Equality and Diversity in the Workplace: A SOHO Wholesale Study

This research project investigates the influence of equality and diversity practices in reducing workplace discrimination at SOHO Wholesale, a ladies' clothing wholesaler in London. The report includes an executive summary, introduction, literature review, and research methodology. The study employs both primary (questionnaires) and secondary research methods to gather data on workplace discrimination, its effects on employees, and the benefits of implementing equality and diversity practices. The research aims to identify effective ways to prevent discrimination and promote a more inclusive work environment. The report analyzes research findings, discusses the merits and limitations of data collection and analysis approaches, and concludes with recommendations for SOHO Wholesale. The research also considers cost, access, and ethical issues related to the study.

Research Project
(Equality and Diversity in the
workplace)
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Executive Summary
This research project is mainly based on the theme of equality and diversity and under this
theme workplace discrimination is a chosen topic. Main purpose of this report is to find out the
influence of equality as well as diversity practices in reducing discrimination at workplace within
SOHO Wholesale. In order to accomplish this motive, various activities was completed by
investigator successfully. Review of literature is effective because it supported in gathering of
secondary data. Research methodology has been done by using primary methods for collecting
quantitative information by using questionnaire. Data analysis has been completed with the
support of questionnaire. Conclusion was done by summarising entire information of report in
short and clear manner.
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Contents
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................4
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................4
Research proposal including research questions and literature review ......................................4
Different methods and approaches of research for conducting primary and secondary
investigation.................................................................................................................................6
Research methods apart from their justifications ........................................................................8
TASK 2..........................................................................................................................................10
Primary and secondary research by using cost, access and ethical issues ................................10
Analysation of research findings and data ................................................................................10
Merits, Pitfalls and limitations of the data collection and data analysis approaches.................16
Communication of research outcomes to the indented audience ..............................................16
Reflection ..................................................................................................................................19
Alternative research methodology and lesson learnt in view of the research outcomes ..........20
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................20
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................21
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INTRODUCTION
Equality is regarding making sure each person has an equal chance, and is not treated
unfavourably due to their characteristics. Diversity is regarding taking account of the differences
among employee and groups of employee, and placing a favourable value on those differences
(Abendroth and et. al., 2017). Both are effective practices that will be essential within an
organisation in reduction of workplace discrimination effectively. For this project SOHO
Wholesale is a chosen Ladies clothing wholesalers supplying retailers and chain stores in
London. Company faced discrimination issue at their workplace that has negative impact on
them and their employees.
TASK 1
Research proposal including research questions and literature review
Discrimination within a workplace is based on some prejudices and takes place when an
employee is not treated favourably due to their gender, religion, pregnancy, sexuality, race and
maternity or disability (Abraham, 2017). Workplace discrimination has negative effect over
employees as well as an organisational productivity by maximising turnover rate of employees,
reducing productivity, increasing harassment etc.
Research Aim: “To determine the influence of equality and diversity practices in reducing
workplace discrimination within an organisation.” A Case study on SOHO Wholesale
Research objectives
 To know the idea of discrimination at workplace.
 To determine several benefits that SOHO Wholesale will obtain by elimination of
workplace discrimination. To find out ways through which equality and diversity practices for preventing workplace
discrimination.
Research Questions:
 Explain about the concept of workplace discrimination.
 What are the several benefits that SOHO Wholesale will obtain by elimination of
workplace discrimination?
 What are the effective ways through which equality and diversity practices for reducing
workplace discrimination?
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Literature Review
It is important section of research project that facilitates in gathering of data by using
secondary sources which are articles, publication research, journals, magazines and so on. As per
the present investigation, the main research gap is the influence of equality and diversity
practices in overcoming discrimination within an organisation (Bryson, 2017). For overcoming
research gap, there will be requirement of using research questions which has been explained as
below:
Explain regarding the idea of discrimination in a workplace.
As per viewpoint of Buttner and Lowe, (2017), Workplace discrimination is a biggest
issues that effects on employee's performance and productivity level. Discrimination in the
workplace is based on different prejudices as well as happens when a worker is not treated
favourably and fairly because of gender, race and many types of discrimination. This has
negative impact on employees by reducing their performance level that turn to impact on
business image and sales.
On the other hand Devine and et. al., (2017), discrimination in the workplace develops
the unfavourable impact over an organization. This develop poor working environment at
workplace that reduce the productivity of the business. Discrimination also increase conflict
among the employees as well as managers that negatively effects on their relations. Thus is a
primary and biggest reason that the business manager should manage operations in effective
manner and also ensure that, employees are not discriminated on the basis of gender, race and
colour. It can boost the efficiency levels of company, while also allowing workers to efficiently
reach their goals.
What are the several benefits that SOHO Wholesale will obtain by elimination of
workplace discrimination?
According to the Mayhew (2020), elimination of discrimination at workplace is important
and essential part for the growth and success of SOHO Wholesale. There are some benefits
which have been explained as below:
Employee engagement: Eliminating workplace discrimination is important for company
in sustaining productive employees where workforce believe their mangers value their talents
and expertise.
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Reduced employee turnover: This is another benefit gain by SOHO Wholesale by
reducing the discrimination. This will help company in achievement of better growth and
retaining of highly experienced workers that resulted in improved brand reputation at
marketplace (Dobbin and Kalev, 2019).
What are the effective ways through which equality and diversity practices for reducing
discrimination in the workplace?
According to the Bryson (2017), Equality act 2010 refers to an effective practice of
equality and diversity that will be beneficial and useful for SOHO Wholesale in reduction of any
kind of discrimination at workplace. This act support and protect employees from different form
of workplace discrimination including age, gender, race, disability etc. Therefore is a best way
for eliminating discrimination at workplace.
On the other hand, Huffman, King and Reichelt, (2017), development of diversity
training to the employees is also effective and essential way for reducing discrimination in the
working environment. This training will help diverse workforce by increasing knowledge and
engagement towards business activities that turn to impact over business growth of SOHO
Wholesale.
Different methods and approaches of research for conducting primary and secondary
investigation
Research methodology refers to the important and essential process within an investigation
because it facilitate researcher in gathering and analysing of data from number of approaches,
methods or techniques. Main purpose of this section is to helps researcher by providing choice of
research to collect and analysis accurate information about the current study (Janssens and
Steyaert, 2019). In this section of research project, number of effective and useful methods and
approaches has been included which are shown as below:
Research approach: This section of methodology is a part of data analysis and has two
different approaches such as inductive and deductive. Both are consider main approaches of
analysing data but for performing research on existing topic deductive approach will be used
because it assist in analysing of quantitative and numerical information in less time period.
Inductive is another type of approach that will be not appropriate for present topic because it
need quantitative information and also require maximum cost and time as compare to deductive
approach (Kundu and Mor, 2017).
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Sampling: 40 employees of SOHO Wholesale have been recruited randomly under
probability sampling. Main purpose for using probability sampling as it not require more time
and helps in selection of larger sample size as compare to non-probability sampling.
Data collection method: There are two essential sources for gathering information about
the topic such as primary and secondary. These are effective methods of data collection that has
been followed within a current study for collecting data regarding the effectiveness of equality
and diversity practices in eliminating of discrimination. For primary method, questionnaire has
been applied, whereas for secondary method books, magazines etc. sources will be used within a
study (Lloren and Parini, 2017).
Questionnaire
Q1) Are you aware regarding the concept of workplace discrimination in SOHO Wholesale?
a). Yes
b). No
Q2) What are the influences of equality and diversity practices in working environment of
SOHO Wholesale?
a). Improves employees performance
b). Add new skills to team
c). Protect employees from any kind of discrimination
Q3) Does diversity and equality practices help SOHO Wholesale in reduction of discrimination at
working environment?
a). Strongly agree
b). Agree
c). Disagree
d). Strongly disagree
Q4) What are the issues faced by SOHO Wholesale due to discrimination at their workplace?
a). High employee turnover
b). Lack of Employee’s performance
c). Reduced productivity
Q5) What are the impact of workplace discretion on employees of SOHO Wholesale?
a). Lack of confidence
b). Poor motivation
c). Mental and physical effects
Q6) What kind of ways will be used by SOHO Wholesale for preventing the discrimination at
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workplace?
a). Hold a team training sections
b). Set the complaint protocol
c). Use fair language
Q7) What are the effective strategies that may be require by SOHO Wholesale for promoting
equality and diversity practices at workplace?
a). Identify and prevent unconscious bias
b). Put equality policies in Place
c). Continuously assess employee needs
Q8) What are the several benefits that SOHO Wholesale will obtain by elimination of workplace
discrimination?
a). High engagement of employees
b). Decreased turnover
c). Increased employee and client satisfaction
Q9) How to manage equality and diversity practices in the workplace of SOHO Wholesale?
a). Opt for a gender-diverse workforce
b). Equality between workers is essential
c). Provide diversity training and guidance to employees equally
Q10) Provide recommendations to SOHO Wholesale for protecting employees from any kind of
discrimination at workplace.
Research methods apart from their justifications
For executing current research appropriately, researcher has made use of primary technique
and secondary method for amassing information. Primary technique has been used to accumulate
first hand records from respondent that have provided correct and legitimate records. The
primary cause for choosing secondary records is to acquire most statistics in the limited period of
time. The typical information amassed with this became later analysed by the use of deductive
approach. This approach has correctly contributed in obtaining legitimate studies final results in
the provided time frame. These techniques were selected on the basis of the research onion
framework (Marchiondo, Ran and Cortina, 2018).
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Data collection sources: Primary as well as secondary are two effective sources of data
collection that will be used within a researcher for gaining valid results within less time period.
Both sources of data collection has been explained as below:
Primary research: This is a type of research that helps researcher in collection of data
from the respondents. There are different methods for gathering primary information such as
questionnaire, focus group, interviews, surveys etc. All these are consider main tools of primary
data collection but for doing present investigation, questionnaire is more suitable tool.
Advantages Disadvantages
 One of the main advantage of primary
method is it provides valid and reliable
information regarding topic or research.
 Main disadvantage of primary research
is it requires maximum time.
Secondary research: This is another type of investigation that support researcher in
gathering of secondary information from different sources including articles, magazines, books,
publication study and many more. All these sources are used by researcher for literature review
because this activity of study is completely based on secondary information.
Advantages Disadvantages
Secondary research is a time and cost effective
that will be useful for researcher in gaining of
reliable outputs in less time period.
For collecting secondary information, there is
requirement of different sources such as
magazines, books etc. that is not effective for
researcher.
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TASK 2
Primary and secondary research by using cost, access and ethical issues
Cost- The specific cost for the proper completion of the work is required in each project.
For the current research investigator, the approximate budget of £ 200 is needed to conduct
overall research activities. The costs are also important for managing resources like: internet
connectivity, stationery, secondary material access and many others.
Access- The main and secondary approaches are used by many sources for conducting
effective research investigators. The researcher is responsible for keeping knowledge obtained
from primary sources confidential. The researcher ensures that only the researcher and other
approved authority can access the information collected (Nishii and et. al., 2018).
Ethical issues- In order to conduct a research, the investigators needs to follow every sort
of ethical values and standard so that the valid research results can be easily obtained properly.
To perform this research ethically, researchers agree to all participating respondents and ask
them every time they use their data for research purposes.
Analisation of research findings and data
For analysis of data collected from primary sources, there has been content analytical tool
used. Under this kind of techniques, researchers need to address each topic in a short time frame,
resulting in the exploration of observational evidence (Roberson, Buonocore and Yearwood,
2017). In addition, a number of steps must be taken that render the frequency table, present
graphs and effectively interpret the results of the study.
Q1) Are you have idea regarding the concept of workplace discrimination in
context of SOHO Wholesale?
Frequency
a). Yes 40
b). No 10
Q2) What are the influences of equality and diversity practices in working
environment of SOHO Wholesale?
Frequency
a). Improves employees performance 10
b). Add new skills to team 14
c). Protect employees from any kind of discrimination 16
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Q3) Does diversity and equality practices help SOHO Wholesale in reduction of
discrimination in the workplace?
Frequency
a). Strongly agree 15
b). Agree 20
c). Disagree 3
d). Strongly disagree 2
Q4) What are the issues faced by SOHO Wholesale due to discrimination at their
workplace?
Frequency
a). High employee turnover 16
b). Lack of Employee’s performance 14
c). Reduced productivity 10
Q5) What are the impact of workplace discrimination over employees of company? Frequency
a). Lack of confidence 18
b). Poor motivation 12
c). Mental and physical effects 10
Q6) What kind of ways will be used by SOHO Wholesale for preventing the
discrimination at workplace?
Frequency
a). Hold a team training sections 13
b). Set the complaint protocol 10
c). Use fair language 17
Q7) What are the effective strategies that may be require by SOHO Wholesale for
promoting equality and diversity practices at workplace?
Frequency
a). Identify and prevent unconscious bias 11
b). Put equality policies in Place 15
c). Continuously assess employee needs 14
Q8) What are the several benefits that SOHO Wholesale will obtain by elimination of
workplace discrimination?
Frequency
a). High engagement of employees 15
b). Decreased turnover 14
c). Increased employee and client satisfaction 11
Q9) How to manage equality and diversity practices in the workplace of SOHO
Wholesale?
Frequency
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a). Opt for a gender-diverse workforce 16
b). Equality between workers is essential 14
c). Provide diversity training and guidance to employees equally 10
Q1) Are you have knowledge about the concept of discrimination at workplace of
SOHO Wholesale?
Frequency
a). Yes 40
b). No 10
Q2) What are the influences of equality and diversity practices in working
environment of SOHO Wholesale?
Frequency
a). Improves employees performance 10
b). Add new skills to team 14
c). Protect employees from any kind of discrimination 16
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