Impact of Workplace Discrimination on Employee Performance and Productivity

Research Project
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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Research Aim...............................................................................................................................4
Research Objectives.....................................................................................................................4
Research questions.......................................................................................................................4
Rationale......................................................................................................................................4
Literature Review............................................................................................................................5
To understand about problem related to workplace discrimination in business unit..................5
To determine the factor that leads to workplace discrimination and impacts on performance of
employees in Tesco Plc...............................................................................................................5
To determine the issues faced by employees of Tesco company because of workplace
discrimination..............................................................................................................................6
To identify the strategies that can be used by management in order to resolve problems related
with the workplace discrimination...............................................................................................7
Methodology and Data Collection...................................................................................................7
Data analysis and interpretations.....................................................................................................9
Research Outcomes.......................................................................................................................17
Reflection & Recommendation of alternative research methodology...........................................17
Conclusion and Recommendations................................................................................................18
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20
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INTRODUCTION
Workplace discrimination is defined as treating employees differently, or less favourably for
some of the reasons. It take place when an employer discriminates against staff members in
context to work related decisions like promotions, hiring, availability of benefits, firing and so
on. Equality and diversity is defined as giving everyone the chance to progress to the best of their
capability regardless of gender, race, age and disability. Equality is working in an organization
that gives the same human rights to every employee. On the other hand, diversity is recognizing
that everyone is different an is able to co-exist with each other instead of the differences. In
addition to this, equality promotes motivation, increasing productivity, retention of employees,
enhancement of brand image and so on. There are various practices of equality and diversity
which assist an organization to decline the level of workplace discrimination in an effective
manner. It is important for a company to focus on declining discrimination at workplace as it
impacts negatively on the performance and mind-set of staff members (Berrey, Nelson and
Nielsen, 2017). For conducting the present research, Tesco is chosen as a base company. It is a
British multinational groceries I’m general merchandise retailer which was founded in year 1919
and headquarter in England, United Kingdom. The company has more than 6800 shops globally
which shows it has high market presence and markets share. The report will cover about the
understanding and the impact of workplace discrimination on performance and productivity of
employees. In addition to this, it describes the factors and the issues faced by staff members due
to workplace discrimination. The research includes appropriate research methods as well as
approaches for collecting the data. Moreover, a reflection is elaborated which shows the
effectiveness of research methods applied in order to meet objectives. In the last, some of the
recommendations and the alternative research methodology is given in order to view the
outcomes in a proper manner.
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Research Aim
“To identify the impact of work place discrimination on productivity and performance of
employees in business origination” A study on TESCO Plc.
Research Objectives
 To understand about problems related to workplace diversity in business firm.
 To determine the factors that leads to workplace discrimination and impact on
performance of employees in TESCO Plc.
 To determine the issues faced by employees because of workplace discrimination in Tesco
Plc.
 To identify strategies that can be used by management to solve issues related to workplace
discrimination.
Research questions
 What are the problems related to workplace diversity in business firm?
 What the factors that leads to workplace discrimination and impact on performance of
employees in TESCO Plc.?
 What are the issues faced by employees because of workplace discrimination in Tesco Plc.?
 What are the strategies that can be used by management to solve issues related to workplace
discrimination?
Rationale
One of the main reason to choose this topic is to gain understanding about the impact of
workplace discrimination on the performance and productivity of employees. In the present time,
it is important for every individual to know about this concept so that they can sustain in the
corporate world for longer time period. It is an important topic as due to increase in workplace
discrimination many of the staff members lose their confident and their efficiency declines.
Another reason is to improve the research skills, time management skills, communication skills
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and so on. This research also assist investigator to know about how to collect data and interpret it
in order to gain valid and reliable conclusion.
Literature Review
To understand about problem related to workplace discrimination in business unit.
Discrimination at workplace arises with so many reasons and mainly occur when an
employee is treated as unfavourable due to some reasons such as gender, sexuality, race religion
and so many other aspects. According to the view point of Berrey, Nelson and Nielsen, (2017).
Discrimination is that factor which lowers the rate of production and productivity of company
along with employees. Additionally, when it occurs the turnover ratio of employee within a
company is also increased. As no one would like to work at that place where they are not treated
equally. This ultimately affects the overall performance and image of company. The values and
reputation of firm is totally realise on the performance of company and their employees. So if
they are not performing well then no one will like that firm as well as not like to work there. The
most common cause of discrimination at workplace is due to gender. This is the most prominent
factor that is found at workplace due to this the workers face some kind of disability. Another
reason of discrimination is because of racism and due to this employees will harassed also. In
opposing, it become vital for all companies to avoid such types of discrimination as it affects
productivity of employees and that ultimately affects the overall performance of company. So in
order to meet the desired goal, Tesco Plc. need to dodge such kind of discrimination.
To determine the factor that leads to workplace discrimination and impacts on performance of
employees in Tesco Plc.
As per viewpoint of author Colella and King (2018), there are ample number of factor
which causes discrimination at workplace. In which some of the factors are related with the
employees performance where as other are related with the racism, gender, sex, etc. so that most
common is due to sex discrimination. In this the employees of firm are treated unfavourable
based on gender. For instance in production department Tesco Plc. also hires men not the
women. So this is not fair. They should recruit all individual as per their skills, experience and
knowledge. In relevance to this there are different types of discrimination that is faced by the
employees within organisation such as direct and indirect. Direct discrimination occur when
company pay higher to one individual with no good reason as compare to other. It occurs when
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someone is treated less favourable as compare to other. On the other hand indirect take place
when certain rules and regulation impose on certain workers at disadvantage. So all these are the
factors by which discrimination established in enterprise (Dhanani, Beus and Joseph, 2018). All
these factor affects the efficiency of workers and due to which they will not able to perform their
task with full strength and goal will not be achieved in stipulated timeframe. In opposition to
this, there are various law made by government for avoiding such kind of discrimination at
workplace such as equality Act 2010, protected characteristics, enforcement, complaining again
discrimination, by creating policies of equal opportunity. All these could help the management
team of company for maintaining employee performance along with profitability of firm.
To determine the issues faced by employees of Tesco company because of workplace
discrimination.
There are certain number of issues that is faced by the employees of company due to
discrimination in which the most common is decrement in working efficiency as it lower the
motivation rate of employees and that directly impose adverse effect on their performance.
Another issues faced by them are interpersonal conflicts, miscommunication, bullying, leg
pulling harassment and many other problems. According to the viewpoint of Cockayne (2018),
high level discrimination tends to low level of motivation in employee and due to which
employee lose their interest in job by which performance of company got obstruct. In relevance
to this, problem related with communication is arises due to presence of various lag between
communication. By which miscommunication occur and the task will not get complete on time.
In an organisation there are various task that need to be carry out in a team or group and due to
interpersonal conflicts that task will not get success. In contradictory the management team of
Tesco Plc. need to consider all these issues of employee and need to resolve that for maintaining
the productivity and profitability of firm. In order to enhance the motivation level they need to
provide some training and development programs, encourage them for their performance instead
of discrimination, provide them equal treatment and opportunities so that they will able to feel
that all employees of company are same.
To identify the strategies that can be used by management in order to resolve problems related
with the workplace discrimination.
As per Agrawal (2018), in context of this there are several strategies that can be opt by
the management team of Tesco Plc. for avoiding or resolving negative impact of workplace
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