Gender Discrimination in Business: Impact and Approaches to Overcome

This report examines the impact of gender discrimination in business, specifically focusing on the case study of Argos Limited. It discusses the issues and problems related to gender discrimination, such as unequal pay and sexual harassment, and suggests approaches to resolve these issues and increase productivity and profitability. The report also includes a literature review and methodology for data collection.

Semi-structured
interviews

Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1....................................................................................................................................1
Introduction..................................................................................................................................1
CHAPETR 2....................................................................................................................................2
Literature review..........................................................................................................................2
CHAPTER 3....................................................................................................................................5
Methodology................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

CHAPTER 1
Introduction
Discrimination can be refer as any prejudicial or unjust treatment to person on the basis of
their categories. This type of activities take place due to difference in race, age, sex, background,
region and many other aspects (Ge, and et.al., 2016). There are different discrimination
activities in business that will lead to have direct impact on performance and productivity of
employees. Gender discrimination is one of the most common issues in organisation and this
will lead to have negative impact on employees as well as business. It is very important for
organisation to consider equality and diversity in organisation in order to grow and develop
business. The major discrimination in business is related to gender basis and this discrimination
take place because of prejudiced treatment of men and women. Gender discrimination can be
describe as the discrimination practices that are in the basis of gender identity. Gender
discrimination activities will lead to have impact on hiring, promoting or firing of employees on
the basis of gender. This will lead to have direct impact on moral for a person and negatively
influence performance of employees. Due to gender discrimination equal and fair opportunity is
not provided to employees and capability of a person is judged on the basis of their gender. It is
crucial for organisation to identify and analyse the major reason and impact on gender
discrimination activities. This will help in taking better decision that will support in resolving
gender discrimination issues for organisation as well as enhance its performance. Company will
be able to resolve gender discrimination practices as well as overcome issues by taking correct
and appropriate approaches (Graf, Brown and Patten, 2018). This will lead to influence
performance and productivity of company. Overcoming of gender discrimination will support in
creating equal and diverse business environment. This report is based on Argos Limited
company. This organisation is dealing in retail market area and providing high quality products
and services to different part of the world. Argos organisation was developed in year 1972 and
founder of this organisation was Richard Tompkins. It is majorly serving in United Kingdom and
Republic of Ireland area. Headquarter of Argos organisation is located to Milton Ketness,
Buckinghamshire, England. It is offering different consumer goods that is significant in meeting
with the needs or requirements of customers. In this report case study of Argos distribution
warehouse Basildon is consider and it research will support in determining the impact on gender
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discrimination of business. This report will include literature review regarding gender
discrimination issues as well as approaches to overcome this problem. Apart from this
methodology for collecting data and gaining more relevant information is analysed. Aims and
objective for this research project is -
Aim
“To analyse the impact on gender discrimination practices on performance and production of
business.” Case study of Argos distribution warehouse Basildon.
Objective
• To understand the concept of gender discrimination within organisation.
• To identify different issues and problem that is related to gender discrimination in
business.
• To determine various approaches that will support in resolving gender discrimination in
order to increase productivity and profitability of organisation.
CHAPETR 2
Literature review
To understand the concept of gender discrimination within organisation.
As per the views of Workplace fairness article (2020), it has been determined that gender
discrimination practices will lead to have major negative impact on business and this will lead to
influence performance of organisation. This includes unfavourable treatment to employees on the
basis of gender. In an organisation gender discrimination take place when an employee apply for
job role or perform activities in current job (Lucifora and Vigani, 2016). When person capability
and ability is measured on the basis of gender then it can be describe as gender discrimination.
This is violation of rights of a person and providing them opportunity of the basis of gender not
their capability (Sex / Gender Discrimination, 2020). Gender or sex discrimination can be
explain as the treatment of an individual differently on the basis of man and women. The
difference in treatment according to the gender of individual can be describe as gender
discrimination. For example if a person is rejected or selected for a particular job role on the
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basis of women and men gender then this can be consider as the example of gender
discrimination. Discrimination practices in Argos organisation will affect the proper functioning
of business and influence moral of employees to conduct business task in required manner.
Example of gender discrimination in company is when providing promotion to a male employees
of company in spite of knowing that a women is capable to performing particular job role in
better and more efficient manner as compare to other men. Promotion of a person of the basis of
gender not on the basis of capability and potential of employees is a clear case of gender
discrimination practice at workplace. Unequal pay, firing , promotion and hiring of employees by
considering male and female gender in decision is due to gender discrimination activities in
organisation.
To identify different issues and problem that is related to gender discrimination in
business.
As per the view of Julie Wilson, (2020), it can be determined that there are various issues
and problems that is faced by employees due to gender discrimination in organisation. It is
crucial for respective organisation to analyse and understand these major issues so that better
step to issues could be taken. The major reason for increase in gender discrimination is to
underestimate the capabilities of women and considering that women are made for house hold
activities and preparing food (Udo and Grilo, 2017). Due to this less opportunities is providing
to women as well as increase in gender discrimination in organisation. Various issues or
problems that is related to gender discrimination in Agros organisation is mention below.
 Unequal pay – It has been determined that gender discrimination activities in business
will lead to have impact on equal payment to employees for working same job role. This
is one of the major issues that lead to affect the performance and capability of employees
(5 Top Issues Fueling Gender Inequality in the Workplace, 2020). this issues arise when
company is offering payment or salary to employees according to their gender. Unequal
pay to employees who are perform same job role decrease the moral of employees who
get less pay and impact on its capabilities. Women have different other responsibility of
their household and due to this many women prefer part time work. Due to different
other reason many women take career breaks. This will lead to have major impact on
promotion of women as compare to men.
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 Sexual harassment – This is one of the major issues that is mostly faced by women and
it will affect in health of employees. Sexual harassment problem in workplace increase
due to gender discrimination practices. This is consider as an obstacle for many women
that are working in organisation. Sexual harassment case in business will have impact on
mental health of employees as well as image of company.
 Less promotion – One of the major problem of gender discrimination in business is
related to less promotion to employees. Due to gender discrimination employees will get
promoted on the basis of their gender and capabilities of employees are not considered.
This will lead to de-motivate employees and they will not use their full efficiency to
conduct organisational task.
 Unequal opportunity – Gender discrimination activities will lead to increase in this
issues of less or fair opportunities to all employees. In this issues, organisation is
providing opportunities to employees according to their male and female gender. Less
opportunity of employees in organisation will directly influence their performance to
conduct organisational task.
To determine various approaches that will support in resolving gender discrimination in
order to increase productivity and profitability of organisation.
According to the views of Tony Jeanetta (2020), it can be determined that there are several
approaches that needs to be consider by respective organisation in order to resolve the issues of
discrimination activities. Different ways that will support in reducing gender discrimination form
workplace are explain below – Build diversity – It is crucial for organisation to develop and enhance diversity culture at
workplace. This type of culture will support in reducing gender discrimination as well as
providing right and fair opportunities to employees as per their skills and performance.
This will help in creating positive working environments and employees will be able to
focus in their work. It is significant for increasing performance and productivity of
business. Strict policies regarding sexual harassment – Argos company needs to create strict
policies and rule against sexual harassment practices in organisation. This is very useful
approach for resolving issues of gender discrimination practices as well as taking correct
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step for punishing person who conduct sexual harassment activities (7 Ways to Reduce
Gender Discrimination in Your Workplace, 2020). This will support in providing healthy
and safe working environment of employees for performing their job role in effective and
efficient manner. Remove gender pay gap – It is essential for respective company to reduce gender pay gap
and provide right or fair payment of employees according to their contribution in
organisation. Removing gender pay gap and increasing transparency at workplace will
lead to enhance trust and relationship of employee. This will assist in enhance
performance and productivity of business to attain set goals.
 Establishing networking initiative – This is useful approach that is consider by
organisation to resolving gender discrimination practices form business. In this
approaches respective company is focusing on enhance network and relationship of
employees in order to reduce issues of gender discrimination.
CHAPTER 3
Methodology
Methodology refer as the process or procedure that is consider by researcher in order to
identify and analyse appropriate information and take effective decision regarding research. This
will includes method of data collection, sampling, sample size and ethical consideration for this
research.
Primary method – This can be describe as the method of data collection and gather
information through primary sources. Data and information that is gathered through primary
method is original and first hand information (Kumar, 2019). Primary research will be
significant for investigator to gain in depth and accurate information. Through this method
researcher will be able to collect with female employees and collect information by
understanding their point of view. There are several sources thorough which research can collect
and analyse primary information such as questionnaire survey, interview, observation,
experiment and many more. In this case researcher is considering interview method in order to
collect primary data and information.
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Advantages of primary method
There are various benefits of primary method and these are the major reason for choosing
primary method. Primary method is very useful for researcher as this will provide more authentic
and relevant data as per the requirement of the topic (Fletcher, 2017). This method will be able
to provide first hand or direct information to researcher about the views of female customers.
This method will be support to researcher for better decision making as well as resolving issues
that is faced by female staff member. In this case primary data collection method will be very
useful as this will help investigator to directly communicate with staff member and understand
the views of female staff members.
Disadvantages of primary method
The major disadvantage of primary method in this case includes that is that is very time
taking and cost consuming method for gaining information form female staff members. Primary
method of data collection is consider as expensive method because it required accurate
knowledge and information to collect appropriate data. Conduction survey interview of staff
member of respective company will support in gaining information required more time. It is
crucial that researcher have proper and accurate information about conducting interview process.
If researcher does not have appropriate knowledge regarding issues that is face by female staff
of respective then they will not be able to collect relevant and accurate information to resolve
problem.
How to minimise disadvantages thorough good research design
In order to minimize time and cost issues of primary research it is essential to create a
proper plan that will support in collecting accurate information in less time. Scheduling proper
interview process and designing it in accurate manner will support in resolving disadvantages of
primary method.
Sampling – Sampling can be describe as the statistical analysis process that is significant in
determining number of observation that need to be taken from the population in order to take
better and accurate decision. (Krishnaswamy, 2016) For this researcher project investigator is
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considering random sampling method for choosing number of respondents form large
population.
Define population - Population is the complete set of elements which purpose some command
characteristics which define the sample. It is very important for researcher to consider accurate
population in order to select right sample of collecting information. In this researcher population
is the employees that are working in Argos organisation.
Sampling methods – There are different types of sampling method that is considered in order to
select the most appropriate and accurate sample for collecting data. For this researcher,
researcher is selecting sample on the basis of purposive sampling. This sampling method is one
of the most effective method to choose appropriate sample size. This method is significant in
providing correct or expert judgemental to the sample (Blau, 2016).
Sample size - This refer as the selected number of sample that will assist in providing
information about the topic as well as help in taking better decision. Sample size assist in
measuring the number of individual that needs to be measured or observed for survey. In this
research, 5 employees of Argos company is selected in order to analyse and evaluate the
information regarding gender discrimination activities.
Primary data collection instruments
In order to collect data and information form the female employees of respective
company researcher will consider semi structured interview approach. Interview methods refer as
the qualitative research method and in this researcher will conduct a proper interview in order to
collect information. In this case, researcher will take interview of different female staff member
of respective organisation. Interview is an effective approach for gaining in depth information
regarding the views or issues of female staff members. In this primary method interviewer will
ask different question to female employees of respective company in order to gain more in depth
data about issues of equality and diversity in business. There are number of question that is asked
by interviewer to interviewee in order to collect primary information and take appropriate
decision for business.
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Ethical issues - This can be describe as the issues that problems that occurs while
performing research activities ethically and accurately. It is very important for researcher to
conduct research activities ethical and appropriately. This report will includes information that is
provide by employees of Argos organisation and it is essential to record and store this data
correctly. So that no other person can misuse it or take wrong advantages form the data. In order
to perform this research project ethically investigator or interviewer has consider point of view of
all interview and ask same question in order to collect their information (Ljungholm, 2016).
This will support in effective decision making. Researcher has stored collected information in
Laptop that is specially for this research project which lead to confidentiality of data. In
interview process, interviewee is voluntary participating in this process in order to answer the
questions which is asked by researcher. In this researcher is collecting data through the informed
consent of interviewer and anonymity of responder is considered by researcher. Consideration of
these ethical practices will lead to increase the value of privacy of interviewee.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ge, Y. and et.al., 2016. Racial and gender discrimination in transportation network
companies (No. w22776). National Bureau of Economic Research.
Graf, N., Brown, A. and Patten, E., 2018. The narrowing, but persistent, gender gap in pay. Pew
Research Center, April, 9.
Lucifora, C. and Vigani, D., 2016. What if your boss is a woman? Work organization, work-life
balance and gender discrimination at the workplace.
Barthelemy, R.S., McCormick, M. and Henderson, C., 2016. Gender discrimination in physics
and astronomy: Graduate student experiences of sexism and gender microaggressions. Physical
Review Physics Education Research, 12(2), p.020119.
Udo, T. and Grilo, C.M., 2017. Cardiovascular disease and perceived weight, racial, and gender
discrimination in US adults. Journal of psychosomatic research, 100, pp.83-88.
Assari, S. and Lankarani, M.M., 2017. Discrimination and psychological distress: gender
differences among Arab Americans. Frontiers in psychiatry, 8, p.23.
Blau, F.D., 2016. Gender, inequality, and wages. OUP Catalogue.
Silvestre, J., and et.al., 2016. Gender authorship trends of plastic surgery research in the United
States. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 138(1), pp.136e-142e.
Ljungholm, D.P., 2016. The role of work organizations in the social construction of
gender. Journal of Research in Gender Studies, 6(1), pp.269-275.
Kumar, R., 2019. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage Publications
Limited.
Fletcher, A.J., 2017. Applying critical realism in qualitative research: methodology meets
method. International journal of social research methodology, 20(2), pp.181-194.
King, K.A. and Mackey, A., 2016. Research methodology in second language studies: Trends,
concerns, and new directions. The Modern Language Journal, 100(S1), pp.209-227.
Krishnaswamy, K.N., 2016. Management Research Methodlogy: Integration of Principles,
Medthods and Techniques. Pearson Education India.
Online
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Sex / Gender Discrimination. 2020. [Online]. Available through:<
https://www.workplacefairness.org/sexual-gender-discrimination >.
5 Top Issues Fueling Gender Inequality in the Workplace. 2020. [Online]. Available through:<
https://www.asyousow.org/blog/gender-equality-workplace-issues>.
7 Ways to Reduce Gender Discrimination in Your Workplace. 2020. [Online]. Available
through:< https://theolsongroup.com/knock-down-gender-barriers/>.
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Appendix
Interview questions
 What do you understand by the gender discrimination at workplace?
 What are your opinion about gender equality and its importance in organisation?
 Do you think Agros organisation is considering necessary steps to reduce gender
discrimination practices from company?
 According to you what is the most effective approach in order to address gender
discrimination issues in workplace?
 What are the major issues that you have faced in organisation due to gender
discrimination.
 Do you have any suggestion for respective company about promoting equality and
diversity in organisation.
 Do you think approaches for resolving gender discrimination will lead to increase the
performance and productivity of employees.
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