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

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...