Workplace Discrimination: Types, Impact, and Strategies to Reduce

Research Project
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Executive Summary
The present research is based on workplace discrimination which is one of the most
crucial and fastest growing negative aspect in the business organisation. There are various
challenges and issues arise due to workplace discrimination which highly affects the overall
performance and profitability of the company in an adverse manner. In addition to this, it has
also been said that there are various practices and strategies with the help of which they can
easily reduce the negative impact of workplace discrimination from the business entity.
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Contents
TITLE: Workplace discrimination.................................................................................................4
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
Research Aim.........................................................................................................................4
Research objectives................................................................................................................4
Research Questions................................................................................................................4
Rational of the research..........................................................................................................5
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................5
Concept of workplace related discrimination and its associated issues for employees.........5
Different well defined policies adopted by TESCO for protecting employees from
discrimination.........................................................................................................................7
Explain about research methods and secondary investigation...............................................7
Conduct primary & secondary research along with considering cost, assess as well as ethical
issues.....................................................................................................................................11
Apply appropriate tool to research findings.........................................................................11
Reflection.......................................................................................................................................22
Recommendations..........................................................................................................................23
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................25
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TITLE: Workplace discrimination.
INTRODUCTION
Workplace discrimination is defined as a form of employment discrimination that is based
on gender, race, religion, age, physical and mental disability and many more. One of the solution
that is determine to decline level of workplace discrimination is implementing equality and
cultural diversity effectively. It is important for an organisation to provide equal opportunities to
employees so that there is no conflicts arise at workplace. Along with this, it help in increasing
productivity and decline the turnover rate of organisation effectively. Workplace discrimination
is consider as a major issue that take place due to cultural difference and different perception of
employees.
For the present research, TESCO is taken into consideration. The company was established
in year 1919 and its head office is located in United Kingdom. TESCO offer quality grocery and
home essentials in market at affordable price and is the reason of its success in market. It offer
product in more than 12 countries, which shows TESCO has high market share. TESCO hire
people from different culture so that it can easily leverage diversity and enhance performance in
an effective manner. It is identified that at present company is facing issues because of unbiased
activities that is arise at workplace and has direct impact on the overall performance and growth
of company. For this, the higher authorities have conducted research on the presented topic.
Rational of the research
Behind every research there is some purpose to conduct it which can be personal and
professional. In reference to the present investigation which is conducted on the topic of
workplace discrimination is going to be conducted to increase both personal and professional
knowledge. The main aim behind selecting this topic is the personal interest of researcher as
workplace discrimination and equality & diversity are the most emerging topic in today’s
corporate world. In addition to this, with the assistance of conducting the whole investigation
researcher will be able to enhance their communication, research, analytical and other skills
which will assist in performing all the functions related to research in an effective manner.
The objectives, research aim and research question is given below:
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Research Aim
“To investigate about the types of discrimination and its influence over employees of
TESCO” A study on Tesco.
Research objectives
 To analyse the concept of workplace related discrimination and its associated issues for
employees.
 To asses several types of discrimination encountered by the company’s employees.
 To determine different well defined policies adopted by TESCO for protecting employees
from discrimination.
Research Questions
 It is discrimination a common issue for Tesco’s employees?
 Which are the types of discrimination most often encountered by the company’s
employees?
 Has Tesco well defined policies to protect or avoid employees from discrimination?
Importance of the study
The current investigation will assist in providing detailed information and knowledge about
the topic workplace discrimination along with its significance to the business entities related to
retail sector so that they can maintain their significance at the competitive marketplace for a long
duration of time frame. In addition to this, the study provides ample number of solutions related
to the issues faced by employees with workplace discrimination. This will leads towards the
enhancement of goodwill and brand image of the business organisation at the competitive
marketplace.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Concept of workplace related discrimination and its associated issues for employees
On the basis of views expressed by Kirton and Greene, (2015), it has been identified that
discrimination arise at the workplace influences the relationship along with the efficiency of staff
members. Discrimination might be arise at workplace on the basis of colour, age, caste,
parenthood, gender, nationality, genetic information, race, sexual orientation, family background,
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religion and many more. It is said that usually workplace discrimination arise where a person
discriminated at the organization and does not get equal opportunities. This as a result influences
the overall performance and efficiency of staff members in a negative manner as they feel less
motivated. This is considered as the most prominent issue usually faced by employees at their
workplace and leads towards creating disputes and conflicts between workers directly affects the
overall business growth in a negative manner.
According to the viewpoint of Bronwyn Timmons, (2017), the main issues that have been
faced by TESCO due to workplace discrimination are lower employee retention, high employee
turnover, and delay in the accomplishment of organisational goals and objectives, decline in
employees’ productivity, decline in sales performance as well as profitability. These issues leads
towards the unethical business practices conducted by business organisations reduces the brand
image and goodwill of the company in a negative manner.
On the basis of view point of Peralwilson, (2018)Along with this, it has also been said that
workforce of such organisation prefer to switch the company and adopt those companies who
follow strong anti discrimination policies which will prevent them from conducting unethical
activities. This will ensure that the management of the company treats every employee in an
equal and fair manner, thereby not giving preferential behaviour to any individual working
within the confines of the entity.
According to the viewpoint of M. Nir, (2018), It has been analysed that workplace
discrimination take place when higher authorities, employers or managers discriminate against
staff members that is associated with promotions, firing providing benefits, hiring and so on. In
addition to this, it is analysed that it has direct negative influence on performance as well as
efficiency of employees. Moreover, it also decline the overall brand image of company at
marketplace.
As per the viewpoint of S. Bhrratcharya, (2020) It has also been said that issues related to
workplace discrimination might affect the business operations and functions in a negative
manner. Therefore, it is very essential for the management team to reduce issues related to
workplace discrimination. These issues might affect profitability of the company, influence
goodwill of the business entity in an adverse manner and increase employee turnover ratio which
directly impacts the organisational goals and objectives of the company. Apart from this it has
also been analysed that the main issue related to discrimination is that the stress level of
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employees increases which affect their mental as well as physical health issues and problems.
Furthermore, it has been examined that these issues leads towards depression, anxiety, blood
pressure, obesity and many more. All these affect the performance of employees which as a
result influence target of the organization like TESCO.
Types of discrimination which is most often encountered by the company’s employees
According to the viewpoint given by Sue and et. al., (2019), there have been lots of issues
which are encountered by TESCO’s employees at workplace which are developed due to
workplace discrimination. Discrimination might arise at workplace due to various reason such as
on the basis of gender, age, colour, race and many more. It has been identified that there are
different types of discrimination arise at the workplace which highly influence the business
functions of the company in an adverse way. These are the sort of discrimination faced by
employees within the organization which are salary based discrimination, age discrimination,
gender discrimination, sex discrimination and many more.
On the basis of view point of Brittany Fuhs, (2018) The main types of discrimination that
have been faced by TESCO’s employees at workplace are Paying equally-qualified employees
in the same position different salaries, Denying or disrupting the use of company facilities,
Denying certain employees compensation or benefits, Discrimination when issuing promotions
or lay-offs, Stating or suggesting preferred candidates in a job advertisement, Discriminating
when assigning disability leave, maternity leave, or retirement options etc. All these
discrimination types arise at workplace and creates disputes, conflict and negative impact on the
efficiency of employees along with the performance of the company.
As per the view point of Nicole. K. Webb, (2017) It has also been identified that these
discrimination arise at workplace and create negative influence at the business environment
which affects the overall performance of employees and organization. Types of discrimination
affect the overall performance and goodwill of the business entity in an adverse way. This as a
result influence image of the organization and affects the mind-sets of users who are associated
with the company. For a business entity such as TESCO, it is essential to reduce workplace
discrimination and take effective measures so that they can eliminate negative impact of
discrimination. It has been identified that there are ample number of employees who faces such
adverse situation at the workplace which impacted their mind set and motivation level which as a
result affect the whole functionality and operation of the business entity.
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Different well defined policies adopted by TESCO for protecting employees from
discrimination
According to the view point of Michael, (2017), Workplace discrimination is one of the
major issue that occur conflicts and decline level of productivity of organisation. It is important
for an organisation to develop and implement effective strategies so that level of workplace
discrimination is declined. There are various strategies and policies is adopted by companies in
order to reduce workplace discrimination. One of this is providing equal opportunity to staff
members so that they did not feel unbiased at workplace. Another strategy is providing training
session to employees and make them aware about workplace issues. In addition to this, allow
staff members to participate in decision making is also consider as a strategy that help in
declining workplace discrimination. It will help company to motivate employees and decline the
absenteeism and turnover rate of employees. Moreover, it also enhance productivity of staff
members and retain them for ,longer time period in an effective manner. TESCO can develop
strict policies associated with penalties as it help in declining discriminatory activities at
workplace in a proper manner. It help company to effectively implement strategies and policies
in order to reduce workplace discrimination.
Summary of Literature review
By performing the literature review, it is determined that workplace discrimination has
negative influence on the overall performance of an organisation. In addition to this, there are
various issues faced by company due to workplace discrimination such as increase in
absenteeism rate, decline in performance, decrease of market reputation and so on. In order to
deal with such strategies, the company make use of effective strategies such as providing equal
opportunity to men and women, change in policies, providing of training and many more. One of
the limitation associated with this is lack of time as collecting such data is a time consuming
process. In addition to this, it is identified that a person require a good research skills and
technological in order to gain proper data that leads to draw of valid and reliable results as well.
Explain about research methods and secondary investigation
Research Methodology
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