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

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...

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It Depends on the Province Note: The advice in this blog is now out of date.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

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,...

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...

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...

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,...