Equality and Diversity in the Workplace

This report discusses the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace, specifically focusing on the reduction of the gender pay gap at Rowlinson Knitwear. It covers project planning, conduction of primary and secondary research, presentation of findings, and reflective practice. The findings include employee awareness of equality and diversity, the main issues faced, the impact of gender pay gap on performance, strategies to overcome the issue, and the benefits of equality and diversity. Recommendations are provided for the company to enhance equality and diversity practices.

Equality and Diversity

Table of Contents
INTRODUTION..............................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
STEP 1- Project Planning................................................................................................................3
TITLE..............................................................................................................................................3
Research aim:.........................................................................................................................3
Research objectives................................................................................................................4
Research Questions................................................................................................................4
Scope......................................................................................................................................4
Initiation, planning and execution..........................................................................................4
WBS and Gantt chart..............................................................................................................5
STEP 2- Conduction of Primary and Secondary research...............................................................6
Research of two other organisations equality and diversity measures...................................6
Questionnaire..........................................................................................................................6
STEP 3- Presentation of Findings....................................................................................................7
Tools used to carry research...................................................................................................7
Analysis of findings................................................................................................................7
Recommendations................................................................................................................12
STEP 4- Reflective Practice...........................................................................................................12
Performance review..............................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUTION
Equality and diversity both are important concept from the point of view of an
organisation (Michie, 2019). Equality depicts the presence of common criterion for the treatment
of employees at workplace. Diversity stands out as presence of diversified nature of employees
belongs from different culture, norms and values. The benefits of equality will be ascertained in
the form of trust and high employee engagement. On the other hand, diversity provides the
opportunity for completion of work with more innovative and creative manner. From the
perspective of overall organisation, both the concept contributes in attainment of competitive
position in market through bringing improvement in productivity and working culture. In case,
management of an organisation is not able to maintain the aspect of equality and diversity then
resultants into failure in market along with low employee performance and productivity of
employees. The organisation considered under this report is Rowlinson Knitwear. The objective
of this report is to maintain equality and diversity at workplace.
The aspects covered in report includes Project planning where project management plan
is formulated, primary and secondary research is conducted, findings are presented and in last
reflect is provided upon the performance and results.
MAIN BODY
STEP 1- Project Planning
TITLE
“Equality and diversity in the workplace”.

Research aim:
“To investigate the role of equality and diversity in reduction of gender pay gap issue at
workplace”. Rowlinson Knitwear.
Research objectives
 To explore about the role of equality and diversity in workplace.
 To identify the importance of equality and diversity in reducing the issue of gender pay
gap.
 To determine the strategies by which company can easily overcome gender pay gap issue.
Research Questions
 Explain about the role of equality and diversity in workplace?
 How equality and diversity helps Rowlinson Knitwear in reduction of gender pay gap
issue?
 What are the several strategies that would be used by Rowlinson Knitwear for
overcoming gender pay gap issue?
Scope
This research project will help in analysing and evaluating the different factors that affect
performance and productivity of organisation. equality and diversity is one of the crucial part of
organisation as it helps in conducting business task in effective manner (Hirst and Thompson,
2019). The scope of this research is to identify and evaluate the impact on equality and diversity
at workplace. This will support in development of better and effective strategy for growth of
business. Equality and diversity at work place will lead to boost morale of employees as well as
encourage them to performance business activities in accurate manner.
Initiation, planning and execution
Project planning includes set of steps that is crucial for successful completion of a project. There
are three major phases of project such as initiation, planning and execution. All of these steps
needs to be performed in effective and efficient manner. These phases support in managing as
well as controlling the activities of project in correct and accurate manner. Initiation, planning
and execution of project plan is mention below.
Initiation – This is the first step as in this project manager needs to identify the issues and
problem related to project. In this steps needs of respective organisation, different problem,

opportunity for organisation (Jenkins, 2018). Rowlinson Knitwear company management is
facing issue in equality and diversity. This lead to have impact on performance of employees as
well as affect productivity of overall organisation. In initiation steps of project planning scope of
equality and diversity at workplace is clearly identified. This is considered as the starting of the
project and it is important to analyse various factors that are related to management of project.
Planning – Once the project is approved, second step is to plan the different activities of the
project. In this organisation needs to identify and analyse different ways or methods that will
support in effective and efficient planning of the research. In initiation stage respective company
needs to full fill different documentation process in order to start the project plan. While
planning the project short team and long term goals or objective of plan is properly analysed for
effective functioning of organisational project.
Execution - This is the last steps of project plan and in this respective company is focusing of
implementation of planning in required manner (Timothy, 2019). This is one very critical stage
as in this plan needs to be implemented in correct and accurate manner. Execution of project plan
refers as the actual implementation of project plan. In this respective company is focusing on
meeting with the set goals and objectives.
WBS and Gantt chart
Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart are effective tool and techniques that support
organisation to effectively implement activities of project plan. Work breakdown structure and
Gantt chart is mention below in detail.
Work breakdown structure – This can be define as the hierarchical structure that is deliverable
oriented. It is important to analyse and evaluates the timescale of different project activities so
that these can be conducted with in correct time frame. Work breakdown structure is represented
in the form of tree structure that helps in simplifying large and complex task into simpler
manner.
Gantt chart – This is an effective tool that is developed for scheduling project activities along
with the time that is required to complete the task. There are different activities that is required
for project manager to timely complete. Gantt chart helps in tracking as well as scheduling
activities of project in effective and accurate manner.

STEP 2- Conduction of Primary and Secondary research
Research of two other organisations equality and diversity measures
There are various equality and diversity measures that support organisation to conducted
equality and cultural diversity in effective manner. Equal pay act as well as anti discrimination
act are the measures that support in enhancing equality and diversity in organisation.
Questionnaire
Q1) Are you aware about the role of equality and diversity in workplace?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) According to you, what is the main issue of equality and diversity in workplace of
Rowlinson Knitwear?
a) Gender pay gap
b) Sexual harassment
c) Gender divide in leadership
d) Age discrimination
Q3) What is the impact of gender pay gap on performance of employees?
a) Low productivity
b) Less job satisfaction
c) Lack of moral
Q4) As per your view, what are the several strategies that would be used by Rowlinson
Knitwear for overcoming gender pay gap issue?
a) Encourage flexible and part-time working
b) Carry out a pay audit
c) Provide equal pay
Q5) What are the benefits of equality and diversity for Rowlinson Knitwear?
a) Promotes innovation
b) Improves brand reputation
c) Opens up new talent
Q6) Provide any suggestions to the Rowlinson Knitwear about how to promote equality and
diversity at workplace.

STEP 3- Presentation of Findings
Tools used to carry research
There are different tools and techniques that could be used by researcher to carry activities of
investigation in accurate manner. It is very important for researcher to collect and gather right
and appropriate data that is supportive in enhancing business activities in better and effective
way. The major ways through which investigator can collect and allocate data are questioners
and interview method. Both of these two are effective tool that will support in collecting and
gathering information about the topic from respondents. In interview method, interviewer collect
data by asking questions form interviewee. This methods helps in analyse in depth information
and detail about the topic (Morgan, 2017). In questionnaire method, set of questions are ask to
number of respondents in order to analyse the data collect through respondents. In this research
project questionnaire method is used in order to collect information of Rowlinson Knitwear
company.
Analysis of findings
50 employees of Rowlinson Knitwear
Q1) Are you aware about the role of equality and diversity in workplace? Frequency
a) Yes 40
b) No 10

a) Yes b) No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
40
10
Frequency
Interpretation: It is interpreted from the above chart that out of total number of 50
employees within an organisation, 40 have the opinion that they knew about the concept of
equality and diversity. Whereas, 10 does not know about the aspects which are covered under
this concept.
Q2) According to you, what is the main issue of equality and diversity in the
workplace of Rowlinson Knitwear?
Frequency
a) Gender pay gap 16
b) Sexual harassment 8
c) Gender divide in leadership 6
d) Age discrimination 10

a) Gender pay gap
b) Sexual harassment
c) Gender divide in leadership
d) Age discrimination
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
16
8
6
10
Frequency
Interpretation: It is determined from the above chart that 16 employees are in support of
the point that gender pay gap exists in the organisation and breaks the provision of equality and
diversity. 8 employees have views that sexual harassment is the reason and another 6 agreed
upon the aspect of gender divide in leadership. Remaining 10 employees gives the vote that issue
arouse due to age discrimination.
Q3) What is the impact of gender pay gap on performance employees? Frequency
a) Low productivity 16
b) Less job satisfaction 14
c) Lack of moral 10

a) Low productivity b) Less job satisfaction c) Lack of moral
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
16
14
10
Frequency
Interpretation: It is ascertained from the above graph that 16 employees said gender pay
gap effects the productivity most. 14 employees in support that this leads to job dissatisfaction
and remaining 10 have opinion that moral of employees is reduced towards working.
Q4) As per your view, what are the several strategies that would be used by
Rowlinson Knitwear for overcoming gender pay gap issue?
Frequency
a) Encourage flexible and part-time working 14
b) Carry out a pay audit 16
c) Provide equal pay 10

a) Encourage flexible and part-time working
b) Carry out a pay audit
c) Provide equal pay
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16 14
16
10
Frequency
Interpretation: It is determined from the above graph that best way to remove the issue
of gender pay gap will be pay audit because 16 employees are in support out of 50. 14 are in
support of flexible and part time working and remaining 10 said equal pay will help to overcome.
Q5) What are the benefits of equality and diversity for Rowlinson Knitwear? Frequency
a) Promotes innovation 15
b) Improves brand reputation 10
c) Opens up new talent 15

a) Promotes innovation
b) Improves brand reputation
c) Opens up new talent
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16 15
10
15
Frequency
Interpretation: It is determined from the above graph that out of 50 employees, 15
support the benefit of innovation and another 15 support creation of new talent due to existence
of equality and diversity. Remaining 10 said it help in improving brand reputation.
Recommendations
As per the above research project some recommendation for the manager of Rowlinson
Knitwear company is identifies. These recommendation will helps this company to conduct
business task and activities in better and effective manner. It is very important for this company
to enhance equality and diversity activities with in workplace as this will support employees to
enhance their work performance. Rowlinson Knitwear company needs to focus on creation and
development of new strategies that lead to enhance cultural diversity in organisation. there are
different rules and regulation that is developed by government. It is suggested to respective
organisation to follow all rules and legislation for smooth functioning of organisation.
STEP 4- Reflective Practice
Performance review
While conducting this research project I have analysed that equality and diversity play
crucial role in organisation. This project is very helpful in enhancing my skills and capabilities to

perform task and activities in better manner. This report has helped me in enhancing my
knowledge regarding the concept of quality and diversity.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above report that equality and diversity both are important
aspects from the point of attaining success by an organisation in market. Diversity provides an
opportunity to easily grab the market opportunities through the usage of skills and abilities of
employees that belong from different culture. Equality help in creation of positive working
culture where all work with each other. This also aid in attainment of higher employee
engagement and trust of employees over the policies of employer. The approaches that help an
organisation in future for removal of the negative impact issues related to equality and diversity
will be adherence of the provisions of equality act 2010 along with all laws covered under
employment law. These definitely will help an organisation in attainment of success.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Michie, J. ed., 2019. The handbook of globalisation. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Hirst, P. and Thompson, G., 2019. The future of globalisation. In The Handbook of
Globalisation, Third Edition. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Robertson, S., 2017. A class act: Changing teachers work, the state, and globalisation.
Routledge.
Jenkins, R., 2018. Globalisation, trade liberalisation and industrial pollution in Latin America.
In Industry and Environment in Latin America (pp. 13-42). Routledge.
Malindi, M.M., 2018. The impact of globalisation on African languages and cultures: a study of
selected discourses (Doctoral dissertation, North-West University (South Africa), Vaal
Triangle Campus).
Timothy, D.J., 2019. Introduction to the Handbook of Globalisation and Tourism. In Handbook
of Globalisation and Tourism. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Morgan, W.J., 2017. Local knowledge and globalisation: Are they compatible?. In Globalisation,
education and culture shock (pp. 35-47). Routledge.