Determinants of human resource management practices in small firms: Some evidence from Atlantic Canada

Relatively little research has focused on human resource management practices in small firms. This study, using data from 991 small Atlantic Canadian businesses, investigated the incidence of ten human resource management practices. Respondents were most likely to report sharing business information with employees and having an orientation program for new employees. The study also examined whether the presence of such practices was related to characteristics of the organization. The most dominant finding was the very strong relationship between human resource practices and progressive decision-making ideology. In addition, a number of practices were associated with the union status and size of the business. Implications for future research are also discussed.