Impact of Age Discrimination on Productivity at Unilever: A Study

This research report examines the impact of age-based discrimination on the productivity of Unilever. The research aims to understand age discrimination within the organization, assess its impact on productivity, and identify methods to reduce it. The report includes a research proposal with objectives, questions, and a literature review supporting the investigation. It outlines the reasons for choosing the project, focusing on personal and professional development, and details the research methodology, including positivism philosophy, deductive approach, a survey strategy, and a quantitative research method with a random sampling technique. The report also includes a research ethics approval form, addressing participant details, consent procedures, and data security measures. The student plans to use interviews, questionnaires, and observations to gather data. The research will contribute to understanding age discrimination's effects on Unilever's workplace environment and employee performance.

Unit 11 – Research Project

Table of Contents
RESEARCH PROPOSAL FORM...................................................................................................1
RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM...................................................................................5

RESEARCH PROPOSAL FORM
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID: ____________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date: ___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: To examine the impact of age based discrimination on productivity of an
organization. A study on Unilever.
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a question, objective or
hypothesis)
Impact of age based discrimination on productivity of an organization.
Research objectives (e.g what is the question you want to answer? What do you want to
learn how to do? What do you want to find out?):
Research Aim
To examine the impact of age based discrimination on productivity of an organization. A study
on Unilever.
Research Objectives
 To enhance the understanding about age discrimination within an organisation.
 To examine the impact of age based discrimination on productivity of Unilever.
 To determine the different ways through which age discrimination can be reduced at
workplace.
Research Questions
 What is age discrimination within an organisation?
 What is the impact of age based discrimination on productivity of Unilever?

 What are various ways through which age discrimination can be reduced at workplace?
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project (e.g links to other subjects you are studying, personal
interest, future plans, knowledge/skills you want to improve, why the topic is important):
The present investigation is related to age based discrimination. The age discrimination develops
negative impact on organisational productivity. Knowledge regarding age discrimination through
employees will develop negative environment and also poor perception regarding management of
an organisation. This research is conducted in personal and professional context. In personal
context, an investigator can gain understanding regarding age discrimination. In professional
context, research skills of learner can be enhancer and through this it can able to find out the
issues which employees face at workplace regarding age discrimination.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or hypothesis:
Age discrimination within an organisation
According to viewpoint ALISON DOYLE (2019) Ageism is stereotyping against individuals or
groups of people because of their age. Generally, employers are not allowed to fire, hire, promote
employees on the basis of their age. Age discrimination might look like that new learning
opportunity are offered to younger employees. It is being overlooked for challenging projects,
being left out of important company meetings or activities, jokes or comments about age, being
passed over for appraisals and promotions. Employees can deal with it in various ways such as
they can invest in their continued growth and development, maintain the equal level of polish and
professionalism as younger colleagues, stop believing that their workplace owes them something
for their past.
Impact of age based discrimination on productivity of Unilever
According to the viewpoint of Mayfair JD (2021), it has been found that age discrimination can
have a sustainable effect on the productivity and working culture of Unilever. It has been
proposed that age discrimination not only harm the efficient working relationship, but this can
also cause Unilever to incur legal liability. Age discrimination in an organisation can be observed
in many ways like refusing to hire older candidate, terminating candidates because of increasing
age and treating older employee differently in comparison to a younger employee, etc. Although
it has been criticised that younger employees are also facing the age discrimination issue. Ageism

or age discrimination is resembling the discrimination in context to sexism and racism. It has
been criticised that ageism would create negative impact on the employee-employer relationship.
Employee who are older feel low self-esteem and powerless in an ageism workplace. Hence,
Unilever can suffer from the loss of experience and potential just because of stereotype ageism at
workplace. Age discrimination at the workplace can be unnoticeable to a point by an employee,
when they come in knowing about it this can create a negative work environment and wrong
perception about management. Hence, this can hamper Unilever productivity because employees
might be less interested in increasing the productivity and this may be a concern for them because
they feel they might lose a job due to ageism. Unilever can witness high labour turnover just
because of fear that other employee may felt they can be the next target, hence Unilever may lose
experience and potential employee.
Various ways through which age discrimination can be reduced at workplace
As per the viewpoint of Carlsson and Eriksson (2019), it has been found that Age Discrimination
in Employee Act 1967, which restricts organisational discrimination based on the age factor.
Thus, it legal liability of an employee to protect an employee being discriminated based on its
age, it applies to all forms of age. Organisation should first remove the stereotype and pre-
assumption. Such as presuming that younger candidate could leave the firm if they have a better
opportunity in their hand, older employees are planning for their retirement and are less interested
in performing job and etc. it has been argued that management should offer rewards, an appraisal
should be based on the performance not on the tenure of age. It has been also pointed out that
management should impose training and educational opportunities to all forms of employee.
As contrary to this, Mayfair J.D (2021), it has been executed that to avoid discrimination on
hiring, management should remove the discriminatory words from their job resume such as
young or new grade. It has been criticised by the management that lay off and reduction of the
workforce should not be based on the age factor. It has been found that the best idea to avoid
ageism by embarrassing a multi-generation workplace that means all employees are equal
contributors to achieving organisational goals.
REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Jones, A. L., 2016. Implicit bias as social framework evidence in employment discrimination. U.
Pa. L. Rev.. 165. p.1221.

King, S. P. and Bryant, F. B., 2017. The Workplace Intergenerational Climate Scale (WICS): A
self‐report instrument measuring ageism in the workplace. Journal of Organizational
behavior. 38(1). pp.124-151.
Nelson, T. D., 2016. The age of ageism. Journal of social issues. 72(1). pp.191-198.
Reavley, N. J., Jorm, A. F. and Morgan, A. J., 2017. Discrimination and positive treatment toward
people with mental health problems in workplace and education settings: Findings from
an Australian National Survey. Stigma and Health. 2(4). p.254.
Online
Carlsson, M. and Eriksson, S., 2019. Age discrimination in hiring decisions: Evidence from a
field experiment in the labor market. Labour Economics, 59, pp.173-183.
Doyle, A., 2020. Types of Discrimination in the Workplace. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.thebalancecareers.com/types-of-employment-discrimination-with-
examples-2060914>.
Mayfair J.D., A., 2021. The Consequences of Age Discrimination at Work. [Online]. Available
through: <https://smallbusiness.chron.com/aging-employees-affect-human-resources-
60377.html>.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research project (e.g research,
development and analysis of ideas, writing, data collection, numerical
analysis, tutor meetings, production of final outcome, evaluation,
writing the report):
How long this will
take:
Milestone one: _________________
Target date (set by tutor): ____________________
Milestone two: _______________________
Target date (set by tutor): ______________________
Gantt Chart

Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely to use and why? What
your areas of research will cover:
Research methodology is defined as specific process that used to determine, choose, process and
also evaluate information regarding topic. For doing the research methodology, there will be
research onion using (Jones, 2016). It was developed through Saunders et. al., 2007 by consisting

various layers.
Research philosophy
In conducting the present investigation, positivism research philosophy will be using as it is based
on qualitative method. The main reason behind using this philosophy is that it provides the
factual knowledge by observation consisting the measurement.
Research approach
Deductive research approach used because it provides the general to specific knowledge
regarding the impact of age discrimination on organisational productivity (King and Bryant,
2017).
Research strategy
In conducting the present investigation, there will be survey using as research strategy. The main
benefit of using this strategy is that it is time saving and cost saving. Through using this research
strategy, an investigator can collect the more information from large number of respondents.
Research choice
Quantitative research method will be using because it emphasizes measurement of objectives and
numerical analysis regarding data collected by using questionnaire (Nelson, 2016).
Data collection
Primary method of data collection will be using. There will be questionnaire developing about the
impact of age discrimination on organisational productivity. The main reason to use questionnaire
that it is cost saving and also time consuming (Reavley, Jorm and Morgan, 2017).
Sampling
There will be random sampling method use and through this 40 sample size choosing. The reason
behind using this method is that it provides the equal chance to chosen respondents.
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted for another
qualification and is appropriate.
Agreed: ________________ (name)_______________ Date ______________
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV sampling)
Comments (Optional):

I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV) Date

RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants
or the use of data collected form human participants are required to gain
ethical approval before commencing their research. Please answer all
relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if incomplete.
For further support and guidance please see your respective Unit Tutor:
Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed
research fully with your unit tutor. Please complete this form in good time
before your research project is due to commence.
Section 1: Basic details:
Project title: To examine the impact of age based discrimination on productivity of an
organization.
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date:
Intended research end date:
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your
project:
 Interviews Yes No
 Questionnaires Yes No
 Observations Yes No
 Use of personal records Yes No
 Data Analysis Yes No
 Action Research Yes No
 Focus Groups Yes No
 Others (Please specify) :
Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where

necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults: More
than 18
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
The participants will be recruit by conducting interviews.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what
you are doing:
Through using the email, researcher will inform the participants.
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written?
How will it be made clear to participants that they may withdraw
consent to participate at any time?
The consent will be obtain from participants through using email and it will be in the form
of written.
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of
omitting questions that do not wish to answer?
Yes No
If no please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical
issues arising from this
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be
asked for their informed consent to be observed.
Yes No
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give

them a brief explanation of the study)?
Yes No
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?
(This could be a brief summary of your findings in general)
Yes No
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in
compliance with the Data Protection Act (1998)
Yes No
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
The organisation and research will access data and personal information.
During the research:
Where will the data be stored?
The data will be stored in hard disk and personal computer.
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes No
If Yes, please provide further details:
After the research:
Where will the data be stored?
The data will be stored in hard disk and personal computer.
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?