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

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

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 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

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...

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...

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

Spoiler: It’s way cheaper than you think—and it might just save your sanity. Let’s be honest—running a business is a juggling act. You’re...

Dear Toby, I’ve got someone on my team who’s not doing anything wrong on paper, but their tone is harsh, they roll their eyes in...

Let’s be real—growing a business is both exhilarating and overwhelming. There’s a lot to juggle: hiring, policies, performance issues,...

Incentive programs are meant to drive performance, boost morale, and keep employees engaged. But when they go wrong? Well, let’s just say...

Employee engagement surveys get a bad rap. Maybe it’s because people assume they’re just another HR exercise, or maybe it’s because some...

Client: National Not-for-profit Industry: Emergency and health services Employees: Over 3000 The Challenge A large...

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