Profile picture of Dr Krystal Wilkinson

Dr Krystal Wilkinson

Reader (Associate Professor) in HRM

My profile

Biography

I am a work and employment scholar, focusing on the work-life interface, wellbeing at work and reproductive health.  Specific topics include the experiences and needs of solo-living staff; those on complex fertility journeys (including fertility treatment, pregnancy loss and childlessness); menstruation and menstrual health; maternity management; perinatal (pregnancy and post-birth) mental health; and mental health more broadly.  Prior to transitioning to academia, I worked in operational Human Resource Management roles in the Construction, Hospitality and Retail Sectors.  I am a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and was active at the national level for over a decade as part of the L7 national examination marking/moderation teams.

I am the lead editor of the 2024 book Work-Life Inclusion: Broadening perspectives across the life course (Emerald Publishing). The work-life inclusion concept is about shining a light on under-explored work-life interface issues, tackling taboo topics and ‘absent narratives’ in the workplace.

I am passionate about knowledge exchange and have been working with a number of organisations to make a difference on work and working lives, including the CIPD, national charities, CICs and campaign groups, and large employers.  I have had the huge honour of speaking at leading industry conferences, and participating in high-profile activities in connection with my research on women’s health in the workplace: A business roundtable in the House of Lords (perinatal mental health at work); a roundtable at 10 Downing Street (menopause in the workplace) and presenting our Workplace Fertility Campaign Group White Paper in Parliament.

My research has been featured in a range of media and trade press outputs, including the BBC, the Wall Street Journal, The Conversation, People Management magazine, and Policing Insight.

Other academic service (administration and management)

Co-Chair of the Gender, Work and Organization ‘Gender and Health at Work Network’

Member of the Working Families charity Academic Advisory Board

Joint Deputy Director of the Centre for Decent Work and Productivity (2023)

Interim co-lead of the Sylvia Pankhurst Gender and Diversity Research Centre (2023)

Decent Work and Productivity Seminar Series Coordinator (2022-23)

Centre for Decent Work and Productivity Early Career Researcher Rep (2021-22)

External examiner roles

I was External Examiner for the University of Bedfordshire

Prizes and awards

Winner of a Greater Manchester Police Association for Women in Policing Award (‘Contribution to women in policing’) in connection with our research on perinatal mental health and police employment.

Winner of the ‘Outstanding Impact in Policy and Practice’ Award, Manchester Metropolitan University Faculty of Business and Law ‘Appreciate and Celebrate’ Initiative, 2023

Shortlisted for the ‘Rising Star’ award in the Research Impact category, Manchester Metropolitan University Faculty of Business and Law ‘Appreciate and Celebrate’ Initiative, 2022

Highly Commended in the Research Excellence Award category, Manchester Metropolitan University Staff Awards 2022

Finalist in the 2022 Manchester Metropolitan University ‘Images of Research’ Competition for an image related to our research on perinatal mental health in policing

Winner of ‘Best Paper in the Gender in Management track’ at the 2018 British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference, for the paper ‘Pay Gaps and Pay Inequality In UK Academia: Understandings Of ‘Merit’’ (Woodhams, Trojanowski and Wilkinson, 2018)

Nominated for the 2018 ‘Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research’ for the paper ‘Exploring the work–life challenges and dilemmas faced by managers and professionals who live alone’ (Wilkinson, Tomlinson and Gardiner, 2017)

Membership of professional associations

Chartered Member of the CIPD

Fellow of Higher Education Academy

Get in touch

0161 247 3968
Business School

Impact

By engaging with a range of stakeholders, including the CIPD, government, national charities, advocacy organisations, and local/national employers, my research is having real-world impact.  Key outputs include:

  • Fertility Workplace Campaign Group White Paper
  • Policy and practice change in Greater Manchester Police around supporting staff affected by perinatal mental illness
  • Policy and practice change in the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust linked to their Well Women Strategy
  • CIPD Guidance on menstruation and menstrual health at work
  • CIPD Guidance on fertility issues, tests and treatment
  • Complex fertility journeys and employment: Report for employers (cited in publications by organisations including Fertility Matter at Work and the CIPD)
  • PANDAS Foundation charity HR Toolkit for supporting staff affected by perinatal mental illness. This is signposted in CIPD guides (mental health and pregnancy loss).
  • Advisor on CIPD’s own surveys and guides on pregnancy/baby loss and fertility treatment
  • POSTbrief on remote working (contributor, peer-reviewer and work cited) (Oct 2022)
  • Mind Charity Mental Health at Work blogs on (in)fertility, perinatal mental health and pregnancy loss
  • Perinatal Mental Health in Policing conference (January 2023)
  • Advisory board for Tommy’s charity: ‘Pregnancy and Parenting at Work’ project, aimed at developing provisions for SMEs. Our research is featured in the new fertility module of the e-learning.
  • Ethnodrama output package from the complex fertility journeys project: being utilised in teaching and externally
  • Working with MMU HR and the Parents and Carers Forum to develop resources around women’s and reproductive health in the workplace

Projects

Co-investigator on a three-year Innovate UK funded Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the Northern Care Alliance, focused on an innovation in maternity management for nursing and midwifery staff (2024-2027)

 Co-investigator on a one-year UKRI EDI Caucus funded study on the experiences of women with mental health issues in STEM professions (2024)

Principal Investigator on a research study on perinatal mental health in policing, working in partnership with Greater Manchester Police (2022-2024)

Principal Investigator on a research project on women’s reproductive health issues in healthcare, working in partnership with the Northern Care Alliance (2022-2023) 

Principal Investigator on two-year The Leverhulme Trust funded research study on complex fertility journeys and employment (2020-2022)

Principle Investigator on research study on the experiences of solo-living staff transitioning to homeworking during the Covid-19 pandemic (2020)

The image shows four nurses chatting and laughing with one another

Women’s health strategy in healthcare

Understanding women’s reproductive health in healthcare employment to support the Well Women Strategy of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.

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The image shows a parent clutching their head in a grey room

Perinatal mental health and employment

Shining a light on new and expectant parent mental health, and the connections with work and employment.

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The image shows a NHS worker holding a baby in their arms

Innovating workplace maternity management in the NHS

A three-year university innovation partnership designed to improve the experience for NHS staff during pregnancy and maternity.

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Teaching

I teach across a number of units at both UG and PG level, across a range of Human Resource Management topics.  I have also been Dissertation lead, and have taught on the Executive MBA and Global Online programmes.

I have extensive experience with UG and PG dissertation supervision, and am currently supervising a number of PGR students in the Centre for Decent Work and Productivity

Supervision

I have ample experience of Masters-level dissertation supervision on our HRM and International HRM programmes.  I have more recently started doctoral supervision, and am interested in speaking to prospective PhD students, especially on topics related to wellbeing at work, flexibility, the work-life interface, maternity/paternity, mental health, and gender in the workplace. 

Research outputs

My areas of research interest are broadly around the work-life interface and wellbeing at work.  I have published papers focused on solo-living staff; remote working; complex fertility journeys (including fertility treatment; miscarriage and childlessness); perinatal (pregnancy and post-birth) mental health; and gender-pay gaps in academia.

I have published in leading journals in my field, including Work, Employment and Society; Human Resource Management Journal; Gender, Work and Organization, and the International Journal of Human Resource Management

  • Books (authored/edited/special issues)

    Woolnough, H. (2024) Work-Life Inclusion: Broadening Perspectives Across the Life-Course. Emerald Publishing Limited.

  • Chapters in books

    Woolnough, H., Wilkinson, K. (2024) 'Introduction: Exploring the Under-Explored.' Work-Life Inclusion: Broadening Perspectives Across the Life-Course. Emerald Publishing Limited,

    Wilkinson, K., Mumford, C. (2024) 'Navigating Fertility Treatment Alongside Work and Employment: The Work-Fertility Interface.' Work-Life Inclusion: Broadening Perspectives Across the Life-Course. Emerald Publishing Limited,

    Wilkinson, K., Lennie, S.J., Duddin, K. (2024) 'Perinatal Mental Health and Employment: Exploring the Work-Illness Intersection in the Context of UK Policing.' Work-Life Inclusion: Broadening Perspectives Across the Life-Course. Emerald Publishing Limited,

    Wilkinson, K. (2022) 'Wellbeing at work.' Human Resource Management: People and Organisations. Kogan Page,

    Wilkinson, K., Taylor, S. (2022) 'Talent management and workforce planning.' Human Resource Management: People and Organisations. Kogan Page,

    Taylor, S., Wilkinson, K. (2022) 'Employment Law.' Human Resource Management: People and Organizations. Kogan Page,

    Taylor, S., Wilkinson, K. (2012) 'Business Issues and the Contexts of Human Resources.' In Taylor, S., Woodhams, C. (ed.) Studying Human Resource Management. CIPD London UK,

    Wilkinson, K., Taylor, S. (2012) 'Resourcing and Talent Planning.' In Taylor, S., Woodhams, C. (ed.) Managing People and Organisations. London, UK: CIPD,

    Woodhams, C., Perkins, G., Wilkinson, K. (2012) 'Developing the Knowledge and Skill of the HR Professional.' In Taylor, S., Woodhams, C. (ed.) Studying Human Resource Management. London, UK: CIPD,

    Wilkinson, K., Taylor, S. (2012) 'Managing and Co-ordinating the HR Function.' In Taylor, S., Woodhams, C. (ed.) Studying Human Resource Management. London, UK: CIPD,

    Taylor, S., Lucas, R.E. (2012) 'Employment law.' Human resource management in an international context. CIPD,

  • Media

    Wilkinson, K., Mumford, C., Carroll, M. (2023) Fertility is becoming a workplace issue but employer support can create winners and losers.

    Wilkinson, K., Carroll, M. (2021) The Business Case for More Fertility-Related Benefits and Support.

  • Reports

    Wilkinson, K. Work Life Balance and the Next Generation of Business Leaders: Research for an Inspirational Journey. Leeds Social Science Institute.

    Wilkinson, K., Mumford, C., Carroll, M. Complex Fertility Journeys and Employment: How workers navigate fertility challenges, including fertility treatment, alongside work and employment, and what employers can do to help.. Manchester Metropolitan University.

    Wilkinson, K., Atkinson, C. (2023) Northern Care Alliance Well Women Strategy: Research into practice on women’s health in the workplace.

    Wilkinson, K. (2013) Work-Life Balance For Solo-Living Managers and Professionals. University of Leeds.

  • Journal articles

    Wilkinson, K., Mumford, C., Carroll, M. (2023) 'Assisted Reproductive Technologies and work, employment and society: extending the debate on organisational involvement in/responsibilities around fertility and reproduction.' Work, Employment and Society,

    Mumford, C., Wilkinson, K., Carroll, M. (2022) ''Potential parenthood’ and identity threats: navigating complex fertility journeys alongside work and employment.' Gender, Work and Organization, 30(3) pp. 982-998.

    Wilkinson, K., Collins, A.M., Antoniadou, M. (2022) 'Family status and changing demands/resources: the overlooked experience of solo-living employees transitioning to homeworking during the Covid-19 pandemic.' International Journal of Human Resource Management,

    Wilkinson, K., Rouse, J. (2022) 'Solo-living and childless professional women: navigating the 'balanced mother ideal' over the fertile years.' Gender, Work and Organization, 30(1) pp. 68-85.

    Woodhams, C., Trojanowki, G., Wilkinson, K. (2022) 'Merit sticks to men : gender pay gaps and (In)equality at UK Russell Group Universities.' Sex Roles: a journal of research, 86(9-10) pp. 544-558.

    Wilkinson, K. (2022) 'Maternal (perinatal) mental health and employment: an agenda for research and practice.' Human Resource Management Journal, 33(2) pp. 346-361.

    Wilkinson, K., Tomlinson, J., Gardiner, J. (2018) 'The perceived fairness of work-life balance policies: a UK case study of solo-living managers and professionals without children.' Human Resource Management Journal, 28(2) pp. 325-339.

    Wilkinson, K., Tomlinson, K., Gardiner, J. (2017) 'Exploring the Work-Life Challenges Faced by Managers and Professionals Who Live Alone.' Work, Employment and Society, 31(4) pp. 640-656.

    Macpherson, A., Homan, G., Wilkinson, K. (2005) 'The implementation and use of e‐learning in the corporate university.' Journal of Workplace Learning, 17(1/2) pp. 33-48.

  • Conference papers

    Wilkinson, K., Lennie, S.J., Duddin, K. (2022) 'Perinatal mental health and UK police life.' In Gender, Work and Organization. South Africa, 22/6/2023 -

    Wilkinson, K., Atkinson, C., Schnitzler, K., Crozier, S. (2022) 'Early insights from a ‘women’s health survey’ in the UK healthcare context: Employee experience and line manager challenges.' In Gender, Work and Organization. South Africa, 22/6/2023 -

    Wilkinson, K., Mumford, C. (2022) 'Complex fertility journeys and employment: Developing 'family-friendly' flexible working policies to protect workers before pregnancy and childbirth.' In Work and Family Researchers Network Conference 2022. New York, 23/6/2022 - 25/6/2022.

    Wilkinson, K., Carroll, M. (2022) 'Balancing fertility treatment and employment: three types of ‘labour’ and resulting work-life conflict.' In Fertility Conference 2022.

    Wilkinson, K., Mumford, C., Carroll, M. (2021) 'Complex fertility journeys: negotiating ‘potential parenthood’ and paid employment.' In European Group for Organization Studies.

    Wilkinson, K., Mumford, C., Carroll, M. (2021) ''Can rhythm intelligence challenge the silence around fertility work?.' In Gender, Work and Organization.

    Woodhams, C., Trojanowski, G., Wilkinson, K. (2018) 'Pay Gaps and Pay Inequality In UK Academia: Understandings Of ‘Merit’.' In British Academy of Management.

    Wilkinson, K., Gardiner, J., Tomlinson, J. (2015) 'The Perceived Fairness of Work-Life Balance Policies: A Case Study of Solo-Living Managers and Professionals.' In 2015 British Academy of Management Conference. University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom, 8/9/2015 - 10/9/2015.

    Wilkinson, K. (2013) 'Exploring the Work-Life Balance Experiences of Solo-Living Managerial and Professional Employees.' In British Academy of Management Annual Conference. Liverpool, UK, 1/9/2013 - 1/9/2013.

    Wilkinson, K. (2013) 'Qualitative Research: Adapting the Biographical Narrative Interpretative Method (BNIM) For Research on Managers and Professionals.' In Doctoral Seminar Series. Leeds University Business School, Leeds, UK, 1/3/2013 - 1/3/2013.

    Wilkinson, K. (2012) 'British Academy of Management Doctoral Symposium.' In British Academy of Management. Cardiff, Wales, 10/9/2012 - 11/9/2012.

    Wilkinson, K. (2012) 'Researching Work Life Balance Using an Adapted Biographical-Narrative Interpretive Method.' In Northern Advanced Research and Training Institute Doctoral Symposium. Northern Advanced Research and Training Institute, 1/7/2012 - 1/7/2012.

    Wilkinson, K. (2012) 'Young, Free and Solo-Living? Work Life Orientations For Young Professional and Managerial Staff Who Live Alone.' In Leeds University Business School Doctoral Conference. Leeds University Business School, Leeds, UK, 1/6/2012 - 1/6/2012.

    Wilkinson, K. (2012) 'Leeds Social Science Institute Doctoral Seminar Series.' In Leeds Social Science Institute Doctoral Seminar Series. Leeds Social Science Institute, Leeds, UK, 1/5/2012 - 1/5/2012.

    Wilkinson, K. (2012) 'Young Free and Solo-Living? Work Life Orientations For Young Professional and Managerial Staff Who Live Alone.' In CERIC Doctoral Conference. CERIC, 1/5/2012 - 1/5/2012.

    Wilkinson, K. (2011) 'What About Me? Work-Life Balance for the Solo-Living Employee.' In Leeds University Postgraduate Research Conference. Leeds University, Leeds, UK, 1/12/2011 - 1/12/2011.

    Wilkinson, K. (2011) 'Work-Life Balance for the Solo-Living Employee: A Question of Structure and Agency.' In Leeds University Business School Annual Doctoral Conference. Leeds University, Leeds, UK, 1/6/2011 - 1/6/2011.

Press and media

Media appearances or involvement