Impact of Workplace Discrimination on Business Performance

Research
Dissertation

Table of Contents
Title of the Research .......................................................................................................................1
Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................................................................1
Overview of the Research .....................................................................................................1
Background of the Research ..................................................................................................1
Rationale of the Research ......................................................................................................2
Research Aim ........................................................................................................................2
Research Objectives:..............................................................................................................2
Research Questions:...............................................................................................................3
Chapter 2: Literature Review ..........................................................................................................3
Chapter 3: Research Methodology and Data Collection .................................................................6
Chapter 4: Data Analysis and Interpretation ...................................................................................9
Chapter 5: Research Outcome ......................................................................................................22
Chapter 6: Conclusion and Recommendation ...............................................................................25
Conclusion ...........................................................................................................................25
Recommendation .................................................................................................................25
Chapter 7: Reflection & Recommendation of alternative research methodology.........................26
References .....................................................................................................................................28
Appendix 1.....................................................................................................................................29
Questionnaire .......................................................................................................................29
Appendix 2.....................................................................................................................................31
PPT.......................................................................................................................................31
Appendix 3.....................................................................................................................................43
Proposal and Ethical Form ..................................................................................................43

Title of the Research
“Impact of Workplace Discrimination on the performance of business; a study on River
Island.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Overview of the Research
The present study examine the impact of workplace discrimination on the performance of
business, therefore, discrimination is recognised to be the key aspect of business, thus it
adversely influences the overall performance and the well being of employees at workplace
(Hegewisch, Deitch and Murphy, 2011). In today's modern business era, organisations are work
for fulfilling some specific purpose and goals, thus, for this businesses are focuses over
managing discrimination and improvise the operations of the business. However, Employees are
the key aspect of the business as the growth and success of a business is based on the developing
performance of the employees at workplace, thus discrimination is a major issue which create
differences among the employees and affects their morale of working. Workplace discrimination
and the strain ensuing through discrimination that are related to a host of negative organizational
and employee results thus, discrimination affects the lowered job satisfaction, reduced
organizational commitment, reduced job performance, decreased helping behaviours, and
increased turnover of the business. In this present investigation work, RiverIsland Company is
the chosen organisation, therefore, it is a London based high street fashion brand, which is
concern over managing discrimination for the purpose of maximising business operations and
functions (Kaltiala-Heino, Fröjd and Marttunen, 2016).
Background of the Research
Over the past few decades, high attention has been provided to the area of discrimination,
therefore, discrimination is defined to be the key issue which is mainly faced by the employees at
workplace and this directly affects the well being and morale of employees at workplace.
Discrimination mainly encompasses over bullying, harassment and other forms of aggression due
to their race, gender, appearance, or age at some point in the working career of employees at
workplace, therefore, the investigation shows that experiencing workplace discrimination and the
stress resulting through discrimination are related to a host of negative organizational
productivity and employee performance (Stainback, Ratliff and Roscigno, 2011). River Island is
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a large high street fashion brand in London, thus it is a privately held company which mainly
deals in fashion, clothing, textile retail. The headquarter of the firm is in London, England,
United Kingdom. The company was established in the year of 1948 by the potential efforts of
Bernard Lewis and Brothers. The company is having its operations all round the globe as the
company is having its employees from multiple areas and mainly focuses towards maintaining
discrimination at workplace, thus discrimination needs to be managed by the business or its
management for the purpose of providing effective opportunities for the business to gain growth
and success.
Rationale of the Research
A research is mainly implemented for a intention of investigating an issue with the support
of suitable assessment of information that are significant to addressing the issue in effective
manner. The research into practical action is based on investigating the impact of workplace
discrimination on overall performance of the business, therefore, the selected area is effective in
exploring an individual knowledge and skills in relation to the area of workplace discrimination
and how it affects the operations of the employees (McDonald, 2012). In addition to this
discrimination is a major issue of the business which needs assessment to provide wider base to
attain employees well being by making suitable management of discrimination. Furthermore, the
another key intention of executing the exploration is the personal interest of the researcher as the
investigator has potential interest towards workplace discrimination hand having believes that by
executing detailed research over this topic they would be able to determine the ways through
which the challenges could be reduced at workplace. This investigation is also imperative in
exploring individual knowledge and skills in relation to skills communication, conflict
management, analytical, presentation, team building and many others.
Research Aim
The research aim for the current research is “To investigate about the impact of workplace
discrimination on well being of employees”. A case study on RiverIsland Company based in
Magna Park, Fen St, Milton Keynes.
Research Objectives:
The potential objectives of the questions that are linked with the project aim are associated as
under:
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 To develop understanding on the concept of workplace discrimination.
 To explore how workplace discrimination influences employees' well-being at
RiverIsland.
 To ascertain several ways through which workplace discrimination can be rectified at
RiverIsland for enhancing employees well-being.
Research Questions:
The prior questions that are encompasses over tis present study are evaluated as below:
 What is meant by the notion of discrimination at work premises?
 How employees' well-being is affected by workplace discrimination at RiverIsland?
 What are the techniques that can be applied for eradication of workplace discrimination
at Riverlsland facilitating the well being of employees?
Chapter 2: Literature Review
Literature Review is defined to be the most important area of an investigation as it is
effective in providing descriptive analysis in relation to the area of evaluating the impact of
discrimination over the well being of employees, therefore, this is imperative in developing
descriptive framework which providing theoretical information in relation to the specific area.
The concept of workplace discrimination.
As per the views expressed by Jennifer Lombardo, 2020, discrimination is defined to be the
unfair treatment of employees that are encompasses over prejudices, therefore, in another words,
discrimination can also be evaluated as the equal pay compensation, sexual orientation, national
original, pregnancy religion, disability, race and sex (McLaughlin, Uggen and Blackstone, 2012).
workplace discrimination arise within the organization might affect the overall performance of
the employees in a negative manner as it creates issues and problems among the staff members.
Workplace discrimination can be done on the basis of gender, race, education, background,
physical appearance and many more. All these highly affects the overall performance and morale
of employees in a negative manner which reduces their efficiency and effectiveness. Therefore,
it has been concluded that workplace discrimination is a negative aspect which reduces the
overall performance of the company in an adverse manner (Charlesworth and et. al., 2012). In
the context of business, discrimination is defined to be the major issue which has direct impact
on the operations and progression of the business. Furthermore, discrimination is the most
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recognised aspect which is needs to be managed by the businesses for the intention of attaining
higher growth and success via enhancing the well being of employees at market place. In the
context of business workplace discrimination is a major challenge for the business and has direct
negative impact over the operations and performance of employees. Therefore, discrimination
mainly takes place as per the age, gender, racial and cultural differences. It is important for the
businesses to reduce discrimination and develop the performance of the business. Within
workplace environment, there is different basis of discrimination and intentional and explicit
discrimination are the key component. However, intentional discrimination is done by the higher
authority on the basis of favouritism or gender, or culture and explicit diversity is based on the
attitude of people at workplace. Theories and models are effective in developing understanding
about the aspect of workplace discrimination.
Structural Theory of Discrimination: It defined as a concept which is known as token
dynamics which is based on three noticeable occurrence in discrimination. Therefore, visibility
mainly aid to performance pressure, contrast influence which aid to social isolations of the token
and the role condition or representation of the token. In the very fist aspect the token is
noticeable due to the reason of race, age, sex and physical disability that is assort from the
majority of employees. This visibility basically leads to attention to the nominal and the
employee and the worker is susceptible to more force through the superiors when compared to
other employees. However, the structural theory is imperative to provide a suitable structure and
helps the business to manage opeartions effectively and resolve the issue of discrimination at
workplace.
Taste Discrimination: This is the most prominent neoclassical statement of discrimination
which is encompasses over the work of Gary Becker and develops the knowledge which some
workers, employers or customers do not want to work with or come into contact with members
of other racial groups or with women as well. In addition to this, a conceptual framework which
mainly translates the notion of racial prejudice within the language of economics. Therefore, this
discrimination is mainly encompasses over racial prejudices, thus in this few organisations and
its higher authorities are hire people on the basis of their own choice and provide them
opportunity as per their colour and religion.
Workplace discrimination influences employees' well-being at River Island Company.
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According to the opinion analysis of Sonia Fernandez, 2018, discrimination is evaluated as
the prejudicial treatment of a person that are based on membership of a certain group or category
is likely to have negative influence on its victims well being and health. Therefore, workplace
discrimination an rage through the systematic evaluation of individual’s rights on the ground of
their gender, ethnicity, sexual, religion, orientation and other criteria to more data verbal abuse
that create references to such characteristics. Discrimination mainly has direct negative impact
on the well being of employees as discrimination at workplace affects the self esteem of
employees and affects their morale to work with more potential and collaboration.
Discrimination not only affects to those who experience it directly, but also those who witness it,
or who feel that they work in an environment that discriminates (McDonald and Charlesworth,
2013). Thus, River Island is a large fashion retail which is concern over managing discrimination
at workplace for the intention of enhancing the well being of employees at workplace. Therefore,
the company is operated at all around the globe and concern over determining the operations of
the business and promote managing discrimination to attain growth via consisting well being of
employees.
The several ways through which workplace discrimination can be rectified at River Island
Company for enhancing employees well-being.
According to the opinion analysis of Mark Cox, 2017, workplace discrimination is
recognized to be the imperative issue which has direct impact over the operations and
progression of the business; therefore, it is important for the business to manage discrimination
in efficient way to promote business operations via developing the motivation of the employees.
River Island is a large and well established fashion hub which is operated at global level and has
wide range of employees from different background and needs to develop an effective and
managed working environment to increase their performance. In addition to this, there are
assorted ways like providing training to employees regarding discrimination, generating
awareness among people about discrimination, implementing effective business policies and
norms, encouraging employees to work in a right way, thus, these are the key aspect that can be
effectively be implemented by the business to develop their operations and progression (Franks,
2011). However, training to employees are imperative in providing them suitable guidance about
their job role and also helps in developing individual capability at workplace. Implementation of
policy is also effective in protecting the rights of employees on the basis of their age, gender,
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