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 laugh

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...

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...

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 When it comes to employment standards, IT professionals occupy a murky middle ground — sometimes exempt from...

Big changes are coming to employment law in Saskatchewan—and small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) need to get ready. As of May 13, 2025,...

Hiring independent contractors can be a great way to bring in expertise without the overhead of a full-time employee. But what if that...

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...

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

In today's fast-paced digital age, remote work opportunities have become more prevalent than ever. The shift towards remote work has...

Implementing a dress code in the workplace can be a challenging endeavor, especially when it veers into discriminatory territory or is...

Crafting a dress code policy for your workplace is essential for maintaining professionalism and upholding company standards. However,...

An employee handbook serves as a foundational document that outlines essential information about company policies, procedures &...