down on misclassification, and getting it wrong can cost you—big time. Here are five red flags that your contractor might actually be an employee: 1. You Control How They Work If you’re telling them when, where, and how to do their job—down to

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern workplaces, one aspect that is undergoing a significant transformation is dress codes. Gone are...