Biography

Elaine O’Brien is a Chartered Psychologist (BPS) and lecturer in Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour at University College Cork (UCC).  She is Co-Academic Director of the MSc in HRM and Higher Diploma in HRM. Elaine holds a BSc (Hons) Occupational Psychology (University of Ulster), MSc in Organisational Psychology (UMIST) and PhD (UCC).   Prior to joining UCC Elaine gained considerable industrial experience in both public and private sector organisations working as a HR professional and Senior OD Consultant. Her current research interests lie in the inter-related areas of Emotional Labour; Professional Identities; exploring experiences of Menopause at Work and the intersection between Fertility and Work.
Recent engagement with industry includes an exploration of Attitudes towards and Experiences of Menopause at work in Public sector organisations and examination of diversity, inclusion and engagement practices in a leading multi-national company.  Elaine's work is published in high ranking Journals including Journal of Management Studies, Human Relations, Journal of Business Ethics and International Journal of Human Resource Management.

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2007 PhD Scholarship School of Management & Marketing UCC

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
British Psychological Society Chartered Member /
University Forum for Human Resource Development Member /
Chartered Insitute of Personnel and Development Associate Member /

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2023) CIPD Well-Being Event,
Elaine O’Brien; Maeve O’Sullivan; Cliodhna MacKenzie; Tom Garavan;Sarah Greely 1 (2023) Menopause at work – exploring attitudes and experiences. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], CIPD Well-Being Event, Dublin Ireland . [Details]
(2019) European Association of Work and Organisational Psychology,
Linehan, C. & O'Brien, E. (2019) From being to doing: Reconceptualising work engagement from state to situated practice. [Oral Presentation], European Association of Work and Organisational Psychology, Turin, Italy , 29-MAY-19 - 01-JUN-19. [Details]
(2016) Institute of Work Psychology Conference,
Linehan, C. and O'Brien, E. (2016) Faking it to make it? Challenging the need to bring the authentic self to work via a study of emotional dissonance. [Oral Presentation], Institute of Work Psychology Conference, Sheffield , 21-JUN-16 - 23-JUN-16. [Details]
(2008) Irish Academy of Management,
Gubbins, C., Linehan, C. & O'Brien, E.; (2008) The emotional labour of HR managers to build social capital. [Oral Presentation], Irish Academy of Management, Dublin , 01-SEP-08 - 03-SEP-08. [Details]
(2008) Irish Academy of Management,
Linehan, C. & O'Brien, E. (2008) The Insincerity of Trying to be Sincere: Learning the Emotion Display Rules to be a HR Manager. [N/A], Irish Academy of Management, Limerick . [Details]
(2008) Irish Academy of Management,
O'Brien, E. (2008) Emotional Labour in the Human Resource Profession – Management Prescribed or Employee Driven?. [N/A], Irish Academy of Management, Limerick . [Details]

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Business School Research Task Force Member /

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
SX3, Viridian Group PLC Senior Management Consultant /
Parity Solutions Plc HR Consultant /
Craigavon Area Hospital Group Trust HR Manager /
Mentor Economic Development Consultants Consultant /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2011 University College Cork PHD Commerce
1992 UMIST MSc Organisational Psychology
1991 Univerisity of Ulster BSC (HONS) Occupational Psychology

Consultancy

  Client Description
Simon Community
Training Needs Analysis of Northern Ireland's Homeless Young People
NI Business Development Agency
Review of Community Business Programme
Training & Employment Agency and FAS
Feasibility Study - International Youth Development Centre
NI Equal Opportunities Commission
Review of Equality of Access to Training Provision in Northern Ireland

Journal Activities

  Journal Role To / From
International Journal Of Human Resource Management Referee -
Journal Of Management Studies Referee -
Human Relations Referee -