Sarah Dobson

Sarah Dobson

Canadian HR Reporter

Sarah Dobson

Managing editor, HR

25+ years experience136,038 Total views on Canadian HR Reporter in 2025

Sarah's specialty topics

human resources employment law compensation and benefits HR leadership wellness/mental health

Sarah Dobson is the managing editor of Canadian HR Reporter, Canada's leading publication serving human resources professionals. With over 25 years of experience in publishing and close to two decades of dedicated focus on the HR industry, Sarah is a knowledgeable editor in covering the full spectrum of workplace and people-management topics.

Sarah's editorial coverage spans the issues that matter most to Canadian HR professionals: mental health in the workplace, employment law, diversity and equity, performance management, talent acquisition and recruitment, compensation strategy, occupational health and safety, and organizational culture. Her long tenure at Canadian HR Reporter has given her a strong understanding of the challenges, trends, and regulatory shifts shaping the HR landscape in Canada.

Sarah holds an Honours degree in English and History from Carleton University and a Journalism diploma from Conestoga College. Before joining Canadian HR Reporter, she honed her craft at respected national outlets including Marketing Magazine and Toronto Life.

As managing editor, Sarah is responsible for the quality, accuracy and editorial integrity of all content published by the Canadian HR Reporter group. Her editorial approach prioritizes balance, rigorous sourcing and relevance — producing content that HR leaders, people managers, legal professionals, and business owners rely on to make informed decisions.

How I think about writing for this industry…

“HR is a fascinating profession, with so many areas of expertise that keep changing along with the technology, the legislation, the workforce. I love hearing about the challenges that HR leaders face everyday, along with the insights and best practices that see them succeed.”

Featured content from Sarah

Constructive dismissal: Ontario decision highlights risks of mandating return to work Do employers still care about MBAs? Do you have all the answers? New rules for pay transparency to take effect for job postings

Previous experience

  • Thomson Reuters — Editor/supervisor, Canadian HR Reporter
  • Rogers Media — Staff Writer, Marketing Magazine

Education

  • Honours B.A., English/History, Carleton University
  • Diploma in Print Journalism, Conestoga College

Read the latest stories by Sarah

'Act as though there's no difference between the physical workplace and remote workplace'

Employment lawyers discuss safety considerations, and how employers should respond when a remote worker is hurt or killed

'Act as though there's no difference between the physical workplace and remote workplace'

'A change is as good as a rest': HR director Sharon Robinson

Head of HR at Nova Scotia Pension Services discusses competencies, hard-to-fill roles, leadership development, AI and turning the tide on domestic violence

'A change is as good as a rest': HR director Sharon Robinson

'A good step in the right direction': What HR needs to know about Bill C-39

For collective bargaining, new rules would include special mediators, early bargaining obligations and a codified Section 107

'A good step in the right direction': What HR needs to know about Bill C-39

Underpaid or overpaid workers: 'You can't outsource responsibility or liability'

Pay disruption at AtkinsRéalis confirms payroll errors are rarely intentional, but how employers respond can matter as much as the mistake itself, say lawyers

Underpaid or overpaid workers: 'You can't outsource responsibility or liability'

'The people agenda does not sit separately from the business strategy'

How three Canadian HR leaders are navigating the tariff storm

 'The people agenda does not sit separately from the business strategy'

‘There's no shortage of excitement here with our growth plans’

CPO Lawrence Hughes of Porter Airlines on coping with tariffs, fuel costs and unionization, and how they make leadership accountable

‘There's no shortage of excitement here with our growth plans’

'You can't just create a relationship in the mold that you want'

Recent cases confirm that calling someone an independent contractor doesn't make them one — and misclassification can be costly, say legal experts offering tips

'You can't just create a relationship in the mold that you want'

From classrooms to conservation: Valerie Peticca

‘I want to be able to fix the bigger picture’: CHRO at the Toronto Zoo discusses academia, employee wellness and AI challenges

From classrooms to conservation: Valerie Peticca

Enjoying your AI? What if it leads to the end of the world?

‘Catastrophic’: Recent alarms from AI experts confirm platforms are not just another work tool

Enjoying your AI? What if it leads to the end of the world?

What BC's proposed psychosocial hazard rules would require of employers

From identifying hazards to investigating harassment, experts provide a breakdown of the obligations, the definitions, and what HR should be doing now

What BC's proposed psychosocial hazard rules would require of employers