Equality and Diversity in the Workplace

Research project

Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title: Equality and Diversity in the workplace
Aim: “ To determine the ways to reduce the workplace discrimination in business environment: A
case study of Marks and Spencer”
Objective:
 To identify the concept of workplace discrimination
 To ascertain the impact of workplace discrimination at Marks an Spencer
 To determine ways to minimize the discrimination at working area.
 To identify different challenges faced by company while implementing methods to reduce
workplace discrimination.
Research Background: Equality plays a crucial role at workplace and having a diverse and
inclusive working area develop an opportunities to sustain the brand image of the company at
global level. Moreover, the current research also describe the importance of having equality and
diversity at workplace and chosen topic is workplace discrimination (Plexico and et.al., 2019).
There are many companies who discriminate people on the basis of caste, race, gender and due to
which it creates direct impact upon their own performance. Further, the entire research is based
upon this topic in which it describe ways through which company minimize workplace
discrimination.
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Rationale:
The reason to choose the specific topic is such that it helps equality and diversity is a wide topic
which helps the researcher to gain knowledge and applied the same in the future as well. That is
why, by study on this, researcher may easily enhance current knowledge and identify ways
through which workplaces discrimination may reduce.
Another reason of choosing this topic is such that University assign this topic for study and that
is why, researcher have to research and collect information.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Theme 1: concept of workplace discrimination
As per the view of Kalev (2019) discrimination in the workplace mainly takes place when the employer
discriminate the employees in decision making process, issues like hiring, firing and promotions.
Therefore, it is illegal or an employer to treat a person unequally on the basis of caste, race, gender and
disability. Further, Stergiou-Kita, Pritlove and Kirsh (2016) stated that discrimination in the workplace
mainly cover the issues related to work mainly and it is also important for the employees to take care all
the policy and practices.
Theme 2: impact of workplace discrimination at Marks an Spencer
According to Rosenblat and et.al., (2017) discrimination practice affect the work environment in
negative way such that discriminatory practices may affect the job satisfaction of all the employees.
As a result, it may also leads to demotivate the employees which directly affect their productivity.
In addition to this, staff in Marks and Spencer who regularly observe discrimination are likely to
leave the business and as a result, it increases the turnover level too. while on the other side, if
manager fire the employees who perform poor did not creates any impact upon the business.
Thrasher and et.al., (2016) stated that regular discrimination in the working area will also affect the
brand reputation and recruitment process of the company in adverse way. Such that Marks and
Spencer may not sustain its brand image with global presence due to not providing happy working

area to their employees.
Theme 3: ways to minimize the discrimination at working area.
Vickers (2016) stated that encourage workers to respect each other difference and also respond to
any evidence or complaints of inappropriate behaviour. Further, the manager of the company should
also deal with any complaints of discrimination promptly and confidentiality so that they provide
better working environment. Moreover, company may also develop strategies in order to provide
positive working environment to their employees so that they may also provide better outcome for
the welfare of the company.
Theme 4: different challenges faced by company while implementing methods to reduce
workplace discrimination
As per the view of Chavez and et.al., (2015) employment law is consider one of the biggest
challenge while implementing method to reduce the workplace discrimination. As HR and manager
of the company are responsible to complying the laws but due to myriad laws that actually govern
the recruitment, selection and employee retention can be confusing. On the other side, employee
referrals programs which are low cost methods of recruiting potential employees based on the
recommendations from the current employees. This is also consider another challenges which affect
the overall business environment in negative way.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Gantt chart