Corporate Social Responsibility and Workplace Equality Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive overview of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its relationship with workplace equality. It begins by defining CSR and its significance, followed by a literature review that explores how CSR initiatives can promote equality and diversity within organizations, with a specific focus on Mark & Spencer. The report examines the importance of gender equality, employee rights, and the impact of diversity on business performance. It also highlights the role of legislation, internal policies, and cultural factors in fostering a fair and inclusive work environment. Furthermore, the report delves into the contributions of CSR to both internal and external stakeholders, emphasizing the need for organizations to integrate ethical and social considerations into their business practices. The conclusion summarizes the key findings, emphasizing the importance of CSR and workplace equality for sustainable business development.

STUDY SKILLS FOR HIGGHER
EDUCATIONS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................3
1. Define literature review and how it can be attained....................................................................3
2. Literature review on Corporate Social responsibility and equality in workplace........................4
CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES.....................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
The practices which help an organisation in developing principles for their long term
development are known as corporate social responsibilities. It is a mechanism which are used by
organisations, so that they can make some standards in their organisation related to ethical, legal,
ecological and social. Along with this, equality in work place is very much important as it states that
each and every employee in organisation have equal rights and no discrimination will take place
among them due to their cast, colour or nationality (Ravazzani, 2016). The organisation which has
been chosen for completing this report is Mark & Spencer, which is one of the biggest retail
industry of clothing in world. The headquarter of them is at Westminster, London. In this report, as
study will take place on literature review on corporate social responsibilities. Along with this, a
discussion will take place on equality at work place also it's importance will get discussed.
1. Define literature review and how it can be attained.
Literature review is a well organised and systematic method which is used by researchers
and other writers, so that they can identify, synthesize and also evaluate accomplished and pre-
recorded works performed by practitioners and other scholars. Along with this, it is a document
which is used for explaining the detail about topic and subject over which writer is writing. This
explain the complete over view and depth knowledge about the topic and give detail that how this
will help readers in improving their knowledge. Let's suppose, researcher is carrying out some
research over a topic advanced authentication using OpenCv and also using some specific language
like Java. Now if, researcher use to conduct same research using same language then the research
will not remain valid, as the work was already completed and the efforts made by researcher will
get waste.
There are ample number of purpose behind carrying out literature review, some of these are
as beneath :-
 This help in detailing about the relationship among each and every work performed by
researcher and also help them in find out that what they have done to complete the respected
work.
 This also help them in identifying new ways, by which they make improvement in the work
done before by some other person.
 This also help in proving proper knowledge to researcher about the work done by them, so
that they can reduce the chance of duplications, by making some prior scholarship.
 Literature review also help a researcher in detaining about the contribution made by them in
respect of specific topic.
Contribution of literature review in work and study : Literature review use to pose huge

contribution in work and study. Some of these are explained follow :-
 Literature review help in detailing about the current state of the research on some specific
topic. This help a researcher in getting knowledge about that how authenticate the research
is which is completed on some specific topic.
 Along with this, literature review help a researcher in getting information about the
questions which are required to get answered while completing the research. This lead
researcher in storming out over some specific topic.
Specific roles played by literature review : Literature review use to play an important role
for a researcher who are conducting some research over a specific topic. It also help them in gaining
information that what specific work has been done over that and what is need to be done. Some of
the roles played by literature review is as follow :-
 The main role of literature review is to provide proper knowledge to writer and make them
expertise on some specific topic, so that they can make analysis of present state of literature.
 This also help researcher in finding the issues and problems of some particular topic, and
also help them in explaining the solutions for them and detailing that what contribution will
they make in favour of it.
 This also help in finding the new trends, issues and concepts related to that topic. This also
help in making proper brain storming over that topic.
2. Literature review on Corporate Social responsibility and equality in workplace.
As per according to Baird, McFerran and Wright, (2014), corporate social responsibility is a
formative process and a self-activating model that assist companies to perform their roles in a
ethical manner and fulfil every social responsibility related to public, client and stakeholders. Thus,
it is essential for Marks and Spencer to understand effectiveness of CSR functionalities and ensure
that all of their business activities effectively accomplish responsibilities of economy, society and
environment (The Importance of Cultural Diversity in the Workplace, 2017). As M&S is
engaging in formative CSR activities it is automatically reflected that company is conducting their
business operations in such a way that impacts on society and environment in better effective way
while facing negative impact on them.
According to Beirne and Hunter, (2013), CSR and government decisions are major factor
that drives formative equality in an organisation workplace. It is basic rights of every individual
towards democracy, human right, rule of law and other related necessary factors. Marks and
Spencer management effectively make sure that company engage in the offerings of appropriate
utilization of labour potential and gender equality that set formative standards for organisation
towards effective development. It is required for company to put their focus on skilled workers
rather than considering their biological disparities. Other potential equality driver in a workplace is

CSR. Along with this, equality and diversity acts as an one of the strongest pillars of Corporate
Social Responsibility. In addition to this, incorporation of gender perspectives in CSR practises acts
as an one of the key essential role in order to attain equality in a workplace organisation by
effectively executing, activities, strategies and initiatives that lead towards rendering equal
proportion job opportunities.
As par according to Guay, Goncalves and Jarvis, (2014), Corporate Social Responsibilities
prevailed in a organisation aid in acknowledging environmental and social issues in best effective
way. It is a fact that workers acts as an one of the major key essentials an are most important
stakeholders in CSR practises thus it is a major responsibility of an organisation to frame effective
strategies and policies when these practises are followed within workplace premises. M&S is
required to consider that there is no discrimination prevailed in their workplace environment and
their employees are working in a positive environment that effectively encourage them towards
high achievement of their roles and responsibilities in a well defined systematic manner. Workforce
diversity is termed as an mixed workforce that consists wide range of abilities, knowledge, strength
experience which is mainly occurred due to random variations in background, age, physical
abilities, religious and political beliefs. It is essential for M&S to effectively consider every
essential aspects of society with the help of which company can effectively ensure their high end
productivity and profitability. In addition to this, equality is treated as an one of the most important
moral and ethical element in business operations. Workforce diversity efficiently facilitate
innovative creativity and innovation that lead towards creation of high end efficiency. It will
positively impact on a company profitability, creativity, efficiency and helps them to attain more
competitive advantages within a marketplace. Corporate social responsibilities, equality and
diversity are equal. For an example, in Japan, public policies get emphasised so that they can
promote equality in gender and also female employment can get developed. By 2012, about 29% of
female employees in Japan use to earn less then as compared to males (Corporate Social
Responsibility and Gender Diversity in the Workplace: Evidence from Japan, 2016). The number of
educated female has been increased significantly, which help in changing the level of equality of
workers. The main aim of organisations working in Japan is to increase the number of female
workers at leading position by 30% till 2020, which shows that they have designed good policies
for increasing equality.
As per , The UN Global Compact in 2010, has launched principles of Women
Empowerment, which help them in putting equality in corporate social responsibility. The main
focus of these principles were on supply chain, leadership and entrepreneurship, so that organisation
can provide working environment of equality. Diversity in work place of Mark and Spencer is aid as
beliefs of their employees related to religion, age, ethics and gender. Also, Globalisation is the

biggest factor which help an organisation in deriving diversity in their work culture. Management of
Mark and Spencer has designed their strategies and plans, so that they can make a wide range of
culture in their work place (CSR As A Mean to promote gender equality, 2016). Along with this,
they also get engaged in diversity of employees, which help them in motivating their employees, so
that their performance can get improved and give positive results to organisation. Along with this,
diversity in working nature of organisation help Mark and Spencer them in making some innovative
products, so that they can provide products which can fulfil need of their customers. This also help
them in making positive impact on functionalities of them. This is all due to, when people of
different culture and different mind work together in a single working environment, results in some
thing unique which is new for every one. This lead Mark and Spencer to improve their productivity
at higher level and also help them in improving their brand image.
According to Hayes, and et.al, (2012), when organisation make equality in their working
environment, then each and very employee of them get chance to develop and grow their career, by
improving their skills and productivity. Along with this, it is very important that there are effective
leaders in organisation, so that they can maintain and organize their work force in essential manner,
so that each and every employee can get equal opportunities to grow.While on other hand, rules and
legislation of UK at federal, local and state level use to provide proper support to equality at work
place, so that employees working there do not face any type of discrimination. Mark and Spencer
use to encourage equality and diversity in their work place, which help them in making a positive
environment where their employees can work (Gender equality and diversity in the workplace A
partnership between CSR and HRM, 2016). This help them in making a work force, which are from
different background and also which are very much unique from each other.
According to view points of Lanctôt and Guay (2014), organisations which use to follow
corporate social responsibilities will help in developing humans from both inside and outside of
organisation. As, corporate social responsibility use to treat with stakeholders which are both
internal and external. The internal Corporate social responsibilities followed by Mark and Spencer
are related to their employees and labour, which states that diversity, equality and their health.
Where as, external stakeholders of Mark and Spencer consist, environment, community, customers
and suppliers (Gender equality, better practiced as workforce diversity, 2015). Along with this, it is
very much important for them to make proper relation between CSR and HRM, so that they can
make related objectives which help them in leading and promoting social practices.
As per view point of McDonald, (2012), it can be said that working culture of an
organisation, help them in making equality at their work place, which results in feeling their
employees that they are valuable. Along with this, it results in motivating their employees, so that
they can work by their potential. Therefore, for Mark and Spencer it si very much important for

them to make sure that they conduct these activities in their work place, so that the level of
discrimination among employees can get reduced.
CONCLUSION
From the above mentioned report, it has been concluded that, literature review is very much
important of a writer and researcher. As this help them in providing proper detail on some specific
topic, so that reader or analyser can get completed knowledge about the topic along with issues and
benefits associated with it. Along with this, it has been concluded that Corporate social
responsibilities are very important for an organisation, as this help them in performing operations
which are beneficial for society. And also this help them in promoting equality and diversity in
their work place.
REFERENCES
Books & Journals

Baird, M., McFerran, L. and Wright, I., 2014. An equality bargaining breakthrough: Paid domestic
violence leave. Journal of Industrial Relations. 56(2). pp.190-207.
Beirne, M. and Hunter, P., 2013. Workplace bullying and the challenge of pre-emptive management.
Personnel Review. 42(5). pp.595-612.
Guay, S., Goncalves, J. and Jarvis, J., 2014. Verbal violence in the workplace according to victims'
sex—A systematic review of the literature. Aggression and violent behavior. 19(5). pp.572-
578.
Hayes, L.J., and et.al., 2012. Nurse turnover: a literature review–an update. International journal of
nursing studies. 49(7). pp.887-905.
Lanctôt, N. and Guay, S., 2014. The aftermath of workplace violence among healthcare workers: A
systematic literature review of the consequences. Aggression and violent behavior. 19(5).
pp.492-501.
McDonald, P., 2012. Workplace sexual harassment 30 years on: A review of the literature.
International Journal of Management Reviews. 14(1). pp.1-17.
Ravazzani, S., 2016. Understanding approaches to managing diversity in the workplace: An
empirical investigation in Italy. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International
Journal. 35(2). pp.154-168.
Online
The Importance of Cultural Diversity in the Workplace. 2017. [Online]. Available
through<https://www.deputy.com/blog/the-importance-of-cultural-diversity-in-
the-workplace>
Corporate Social Responsibility and Gender Diversity in the Workplace: Evidence from Japan.
2016. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.rieti.go.jp/jp/publications/dp/16e063.pdf>.
CSR As A Mean to promote gender equality. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<file:///home/user/Downloads/1788-7519-1-PB.pdf>.
Gender equality and diversity in the workplace A partnership between CSR and HRM. 2016.
[Online]. Available through:
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312125618_Gender_equality_and_diversity_in_
the_workplace_A_partnership_between_CSR_and_HRM>.
Gender equality, better practiced as workforce diversity. 2015 .[Online].Available through:
<http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:844033/FULLTEXT01.pdf>.