Frequently Asked Questions

Not every business needs a full-time HR department. But as your team grows, people issues get more complex and start taking real time away from running the business. An HR consultant gives you experienced HR support when you need it, without the cost of a full-time hire.

Not necessarily. Smaller businesses often benefit most from getting the basics right early. Clear expectations, proper documentation, sound hiring practices and compliant policies prevent much bigger problems later, as the team grows.

There is no magic employee number. It is usually worth a conversation when you are hiring frequently, dealing with employee issues, spending too much time managing people, writing or updating policies, handling performance concerns, or simply finding that HR has become another job on your plate.

It depends on the scope of the work, the complexity of your business and how much support you want. Some businesses need help with one specific project; others benefit from ongoing fractional HR support. Every engagement starts with a free consultation, and I recommend an approach based on your priorities and your budget.

You get access to HR expertise without having to create a full-time HR position. Fractional HR means an experienced HR professional on the days you need one, where and when you need the help, without carrying a permanent salary.

Practical HR support tailored to your business: hiring and onboarding, HR policies and documentation, employee relations, performance management, HR audits, workplace processes and ongoing fractional HR support. The focus is on what your business actually needs, not a one-size-fits-all package.

Yes. I can help you work through performance concerns, difficult conversations, employee complaints, workplace issues and other people problems. I will help you understand your options, prepare for the conversation, document it properly and decide on practical next steps. Where legal advice is required, I will say so and can recommend involving an employment lawyer.

Yes. I can review your HR practices, policies and processes to identify gaps and areas that may need attention under applicable BC employment requirements. My role is to give practical HR guidance and to flag when a matter should go to legal counsel.

No. HR support can be as flexible as you need. You can engage me for a single project, an HR audit, a hiring need or one employee situation, or choose ongoing fractional HR support if having an HR partner available regularly would help.

No. HR Next Door is based in Port Moody and works with small and medium businesses across British Columbia. Most work is done remotely, and on-site visits are arranged where they are needed.

Aaronna Martin is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR, 2018) with a Human Resources Diploma from BCIT (2005) and more than twenty years of in-house HR experience across twelve industries.

That is exactly what the first conversation is for. We look at your current team, your business goals, the HR processes you already have and any challenges you are dealing with. From there I recommend practical priorities and the level of support that makes sense. It is a conversation, not a pitch, and if it is not something I can help with I will tell you.