Practical HR thinking, written for operators.
Ideas and field notes to help HR and People Ops teams build fairer, calmer, and more effective workplaces.
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The part of termination nobody sees
Termination is one of the hardest parts of HR work. This post looks at preparation, process, dignity, risk, and the human side of ending employment.
Latest Notes
How to make your good work easier to see
A practical guide to managing up with simple templates that make quiet work visible, reduce ambiguity, and help your manager support your priorities.
What 2026 is already teaching HR
A short reflection on the HR trends I was watching for 2026, and what they are already teaching me about clarity, judgment, and operational discipline.
The WSIB Guide I Wish I Had When I Started
A practical Ontario HR guide to workplace injuries, WSIB reporting, return-to-work planning, claim costs, and the first decisions that shape the file.
What Happens When Employees Start Editing Themselves
Most employees don't stop speaking because they have nothing to contribute. They become quieter when they start calculating how their words will be received. Here's what that teaches us about culture, trust, and leadership.
Maternity and parental leave in Ontario: the simple 2026 guide
A practical 2026 guide for Ontario parents explaining job-protected leave, EI maternity and parental benefits, payment limits, employer top-ups, timelines, and common mistakes to avoid.
Why Maria Became The HR
A personal reflection on a hard day, a career shift from finance to HR, and why the work still feels meaningful.
You Hit Your Vacation Milestone. So Where’s the Extra Week?
A practical Google Sheets template that helps HR teams explain how vacation entitlement grows at service milestones and why the extra time is often accumulated over the year.
AI interviews and the human work of hiring
A short reflection on how scheduling tools, AI interviews, and automated hiring systems are changing recruitment, and why HR still needs to protect fairness and human judgment.
The Q1 headcount rush meets Ontario’s new reality
Q1 hiring pressure is real, but Ontario’s new job posting expectations mean HRBPs need to help managers move quickly without skipping compensation, AI, and vacancy clarity.
Five HR trends I am watching for 2026
On the last Sunday of 2025, Maria reflects on five HR trends she is watching for 2026, from hiring transparency and responsible AI to manager capability, skills planning, and more disciplined HR operations.
A birthday note: why I am starting Maria the HR
On my birthday, I am starting MariaTheHR.com as a space to share practical reflections on HR, fairness, documentation, and the changing world of work in Ontario.