Elise Mcfarlane – Group People & Culture Manager

Recruitment, WHS, talent planning, performance management, inductions, coordinating office events… It's all in a day's work for Elise at one of Australia's largest e-commerce group, Lux Group Limited. 

What's your current job title? 

For the past 18 months I have been the Group People & Culture Manager at Lux Group.

How long have you been in HR?

Four years. 

What did you study to get into this field?

I have a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons). I have always loved working with people! 

What did you want to be when you were younger?

When I was younger I always wanted to be a teacher as I admired my teachers so much growing up.

What was your first job?

I was a waitress at a local restaurant called’ The Gardens’ during school. It was a great place to start!

When did you first know you wanted to go down the HR career path? 

When I was working in corporate psychology, I started to find that I really enjoyed the employment aspects of the job and could have a bigger impact on the entire employee experience end-to-end in HR

Tell us what a typical day in the office is like for you

No two days are the same! HR is a service provider so you need to be willing to adapt to the business needs on a daily basis. Recruitment, workplace health and safety, talent planning, performance management, coaching line managers, organising office events, running training and development, complaints, employment agreements, awards and policy development are just some of the things that come up on a day at work!

What do you wish someone has told you before starting in HR?

I feel I was fairly well prepared but perhaps just that so much of the role is out of your
control in HR and you need to be willing to adapt to business changes. We are here to facilitate and support whatever the commercial and people priorities are!

Name a career highlight

A real career highlight for me was when a team member took a photo of a recognition card I gave her and posted it on social media. Although it took minimal time on my behalf, it had such a big impact on her. It is a humble reminder of the impact we can have on how people go home feeling after a day at work if we just reward and recognise them. 

What’s next for you?

Looking to continue to build the brand and culture at Lux Group to be an employer of choice!

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