Workplace Discrimination and Employee Performance: A Starbucks Study

This research project investigates the impact of workplace discrimination on employee performance, focusing on Starbucks as a case study. The project begins with an introduction and literature review, defining workplace discrimination and exploring its various forms, including age, gender, and religion-based discrimination. The research methodology section details the use of an interpretivism philosophy, a mixed approach using both inductive and deductive methods, and a qualitative research strategy employing questionnaires to collect primary data from a sample of 30 respondents. The data analysis and interpretations section presents the findings from the questionnaires, revealing insights into employee understanding of discrimination, its impact on performance, and the causes of discrimination at Starbucks. The project also examines the issues that arise from discrimination, such as reduced employee morale and turnover, and potential solutions like training and policy development. The research concludes with a reflection on alternative methodologies, recommendations, and a discussion of how Starbucks can remove workplace discrimination to enhance employee morale, performance and reduce turnover. The study also highlights the importance of implementing legislations to prevent discrimination issues.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................4
LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................................................6
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY................................................................................................................8
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONS.....................................................................................10
RESEARCH OUTCOMES.......................................................................................................................19
REFLECTION AND ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY.....................................................................20
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................................................21
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................22

TITLE: Workplace discrimination
INTRODUCTION
Overview of Research
Discrimination refers to act of making the unfavourable distinction for being based on
category or group to which they are mainly perceived. This consists treatment of an individual or
group on the basis of actual or perceived membership in certain social category. Workplace
discrimination takes place when a manager discriminates against an employee in context to work
related decisions consisting like hiring, promotions, firing and also benefits availability. In
context to this, there are state and federal legislations for protecting the staff members from any
kind of discrimination at workplace (Ayalon and Tesch-Römer, 2017). At workplace,
discrimination can be arising on different basis such as age, gender, sexuality, religion etc. There
has been consideration of age discrimination. It includes treating an employee less favourable
because of age. Starbucks is an American coffee firm and this was founded in year 1971. In this
company, age discrimination issue has been arisen. It is intent to replacing its old managers with
the younger, minimum paid workers. The discrimination reduces the morale of employees and
also their performance level.
Rationale of Research
Present research is taken into consideration on impact of workplace discrimination on
employee’s performance. The discrimination is related to treating the employees differently on
the basis of age, gender, nationality, religion etc. Through conducting present investigation, there
has been better understanding and information learner can get regarding the workplace
discrimination. On the other hand, from this the skills and capabilities of learner will be
enhanced for conducting investigation in future (Cobb, 2017).
Aim
To determine impact of workplace discrimination on employees performance. A study on
Starbucks.
Research

Research Objectives
 To examine concept of workplace discrimination.
 To determine impact of workplace discrimination on performance level of Starbucks staff
members.
 To identify the causes of discrimination at workplace.
Research Questions
 What is workplace discrimination?
 What is the impact of workplace discrimination on performance level of Starbucks
employees?
 What are the different causes of discrimination at workplace?

LITERATURE REVIEW
Workplace discrimination
On the basis of Lisa Finn (2020) Workplace discrimination is explained as negative
treatment through manager towards employees due to protected class status such as age, race,
color, pregnancy, disability etc. It occurs when a person is treated differently when apply for job,
at job and result of the protected status. It is illegal or against law, means that an individual
cannot be treated differently according to certain characteristics. The workplace discrimination
under those legislations which wider category of the prohibited behavior. In context to this,
workplace discrimination can take the more threatening and open forms which are considered as
the workplace harassment. This occurs when a staff member feels intimidates, humiliated on the
basis of some characteristics such as disability, gender and other characteristics under
legislations. The employees which have the experienced about discrimination at workplace are
suggested to stand company under the verbal attacks, confident regarding their judgments and
stay alone with abusive purpose. In context to this, it is necessary for an organization to take the
appropriate steps to prevent the workplace from any kind of discrimination as this impact
employees as well as organizational performance (Triana and et. al., 2019).
The equality and diversity policy of Starbucks stated that its values and mission at
company reflect fundamental principle that eachone is welcome. Company aspires to be place of
diversity, accessibility, inclusion and equity. Diversity makes stronger the people of Starbucks,
creation of deeply inclusive culture permits to be succeeded and develop together. Starbucks firm
is dedication to developing workplace that respects and value people from the diverse
backgrounds that enable the staff members to do better work.
Impact of workplace discrimination on performance level of Starbucks employees
According to Ellie Williams (2018) Employees are considered as main part of
organization and they give their contribution for making the business successful. The workplace
discrimination develops the negative impact on employee’s performance. In Starbucks, there has

been issue arise about the gender basis discrimination. Starbucks Company replaces the older
employees or manager from the younger’s because they have new skills and ideas but the old
employees have more experience than younger. This kind of discrimination reduced the morale
of Starbucks staff members and develops negative impact on employee’s performance and
productivity. On the other hand, firm may have the trouble in sustaining the staff members to
those which are dissatisfied from their job and also distrustful of each other. In context to this,
company can face the serious financial losses as well as legal action (Tebbe, Allan and Bell,
2019). Discriminatory behavior rapidly erodes the working environment, developing an
atmosphere where workers feel undervalued. When they see less talented colleagues going up the
corporate ladder or having hefty bonuses while they remain still, feel unmotivated and
unappreciated to do their good work. From this, communication will be suffered among the
management and staff members. The productivity may be reduced and cooperation among the
employees may break down as the unsatisfied staff member working stops in a team.
Different causes of discrimination at workplace
As per opinion of Amie Comeau (2020), Discrimination at workplace is mainly upheld
by system where the power of decision making is maintained through specific group. Non-
compliance to the affirmative action’s generally causes the discrimination. There are different
causes of workplace discrimination occurs:
Age discrimination- Staff members and applicants over age of 40 are mainly protected
through Age discrimination in the Employment which prohibits manager from the discriminating
on the basis of age while recruiting, firing, unfair wages and some other employment terms
(Flake, 2016).
Retaliation- Under this, kind of the employment discrimination, manager takes the action
against the workers for filing employment discrimination claim and acted as whistleblower
(Selmi, 2016). Mainly these claims include negative acts with things for an instance hiring,
promotions, firing etc.
Poor communication- It is a main cause of arising the workplace discrimination. The
poor communication among the employer and employee develops the negative or bad

relationship. It develops negative impact on employee’s performance level because manager
does not treat the employees in fair manner (Flake, 2017).

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Methodology is one of the effective ways to figure out the outcome of given
question on a specific issue or topic and is often referred to as research issue. In methodology,
different criteria are used by the researcher to solve or check the provided research problem. The
method used for obtaining knowledge and data for business decision making. The research
methodology is helpful for researcher to find out the solutions of arisen issues by using effective
tools and techniques (Johnson and Joshi, 2016). There has been research onion used that
provides the explanation regarding the different stages:
Research philosophy- This refers to a belief in how the researcher can gather, interpret
and use detailed information about the subject or idea. This methodology part is divided into two
separate forms like interpretivism and positivism.
In present research, interpretivism philosophy has been used because it enables the
researchers to effectively analyse data. It is helpful in analyse the opinions and thoughts of
researcher on specific subject area (Jones, Finkelstein and Koehoorn, 2018).
Research approach- It presents a helpful way to complete detailed and step-by-step
analyzes of the subject. Two types of research approaches are taken into account for this study,
inductive and inductive (Macdonald and Levy, 2016). Both types of analysis methods are used in
this investigation. For a deductive method, it includes important and relevant papers from the
latest research subject.
The researcher has been used an inductive method to evaluate the study scope by means
of questionnaires. In order to produce better outcomes, all approaches to research must therefore
be implemented.
Research Choice- For a researcher, the choice of research is essentially three choices.
This is divided into three parts quantitative, qualitative and mixed techniques. It is primarily an
exploratory thesis within qualitative analysis. It is used so that the subject can be better
understood. In quantitative analysis, empirical data or hard information about the subject is used

for quantity. Another choice for selecting research is a mixed process. This has been including
qualitative analysis as well as quantitative research.
In conducting the present research, there has been qualitative research used becuse it
helps a researcher to build up data and information. As this helps a researcher to accumulate data
to provide the detailed information and also hard facts (Manuel and et. al., 2017).
Research strategies- It is related to collecting the information and conducting the data
and information in an effective manner. There are different research strategies such as
questionnaire, observation, focus groups etc.
There has been questionnaire used as an effective strategy that helps in collecting the data
and information on specific subject area (Medina, 2017). Through using the questionnaire, large
number of data can be collection regarding workplace discrimination within limited time period.
Time horizon-

Data collection- It is related collects the information and data from relevant sources. Primary
and secondary are two different data collection methods.
In conducting the present research, there has been primary method used as to develop the
questionnaire and collecting the information from chosen respondents. The questionnaire
consists different questions regarding the workplace discrimination (Mennicke and et. al., 2018).
Sampling- This is concerned with selecting the respondents from whole population for
collection of relevant data. Probabilistic and non- probabilistic are two different sampling
methods.
In present research, random sampling method has been used as this is a part of
probabilistic sampling. The main reason behind using this sampling method is that it gives the
equal chance to chosen respondents. With the help of this method, 30 respondents have been
chosen (Randall and et. al., 2017).
Ethical consideration- In existing research, there are principles of research ethics, such
as fairness and honesty, objectivity, fairness, transparency, respect for intellectual property,
privacy, disclosure of liability, informed consent, etc. These are all the key research criteria
which will help a researcher carry out any research project in an ethical and systemic way. As it
helps a researcher accomplish research goals and objectives within a given time period
(Rummell and Tokar, 2016).

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONS
Data Sheet
Q1) Do you have understanding about workplace discrimination? Frequency
a) Yes 25
b) No 5
Q2) Does workplace discrimination develops negative impact on
employee’s performance?
Frequency
a) Yes 23
b) No 7
Q3) On which basis discrimination arise at workplace? Frequency
a) Age 10
b) Gender 12
c) Religion 8
Q4) What are the main causes of discrimination at workplace? Frequency
a) Retaliation 10
b) Poor communication 10
c) Abusive relationship 10
Q5) What are the issues arise at workplace from the discrimination in
Starbucks?
Frequency
a) Reduce employee morale 15
b) Enhance employee turnover 5
c) Minimize organisational productivity 10
Q6) Does age discrimination develops negative impact on
performance level of staff members in Starbucks?
Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 10
Q7) What necessary measures Starbucks needs to taken for prevent
the workplace from discrimination?
Frequency
a) Provide training 10