Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Careers in HRPeople NewsThe HR profession

Top job: Sheila Murphy

by Personnel Today 23 May 2006
by Personnel Today 23 May 2006

Where were you working before and what were your duties?

I was working for Fashion Brand House as an HR manager. I was involved in implementing strategic HR initiatives, including policy and procedures, performance assessments, recruitment and selection, disciplinary and grievance, induction, performance management
and health and safety. I also advised directors and senior management on employment legislation.

What are the duties in your new role?

My duties are very similar to my last job. I have two part-time HR payroll and administrative staff, and I report into the finance director.

What do you hope to achieve in your new role?

To provide a professional, quality service and work as part of a team to change the workplace culture.

What are the challenges HR faces in the next five years?

The two main challenges are finding skilled people and keeping up with legislation.

What advice would you give to people starting out in HR?

Read, read and read. Keep up-to-date with what is happening in HR.

What is the essential tool in your job?

The internet.

And the most over-rated?

HR consultancy services.

What is the worst thing about HR?

Not having enough time in the day, as well as the politics, and the number of employment laws we are expected to comply with and implement.

What is the strangest situation you have been in at work?

Skidding on snow and ice into an employee’s stationary car on my second day.

Who is your ultimate guru?

[Leadership expert] John Adair. His work has helped me develop my own leadership skills and the advice that I have been able to give to others.

What is the most annoying piece of management jargon?

Anything that needs a dictionary to decipher it.

What is your essential TV viewing?

Any soap series, but I really enjoy EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street, as they help me switch off and unwind.

Who would you most dislike to work with?

Sir Alan Sugar.

How do you fill your spare time?

Reading, walking my dog and catching up with friends.

What is the greatest risk you have ever taken?

Leaving the Royal Air Force after 12 years.

What is your most popular web page?

It is a tie between Personneltoday.com and the website for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

What song gets you on the dance floor?

It’s Raining Men by The Weather Girls.

What would be your dream job?

Working in a plush office with someone fielding my calls and organising my diary.

Who would play you in the film of your life and why?

Julie Walters because of her sense of humour and ability to switch characters, something we in HR have to be able to do.

What is the best office party you ever attended?

I enjoyed them all.

Who would you most like to be stuck in a lift with?

Hugh Grant.

CV

Mar 2006-present: HR manager, Fredericks Dairies

Apr 2003-Feb 2006: HR manager, Fashion Brand House

Oct 1991-Mar 2003: HR officer, Lever Fabergé

Apr 1990-Oct 1991: Recruitment manager, ORS Recruitment

Apr 1978-Apr 1990: Non-commissioned officer, Royal Air Force

About your top job…

Have you just landed a fantastic new job? E-mail [email protected] with all the details.

 

 

 

Avatar
Personnel Today

previous post
My next move
next post
On the move

You may also like

Movers and shakers June 2022: Lloyds, Indeed, Zoom...

24 Jun 2022

CIPD Festival of Work: ‘Use crises as catalysts...

15 Jun 2022

HR Director of the Year: Ruth Busby on...

31 May 2022

‘It’s International HR Day – wait, you didn’t...

20 May 2022

Squishy, flabby, foggy HR? Andrew Bartlow talks to...

20 May 2022

Movers and shakers May 2022: John Lewis and...

20 May 2022

Movers and shakers April 2022: Santander UK appoints...

22 Apr 2022

Time to kill off the HR business partner?...

8 Apr 2022

HR careers survey: three in four confident about...

30 Mar 2022

Movers and shakers March 2022: Appointments at Domino’s,...

14 Mar 2022
  • NSPCC revamps its learning strategy with child wellbeing at its heart PROMOTED | The NSPCC’s mission is to prevent abuse and neglect...Read more
  • Diversity versus inclusion: Why the difference matters PROMOTED | It’s possible for an environment to be diverse, but not inclusive...Read more
  • Five steps for organisations across the globe to become more skills-driven PROMOTED | The shift in the world of work has been felt across the globe...Read more
  • The future of workforce development PROMOTED | Northumbria University and partners share insight...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+