Research Project: Workplace Discrimination at Boots UK and its Impact

This research project investigates the impact of workplace discrimination on employee performance, focusing on Boots UK as a case study. The study begins with an introduction to workplace discrimination, its definition, and significance, followed by the research aim, objectives, and questions. A literature review explores the concepts of equality, diversity, and discrimination in the business context, examining their impact on employee morale, productivity, and overall business operations. The research methodology section details the quantitative research approach, positivism philosophy, deductive approach, and descriptive research design. Data collection methods, including surveys and questionnaires, are described, along with the sampling strategy. The study then presents data analysis and interpretation of the findings, followed by conclusions and recommendations for managing discrimination and improving employee performance within Boots UK. The project concludes with a reflection on the research process and a comprehensive list of references and appendices.

Research Project
(Part 2)

Table of Contents
Title of the Research........................................................................................................................1
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Research Aim...............................................................................................................................2
Research Objectives.....................................................................................................................2
Research Questions......................................................................................................................2
Literature Review............................................................................................................................2
Research Methodology, Collection and Analysis............................................................................4
Data Analysis and Interpretation.....................................................................................................7
Conclusion and Recommendation.................................................................................................19
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................19
Recommendation.......................................................................................................................20
Research Reflection.......................................................................................................................21
References......................................................................................................................................25
Appendix........................................................................................................................................27

Title of the Research
The impact of workplace discrimination over the performance of the employees at
workplace.
Introduction
The study initiates to evaluate the impact of workplace discrimination within
performance of personnel at workplace. However, workplace discrimination is a major issue of
equality and diversity aspects and it has direct impact over the operations & progression of
business. Discrimination is mainly defined as the unfair or prejudicial treatment of individual and
the group based over the traits and characteristics likewise race, age, sexual orientation, gender
and so on (Hegewisch, Deitch and Murphy, 2011). For effective understanding about the issue of
workplace discrimination, Boots UK has been select, thus it is a British health/ beauty retailer
and pharmacy chain within the U.K and other countries and territories involving Ireland, Italy,
Norway, the Netherlands and Thailand. The headquartered offirm is in
Beeston, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom. Boots UK was established in the year of
1849 by the significant efforts and knowledge base of John Boot. The company is operating with
the immense number of employees who are contributing their significant efforts in t growth and
success operations of the business. Boots UK is having around 56000 employees who are
operating from the UK and 1900 employees who are operating through Ireland. Boots is
recognised as one of the biggest retailers within the UK and Ireland, both in position of revenue
and the number of shops or outlets (Stainback, Ratliff and Roscigno, 2011). The company has
around 2,500 shops around the United Kingdom and Ireland ranging through the local
pharmacies to sizeable health and beauty shops. The company mainly operates with health and
beauty products, and also renders optician and hearing care services within shops and as stand-
alone practices. The key motive of the business is to attaining higher growth and success and for
this, the management of the business are concern over managing equality and diversity at
workplace and also concentrated over decreasing the impact of workplace discrimination and
renders equal opportunity to the people on the basis of their gender, religion, age, sex, culture
and so on.
The study into consideration is imperative in exploring individual idea and knowledge in
relation to the aspect of workplace discrimination and how it affects the success operations of the
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business. Further, study is mainly executed because workplace discrimination is a major issue
and businesses in the modern era are facing a lot challenges due to discrimination and the
assessment helps in enchaining idea about the issue effectively and support the business to
address the challenges effectively (McDonald, 2012). For the suitable execution of the project
the aim, objectives and questions are associated as below:
Research Aim
To investigate effect of workplace discrimination over performance of employees at
workplace. A case study on Boots UK.
Research Objectives
 To enhance understanding in relation to concept of equality and diversity in context to
business.
 To identify the issue of discrimination arises within Boots UK.
 To conduct evaluation over determining the influence of workplace discrimination over
the performance of subordinates.
 To recommend the suitable ways for Boots UK to managing the issue of discrimination at
workplace.
Research Questions
 What is concept of equality / diversity in business?
 What are issue of discrimination arises within Boots UK?
 What is influence of workplace discrimination over performance of personnel?
 What are suitable ways for Boots UK to managing issue of discrimination at workplace?
Literature Review
Literature review is viewed as crucial aspect of project as it is effective in assisting entire
project in right manner via the suitable assistance of conducting in-depth analysis within
theoretical form (McLaughlin, Uggen and Blackstone, 2012). However, literature review is
imperative in enhancing individual understanding and recognition in relation to a specified
subject. In this information’s are mainly accumulated via the support of secondary sources like
books, journals, articles many more.
Concept of Equality and diversity in business
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According to Lazzari (2019), Equality and diversity refers to basic vision of business
under which working stability and its levels is increases over regular time of period and it is
about respecting staff according to their caste, gender, colour, cultural background, skills, and
more. Equality is about certify everybody has an equally rights or opportunities and it is not
treated against because of their traits & diversity is about taking version of the difference
between people and group of people and set a positive value on those differences. Discrimination
is biased or harmful treatment of people/ characteristics of group based people as race, age,
gender (McDonald and Charlesworth, 2013). It is happen in company because human mind
classified in different things that make sense different. In the company they judge according to
their disability, gender, religion, and many more it affects the performance and productivity of
company, they lose many opportunities because of discrimination in organization. The main
issues are ; Unconscious Bias, Decreasing employee morale, Lack of coordination and
collaboration, Less employee productivity and performance.
According to Etheridge (2015), For the businesses company, performance reviews are
used to unpin decisions based on training & development, transfer, employment termination and
promotions. On the basis of performance providing feedback to employees. They can plan
strategies such as, long term manpower planning framework use performance management
measurements to value the quality of the workforce and even if corporation attracting or
retaining the workers (Franks, 2011). Many of company use performance management as basis
for pay for performance compensation processes. Individual and team management used in
concurrence with performance review process as a final documented step help employees in goal
setting. Performance data over time are key of inputs for long term planning for future
company's leadership. Many companies use software applications to manage process associated
with goal setting of entity & performance improvement plans. Hr department is key of
systematic management of PMS (Holland and Cortina, 2016).Business a prevent or manage the
issues of discrimination in company, organization can establish strict rules and regulations for
managing discrimination at workplace. In company should have employee manual, which
explain benefits, rules, policies and more things. Discrimination is not limited to easy cultural
issue, it reach various issue, such as gender, age, religion, disability and society. The policy
should cover broad range of possible discriminatory act. The discrimination plan should also set
protocol that employees need to follow. This protocols starts with guiding managers or human
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resource. The protocols needs to figure how discrimination complaints are manage or handle
from inspection with panel action. Control the team training session on what compose
discrimination. In company they should use honest and clear language and it is important to be
consistent with actions and handle the complaints of discrimination, this involves the way of
speaking. Stability shows that you predict everyone treated equally by same levels as for
discrimination (Cheung, Baum and Hsueh, 2018).
Research Methodology, Collection and Analysis
Research methodology is defined as the most imperative area of research project, thus it
is an effective and specific procedure or tool which is implemented to identify select, process and
analyse credentials over a specific topic. In an investigation context the methodology section
allows reader to critically analyse a study's overall validity and reliability (Backhouse, 2012).
This section involves assorted applications like investigation type, approach, philosophy, data
collection tools, sampling sources and so on which are imperative to aid the project over aspect
of analysing effect of workplace discrimination over the performance of the employees at
workplace. The important methods are associated as below:
Research Methods: In initiating of research, primary obligation of researcher is to select suitable
type for intention to aid project in right manner to drawn valid and reliable outcome. Research is
based on two type’s i.e. qualitative and quantitative research method. In respect to carried out
present investigation, based on the aspect of evaluating the impact of workplace discrimination
over the performance of the employees at workplace, quantitative research method is
implemented by the researcher as it mainly used to accumulate the measurable information
within actual facts and figures or contributes in taking right and accurate judgement within the
study (Bruce and et. al., 2015). Along with this, information is gathered through survey,
questionnaire, observation and many more.
Research Philosophy: Research philosophy is the term that refers to beliefs that include data
which are collected, evaluated and after that a brief interpretation is recommended. It can be
done with a specified research area as well as topic. It is mainly classified in two factors that are
positivism and Interpretivism research philosophy. These methods are very effective because it
collects reliable data that gives accurate information that directly helps to attain favourable
result. According to the current scenario and research, it is analysed that positivism research
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philosophy should be applicable within the organisation. Because it gives factual knowledge that
obtain with the help of correct observation and identification (Elias, 2013). The main advantage
in this method is that it provides the relevant and correct information that are based on scientific
assumptions.
Research Approach: The approach plays essential role in investigation because it gives well
research and analysing data with the specific plan and procedure. It also covers decisions making
process that should take in the investigation process. It is done for drawing of reliable and
accurate conclusion in the research. It is further divided into main two approaches that are
deductive and inductive research approach (Kaushik, Sharma and Kaushik, 2014). The selection
of approach is depend on research problem and nature of research. As per the current situation in
investigation, it is analysed that deductive research approach is choose by investigator so that
they gather quantitative information that helps to take right decisions and judgement after the end
of investigation.
Research Design: It is the blue print that covers the research done by researchers. It is the
important strategy that used by the researcher for evaluation of all activities with a coherent and
logical way. The main focus of researcher is to identify the problem and address the correct
research problem. It is done for providing of gathering, data and measure the data for taking
correct and reliable result for the study (Charlesworth and et. al., 2012). It can be further
classified on the basis of types of methods. It involves experimental, exploratory and descriptive.
For collecting the detailed and measurable information, descriptive research design will be
applied the research topic.
Data Collection: Data collection is an important technique which judges the skills of the
researcher in selecting appropriate data for the research. The data selected must be effective for
use in the further process. There are two methods of data collection namely; primary and
secondary method. There are many sources opted by the researcher for collection of data such as
questionnaire, survey interview and many more. The data collected from these sources are
authenticated and reliable in each and every respect (Kaltiala-Heino, Fröjd and Marttunen,
2016).
Data Sampling: This method involves the selection of right sample size on the basis of research
topic. It is the responsibility of researcher to chose a sample size which will provide authenticate
data and do justice with research process. There are two types of sampling method which are
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probabilistic and Non-Probabilistic approach. In context with this investigation, probabilistic
sampling has been used which provides an equal and random chance of selecting the sample size
from the universe. In this research, the researcher has selected 30 respondents among the
employees of the company who have effective knowledge and applied experience (Lips, 2013).
Research Instrument: The selection of instrument is based on kind of research, thus in this
present research project, survey is being executed to gather major part of information. Therefore,
in this questionnaire is being considered as most effective source to gather primary information
as it is imperative in providing specific data that are relay over the aspect of evaluating impact of
workplace discrimination over performance of employees (Blau and Kahn, 2017).
Cost, access and Ethical Consideration: In the execution of the project there are few stages
which are requires to be undertaken by researcher for the suitable implementation of the project,
thus, cost access and ethical consideration, therefore, these are imperative to be considered by
the research in the suitable assessment of project (Bamberger, Biron and Meshoulam, 2014). It is
important for the researcher to follow all the ethics for the intention to avoiding the restriction to
complete the project. In this present investigation context both primary and secondary research
are implement by the researcher, thus it is important for researcher to provide consent to the
participants for the effectively taking approval from the participants. In addition to this, the
researcher also needs to ensure participants about maintaining security and anatomy of their
private data to keep them protect and safe in nature. In the better execution of the study,
researcher also needs to gather information from the authentic sources, thus this affects the
completion of the project. Thus it is essential for researcher to select the suitable online site or
the books, journals and articles to gather authentic information about chosen subject area.
Furthermore, researcher also needs to manage the cost and capital for the suitable assessment of
the project as few activities like data collection, transportation, approval of sites and so on are
quite cost consuming in nature and needs suitable assessment to aid the project in right manner
(Auspurg, Hinz and Sauer, 2017).
Data Analysis and Interpretation
Data analysis and interpretation is the important area of the project which aid the
investigation in the manner to evaluating the gathered information in appropriate manner, in this
manner. Main motivation behind this field of examination is to analyse proper information
through data and taking reasonable choice that are in-comprise over information investigation
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(Drolet and Mumford, 2012). Also, credentials examination is solid in giving an appropriate
course to the scientist to help the entire examination in the way of coming to at the key
outcomes. In the context to this present investigation work, the analysis of the information is
being conducting via the support of implementing thematic approach. In this themes are
developed over the questions of questionnaire and assist the work with the support of creating
frequency table. Then, representation of information is based on graphs, charts, diagrams over
measuring perspective of participants (Khoreva, 2011).
Frequency Table
Q1) Do you have an understanding in relation to field of equality and diversity? Frequency
Yes 29
No 1
Q2) What do you think, workplace discrimination is the major issue of
inappropriate assessment of equality and diversity at workplace?
Frequency
Yes 28
No 2
Q3) According to you, the aspect of workplace discrimination affects the
performance of the employees within Boots UK?
Frequency
Yes 28
No 1
Q4) As per your point of view, suitable assessment of workplace discrimination
is imperative for Boots UK to manage operations of employees at wider level?
Frequency
Yes 26
No 4
Q5) According to you, what are the major challenges of equality and diversity at
workplace?
Frequency
Acceptance and Respect 8
Ethics and Cultural differences 7
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Gender stereotypes 7
Societal expectations regarding gender roles 8
Q6) What do you think, are the major issues of workplace discrimination that are
widely faces by the Boots UK?
Frequency
Unconscious Bias 8
Decreasing employee morale 7
Lack of coordination and collaboration 7
Less employee productivity and performance 8
Q7) As per your perspective, what benefits are attained by Boots UK with the
suitable assessment of workplace Discrimination?
Frequency
Increased productivity 6
Harmonious work environment 8
Decreased turnover 10
Reduced absenteeism 6
Q8) According to your perspective, in what manner discrimination influences the
operations of employees within Boots UK?
Frequency
Positive 2
Negative 25
Neutral 3
Q9) What do you think, is it required for Boots UK to make advancement in their
existing process of handling workplace discrimination to gain progression and
development?
Frequency
Yes 25
No 5
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Q10) What do you think are the potential measures that can effective be opt by
Boots UK to managing the issue of discrimination at workplace?
Frequency
Suitable equality and diversity training 7
Develop a written policy that defines rules and procedures 7
Enhancing Inclusive workforce 8
Equal opportunity distribution 8
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