Small Businesses

Hiring an independent contractor can be a practical way for businesses to bring in specialized skills, manage projects, or get support without adding a permanent employee to the team. But what happens when the working relationship starts to look less like a business providing services and more like an employee working for your organization? The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) looks beyond the name on the agreement when determining whether someone is an employee or independent con

In Part 1 of this series, we explored why hiring right matters and how high-performing teams think about outcomes, behaviour, and values before posting a role. Now let’s get practical. Now let’s get practical. Most organizations say they want high performers, but their recruitment process is built for speed or comfort — not performance. Job descriptions focus on tasks. Interviews focus on experience. Decisions rely on gut feel. Then leaders are surprised when new hires str

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 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 pro

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

If I asked you to describe your workplace in one word, would “joyful” come to mind? Most leaders wouldn’t say yes — not because they don’t want it, but because “joy” feels like something that belongs at a birthday party, not in a boardroom. After all, work is about performance, deadlines, and budgets… right? Here’s the thing: joy isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a competitive advantage. When people find joy at work — through purpose, connection, and belonging — they don’t just f

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...

When was the last time you reviewed how your compensation stacks up against the market? If you can’t remember, you’re not alone. Many...

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...

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...

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

Running a small business is no small feat. Between juggling daily operations, managing employees, and serving customers, it’s easy to get...

In today's fast-paced business world, fostering a positive company culture is essential for success. It not only improves employee morale...

In the realm of small business operations, Human Resources (HR) metrics are invaluable tools for assessing the health and effectiveness...

In the realm of Human Resources (HR), efficiency and effectiveness are key drivers of success. As businesses strive to streamline their...

In today's highly competitive business landscape, establishing a robust online presence is crucial for small businesses to thrive and...

As remote work continues to become a norm for many businesses, smaller organizations face unique challenges in adapting to this new...

Sure, we do HR. And we love breaking down tips, tricks and myths about the HR world. But the business world is far more complex than just...

Sure, we do HR. And we love breaking down tips, tricks and myths about the HR world. But the business world is far more complex than just...