Impact of Equality and Diversity Policies on Employee's Day to Day Activities at Mark and Spencer

This study evaluates the impact of equality and diversity policies and procedures on the day to day activities of employees at Mark and Spencer. It examines the implementation of these policies, challenges faced, and recommendations for successful implementation. The research methodology includes primary and secondary data collection, and data analysis using thematic analysis. The findings highlight the procedures implemented at M&S to ensure equality and diversity, such as equal opportunities, varied workforce, and no discrimination in activities.

Managing a Successful
Business Project

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................3
P1. Aim and Objectives...............................................................................................................3
Aim..................................................................................................................................................3
Objectives........................................................................................................................................4
Research Questions..........................................................................................................................4
P2. Project Management Plan......................................................................................................4
Literature Review............................................................................................................................5
P3.WBS and Gantt Chart.............................................................................................................6
LO2..................................................................................................................................................8
P4. Research Methodology..........................................................................................................8
LO 3...............................................................................................................................................10
P5.Data Analysis & Findings....................................................................................................10
P6. Recommendations...............................................................................................................18
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................19
P7.Reflection.............................................................................................................................19
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................20
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................21

Topic
To evaluate impact of equality and diversity polices and procedure on employee's day to
day activity. A study on Mark and Spencer (M&S).
INTRODUCTION
Equality and diversity plays a significant role in growth of the organization, it encourages
and promote employees for achieving higher goal for the fir with friendly atmosphere in firm.
Mark and Spencer is one the rising retail industry in United Kingdom and it focuses on growth of
the company as well as of workforce by implementation of equality and diversity practices in the
business and regular check it for effectiveness. It increases efficiency, loyalty, quality and
productivity of the employee's and hence contribute in growth of the firm (Greene, 2019). It also
improves good-will of the company in front of stake holders. Government also introduce various
laws which Mark and Spencer has to follow in running the business such as employment act,
anti-discrimination policy etc. Study will highlight Mark and Spencer policy and procedure
related to equality and diversity within the company and its impact on employee's day to day
activities. In the study, project plan is preparing and questionnaire is given to respondent for
evaluation of this practices and policy. In the end reflection shows scholar's learning.
LO 1
P1. Aim and Objectives
Rationale
Research focus on equality and diversity policies and procedure impact on daily activities
of workforce of Mark and Spencer and to better understand the current situation of employees
related to workplace and ways to handle it or improve it. From the last 20 years, workers become
one of the important resources to achieve higher goal by organization and hence successful
policy and procedure only option for accomplishing it. This study will help to understand talent

management and retention of the workers using policy related to equality and diversity. Research
emphasizes on diversity and equality practices impact on workforce routine activities.
Aim
To analyse the impact of equality and diversity policies and procedure on day to day activities of
the employees in Mark and Spencer.
Objectives
 To understand the concept of equality and diversity in the organization.
 To study impact of equality and diversity policies and procedures on routine task of the
workforce of Mark and Spencer.
 To evaluate challenges faced by Mark and Spencer in implementation of equality and
diversity policies and procedures in the organization.
 To recommend changes in Equality and diversity practices and procedures for its
successful implementation in M&S.
Research Questions
1. What is the concept behind equality and diversity in the company?
2. How does impact of equality and diversity policies and procedures impacting on day to
day activities of the employee's in Mark and Spencer?
3. What types of challenges faced by Mark and Spencer in implementation of equality and
diversity policy and procedures?
4. How M&S can effectively implement equality and diversity policy and procedures in the
firm?
P2. Project Management Plan
Scope: Equality & Diversity management within the workplace is very essential research topic,
because nowadays it become highly discussed topic within UK’s business environment. The
main reason behind this factor that, the equality and diversity support businesses for developing
positive working place and also contributes in gaining huge competitive advantage.
Resources: Internet, books& journals, social media and newspaper articles etc. are very essential
resources which has used here for collecting different data to complete the research (Barak,

2016). All-mentioned resources have adopted here for collecting logical and authentic
information about the management of equality and diversity within M&S venture.
Communication: The open communication method has been used for the existing project of
research which generally promotes individuals for interacting with each other in proper way
regarding their various challenges and solves them effectively.
Quality: There are some effective methods of data collection has used in this report for gathering
information on the equality and diversity management which has supported in maintaining
quality of the existing research project.
Cost: Research project has been successfully completed by using the amount of €5200.
Area of investment Amount
Conveyance cost € 1350
Assistance salary € 1500
Internet cost € 650
Consultancy fees € 500
Books & Journals cost € 1200
Total €5200
Time: Around 11 weeks of time period was required for covering various activities of this
research report to complete it properly.
Risk: Some risks has faced while completing this project of research. For example; time
limitations and lack of resources etc. (Brewster, Mayrhofer and Farndale, 2018). was created
challenges but there was successfully overcome through adopting optimum resources that was
automatically saved lots of precious time in different activities of research project.
Literature Review
As per the view of Strong and Raine (2019), equality and diversity increase quality,
efficiency and productivity of the employees and hence directly support growth of the firm. It
also helps in creation of skilled and talented workforce. According to author, there are multiple
acts and policies started by government to promote this kind of practices in all form industry for
example British parliament passed Equality Act 2010, which support rights of all workers within
the companies. This kind of laws protect employee's in the organization and on the other hand

make better work atmosphere in the organization as all are getting equal opportunities. It also
helps in maintaining retention of the workers which contribute in gaining competitive advantage.
On the contrary Ashe and Nazroo (2017), there are multiple challenges faced by the
industry in implementation of equality and diversity policies and procedure for example cultural
differences and ideology become barrier in such kind of practices. Implementation of rules and
regulation are theoretical easy but effectiveness in practical increase time and cost of the firm for
example communication barrier decrease interaction of the employees for that training and
development takes time and cost. Many of the workers resist such changes for example most of
the society in the world is male domination and giving equally opportunities to female become
difficult for the organization. Procedures of such rules and regulation in work culture become
cost & time effective for the firm.
P3.WBS and Gantt Chart
WBS (Work Breakdown Structure)
In this task is break to create work more productive and easy, Work Breakdown
structure(WBS) is one of effective tool and utilize techniques of breaking the work in project
management. It integrates all components of study such as scope, cost and schedule baselines
which shows that project plans are in alignment. In this WBS divided intro, Research
Methodology, Data collection, Data analysis and conclusion& recommendation into smaller
parts.
Gantt Chart

Gantt chart is use by scholar and others for planning and scheduling project. It explains
time in which project will be probably complete, resources require in this and plan that has to
proceed for project in order to achieve goals. It gives visual view of task scheduling and
managing. It includes start date of the project, types of project task, person working on task, start
and end time of task, accomplishing time of task, tasks group together, overlap and connect with
each other and the complete date of project.

Timeline
Activity
in Weeks
1st Week 2nd Week 3rd Week 4th Week 5th week 6th week
Aim
Project Management
Plan
Research Methodology
Data collection
Data Analysis
Finding
Reflection
Submission

LO2
P4. Research Methodology
Research methodology refer to as a complete plan or process of different task that will be
accomplished in research such as identify, select, process, and analyse information related to area
of study.
Research Philosophy:
It defines as a belief of scholar for collection, analyse and use data for the search. There
are two types of research philosophy, namely interpretivism and positivism. In interpretivism
social world is considered for the study while in positivism facts and observation play important
role in research. Scholar has taken interpretivism philosophy for the research as his area of study
is more specific to humans and also it will give him chance to personally know opinion of
employees of Mark and Spencer which will contribute in understanding of equality and
diversity's scope in the organization,
Research Approach:
Research approach refer to as a process that is followed by scholar in the investigation.
Inductive and deductive are two types of research approach. Inductive research emphasizes on
new theory generation in the study and it is generally connected with quality research. Deductive
research focused on analysing a theory which are already created by someone in the past and it
starts with hypothesis. Scholar has taken inductive approach for the research. Inductive will help
research in generation of new theory related to Equality and diversity's policies and procedure in
Mark and Spencer which increase accuracy of the results.
Data Collection:
It defines as a process in which data is gathered from respondent. Data collection is
divided into two methods, namely Primary and Secondary (Sarvaiya and Eweje, 2016). Primary
data is directly collected from respondent by taking interviews, questionnaire etc and as the data
is fresh which decrease chances of inaccuracy while secondary data is obtained from Books and
journals. Scholar has taken primary and secondary both for collection of information as both
necessary for strong research on the topic. For the study both the data is important as fresh data
and old data comparison will give better understanding of the research topic.
Sampling:

Sampling can be defined as selection of participant for the particular research. Sampling
can be divided into two types namely, Simple random sampling and purposive. Simple random
sampling focuses on selection of any participant from the group while purposive is focused on
particular selection from the group for example selection of managers from the organization for
the interviews (Cross and Payne, 2018). Scholar has taken simple random sampling as it increase
chances of non biased results and in this scholar has taken sample size of 30 employees' of the
Mark and Spencer.
Data collection:
Data analysis refer to study of collected data and its representation on graph, bar etc. and
also using software (Odor, 2018). It is divided into two types, namely thematic and SPSS.
Thematic emphasizes on representation of data on graph, bar etc. for analysing the information
while SPSS focus on numerical representation and evaluation of information. Scholar has taken
Thematic analysis as it gives better representation of information on graph and chart and hence
able to understand the information easily which will benefits research in easily analyse data of
M&S.
Ethical Consideration:
It refers as the process in which protection and safety of information and respondent is
considered during research (Purwanto, Asbari and Santoso, 2019). Scholar has given consent
form to respondent which describe privacy and security of the research.
Research Limitation:
The area of study is vast still scholar is able to gather all information and complete in
depth study . Time for the research is very limited still research able to analyse and submit report
on time with proper time management.
LO 3
P5.Data Analysis & Findings
The analysis of data is done to evaluate the data collected by various sources like primary
and secondary. This process deals in cleansing, transfiguring and processing the data in order to
discover the useful information which can be helped in making certain decisions (Ashe and
Nazroo, 2017).
The researcher analysed the data collected through primary source like Questionnaires from the
employees of M&S and the secondary data by the literature review which was done by going

through already published articles by various scholarly articles. It helped the scholar in gaining a
deep insight regarding the equality and diversity policies implemented at M&S and its impact on
the day to day activities of its employees.
Theme 1: M&S implements the policies of equality and diversity at its workplace.
Does your company implement the equality and diversity policies
at the workplace ?
Respondents
Yes 15
No 5
Total 30
Interpretation: The above pictorial representation clearly identifies that M&S implements the
policies related to equality and diversity as 75% of the total respondents are aware of the same
and only 25% of the respondents disagreed with the fact that the company implements such
policies and procedures.
Most of the companies in retail sector strives to make its workforce diverse so that its employees
get an amazing opportunity to enhance their skills and promotes innovation (Otaye-Ebede,
75%
25%
Implementation of Equality & Diversity Policies at
M&S
Yes
No

2018). It also helps the companies to open up to new markets which improves the reputation of
the brand along with opening up new talents by hiring the best quality employees (Bain, 2017).
Therefore, the researcher analysed the policies which are introduced at M&S regarding the
equality and diversity in order to benefit the day to day activities of the employees.
Theme 2: Various procedures are implemented ensuring the equality and diversity at M&S.
What kind of procedures regarding the equality and diversity are
implemented at M&S ?
Respondents
Equal Opportunities to all employees 2
Varied Workforce 5
No discrimination in all the activities 5
All the above 18
Total 30
Interpretation: The above graphical representation evaluated that M&S introduces various
procedures to make its workforce and workplace diversified and to facilitate the employees with
Equal Opportunities to all employees
Varied Workforce
No discrimination in all the activities
All the above
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
7%
17%
17%
60%
Procedures implemented at M&S to ensure Equality
and Diversity
Responses

equal opportunities as more than half of the employees believed that the company follows many
policies simultaneously like providing equal opportunities to all the employees irrespective of
their culture which shows that there is no discrimination done with the employees. Equal number
of respondents i.e., 5 out of 30 realized that the company only believes in diversified workforce
no discrimination while only few of them gone with the option that M&S provides equal
opportunities.
The retail firms use various factors in order to introduce equality and diversity at their
workplaces instead of focusing on one. This supports the employees, employers as well as the
organization (Hunt and et.al., 2018). This helped the researcher to know about various policies
used by the companies for making its workforce diversified which can help the employees in
performing their day to day activities by getting equal chances to prove their skills.
Theme 3: The policies of equality and diversity benefit the regular activities of employees.
Do you agree that such policies benefit the day to day activities
of employees ?
Respondents
Strongly Agree 16
Agree 8
Neutral 2
Disagree 4
Strongly Disagree 0
Total 30

Interpretation: It can be clearly interpreted from the above figure that the majority of the
employees feel that the procedures of equality and diversity at M&S is benefiting the employees
rather than creating problems. The researcher came to know about the impact of the same on the
productivity and performance of the employees at M&S. Very few of them considered such
policies to be a problem as they might not face the benefits because of the lack of certain skills in
them.
In general also, the policies of diversity and equality creates more positive working relationships
among the workforce which helps in making more productive teams and enhancing the overall
performance thereby increasing the progress of the companies (Khan and et.al., 2019).
Theme 4: Various barriers exist in M&S which hinders the implementation of equality and
diversity policies.
What can be the challenges faced by M&S in implementing
equality and diversity policies at the workplace ?
Respondents
Communication barriers 8
Resistance to Change 4
Conflicts 8
53%
27%
7%
13%
Benefit the equality and diversity policies on employees'
day to day activities
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

High Cost and Resources 10
Total 30
Interpretation: It can be clearly identified from the above pictorial representation that there are
various challenges faced by M&S in the implementation of equality and diversity policies. 33%
of the total respondents feel that these policies require a large investment of money and resources
while equal number of respondents i.e., 27% each believed that these develop barriers in
interaction which leads to conflicts among the employees and the supervisors at M&S. Also,
some of them feel that the employees resist to the change developed by diversified workforce.
These policies are theoretically easy to understand but are equally difficult to implement (Flynn,
Schröder and Chan, 2017). Various trainings programmes are organized in companies to remove
the communication gaps between the employees which requires high cost and more resources.
Theme 5: All the activities of employees are greatly impacted by the procedures related to
Equality and Diversity.
What are the major activities of employees which are impacted
by such policies and procedures ?
Respondents
Promotions 6
27%
13%
27%
33%
Challenges faced by M&S in implementing the policies
of Equality and Diversity
Communication barriers
Resistance to Change
Conflicts
High Cost and Resources

Payment 4
Recruitment 5
All the above 15
Total 30
Interpretation: It can be analysed from the above graphical representation that the policies of
equality and diversity has a great impact on the employees routine activities. Majority of the
employees believed that not only a single activity is impacted by it but various activities like
payment, promotions and recruitment are impacted by such policies while some of them went
with the individual activities.
The employees in the various big companies get the promotions and payment according to their
performance regardless of their race, gender, culture etc. The candidates are even hired without
noticing their skin colour, race etc. instead they are judged by their talents, skills and personality
(Aulakh and et.al., 2017). This shows that equality and diversity policies are practices in various
activities rather than focusing on one which helps in increasing the brand image as well as
supports the employees in performing all the tasks.
Promotions Payment Recruitment All the above
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
20%
13% 17%
50%
Organizational Activities impacted by Equality and
Diversity Policies
Responses

Theme 6: Various legislations are followed by M&S in order to ensure the effective
implementation of equality and diversity policies which benefit the employees.
Which type of legislations are followed by M&S in implementing
such policies in order to benefit the employees ?
Respondents
Equality Act 10
Human Rights Act 4
Race Relations Act 8
Disability and Sex Determination Act 8
Total 30
Interpretation: The above chart interprets that M&S follows certain legislations in order to
implement the equality and diversity policies. Most of the respondents went with the equality act
as they might be treated equally. Some realized that the Race relations act and the Disability &
33%
13% 27%
27%
Legislations followed by M&S regarding Equality &
Diversity
Equality Act
Human Rights Act
Race Relations Act
Disability and Sex
Determination Act

Sex Determination Act are followed by the company in order to ensure equality and diversity at
the workplace while only few of them went with the option of Human Rights Act.
The equality and diversity is solely based on the laws and legislations which are to be followed
by the companies to ensure the effective implementation of its policies (Obara and Peattie,
2018). Various acts are addressed by the organizations in UK which are approved by the
government of the country which supports the rights of all the employees.
P6. Recommendations
The above study gave the researcher a deep insight about the policies of equality and
diversity implemented in M&S and its impact on employees' day to day activities. It has both
good and bad impacts on the employees, the employers and the company. The companies in
retail industry must develop certain strategies so that its employees can be benefited by equality
and diversity policies rather than hindering their performance (Sarvaiya and Eweje, 2016). The
researcher in order to research about this topic has one through various scholarly articles and
Books & Journals already published by authors in order to get an idea about how the retail firms
in UK follow such policies and impact the employees and also distributed the questionnaire to 30
respondents at M&S who were the employees working in the company to draw significant
conclusions about such policies implemented in the company.
Following recommendations can be given to the company in order to improve its policies of
equality and diversity:
 The company must make its workforce more diversified as it leads to more profitability.
The employees from different cultures helps in targeting a larger area which increases the
customer base as well as the market share. M&S must strive to put most of the equality
policies in place in all the activities of recruitment, work allocation, training, payment
etc.
 The company must not implement such rules which can hurt the religious beliefs and
culture of the employees. For example, if the company has a rule to make the employees
clean-cut but the religion of some employees does not allow them to do so can hurt them
leading to low retention of employees. So, the different cultures must be kept In mind
while making and implementing any regulation.
 M&S must celebrate all the festivals regardless of the religion or culture to make the
employees feel more valued and sense of citizenship and loyalty towards their own nation

can remain alive within them. It must also ensure that no employee disrespect the
language, culture and any other factor of other employees which will lead to stronger
relationships among the employees.
 The conflicts if arise at the workplace must be resolved by taking unbiased decisions
which does not make any employee feel inferior to others and feel equally valued. The
views of both the parties involved in the conflicts must be addressed to make them feel
indiscriminated and the decision taken must be in favour of both rather than one.
 The company must also monitor the policies and procedures which promote equality to
ensure that no employee is treated less favourably than others and must reduce the
unconscious biases which dictate the workplace. If something like this happens, M&S
must strive to change it on an urgent basis by considering all the 9 protected
characteristics i.e., age, gender, disability, religion and many more.
LO 4
P7.Reflection
As I have done the research on the topic “Equality and Diversity” which needs to be
addressed by all the retail firms of UK, I tried to use all the relevant methods in the complete
research which helped me in drawing various significant conclusions. I realized that I am very
time conscious as I have taken the time available to me for every process of the research. This
helped in obtaining optimal results within the available time.
The research methodology chosen by me gave optimal results which made it easy to understand
the views of the employees at M&S. I will implement the same in my future researches also
which will give me more opportunities to implement such methodologies in studying about other
topics.
I realized that I am weak at Data Analysis part as I faced many difficulties while analysing the
data collected by primary (Questionnaire) and secondary sources (Literature Review). Many
issues raised when I tried to link the knowledge gained during the literature review and by going
through the responses of the employees of M&S. So, I will bring improvement in those weaker
areas of mine which will help me to make the justified use of the data collected.
Overall, I tried my best in doing the complete project as I have drawn significant conclusions by
focussing on each and every aspect of the study to achieve the objectives regarding the Equality
and Diversity Policies and its impact on day to day activities of employees. Also, I didn't face

many problems in researching about the topic as compared to my classmates and for that I was
highly praised by my teacher and my HOD as well which motivated me to do better in the next
project.
This project gave me various opportunities which will prove to be much helpful to me in doing
further researches and projects.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded that equality and diversity are important part of the organization and
it contributes in growth of the firm. Mark and Spencer use different policy and procedures
related to equality and diversity which helps in increasing quality, efficiency, loyalty and
productivity of the workforce. Study creates a project plan which use effective methods for rules
and regulation for equality and diversity in the firm. Research Methodology describe process that
has been followed by scholar for the research for example it used interpretivism philosophy for
the study. Data is analysed in thematic which helps in easy understanding of the information.
Overall there are multiple benefits of equality and diversity practices in Mark and Spencer.

REFERENCES
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