A Study on Equality and Diversity in the Workplace: Marks & Spencer

This report delves into the critical topics of workplace equality and diversity, focusing on the issue of discrimination within companies, particularly using Marks & Spencer as a case study. The research employs various methodologies, including literature reviews, and data collection through questionnaires, to analyze the impact of discrimination on employees. It explores the concepts of equality and diversity, identifies challenges faced by employees, and examines strategies implemented by management to foster a discrimination-free environment. The report provides a detailed analysis of the collected data, offering insights into the problems caused by workplace discrimination, such as reduced job satisfaction, low morale, and conflicts. It then recommends actionable strategies for companies like Marks & Spencer to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace, emphasizing the importance of training, cross-cultural understanding, and policy adjustments. The report concludes with a reflection on the research process and the implications of its findings.

Research on Equality and
Diversity in the workplace

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The mentioned research project considers information about the topic “workplace
discrimination”. In the place of work of a company, there are several kind of issues are faced due
to equality and diversity which occurs discrimination. In term of gathering information about it,
the research use different research methods and using questionnaire tool to analyse effective
information about it. Effective finding and recommendations are also defined in context of this
research and issue of workplace discrimination.

Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................4
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES AND DATA COLLECTION.................................................7
DATA ANALYSIS & INTERPRETATION................................................................................11
REFLECTION...............................................................................................................................18
RECOMMENDATION.................................................................................................................19
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................20
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20
APPENDIX I.................................................................................................................................21
APPENDIX II................................................................................................................................23

INTRODUCTION
TOPIC
“To develop an understanding of activities associated with workplace discrimination within
a company”.
It is most crucial for a company to endorse equality and diversity in establishment. It will
assist in executing business practices in appropriate and adequate form. Diversity and equality
will direct to maximise in employment fulfilment in workers and improving their execution. By
endorsing equality and diversity at workplace expected aims and objectives could be
accomplished. For the effective completion of this research project, Marks and Spencer is the
branch which is considered (Khan and et. al., 2019). It is highly acknowledged British firm that
is offering its products and services in different nations of the globe. This enterprise was
incorporated in 1884 by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer. It specialise in clothing, footwear
and trendy accessories products. The document will considered information about research aims,
objective and literature review. Further, it will explain about several research methodologies,
recommendations and reflection.
Research Aim:
“To find out several plan of action that is effective to build and create a discrimination
free workplace.” A case study on Marks & Spencer.
Research Objectives:
 To understand the concept of equality and diversity.
 To determine the issues that is faced by employees due to workplace discrimination
within Marks & Spencer.
 To analyse several strategies implemented by administrators of Marks & Spencer in order
to provide discrimination free environment.
Research questions
 What is the concept of equality & diversity within working environment.
 What are the problems faced by staff members due to discrimination within Marks &
Spencer.
 What are various strategies adopted by managers of Marks & Spencer in order to provide
discrimination free environment.
Rationale for the research
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In the above mentioned research work and investigation is organised in concept
workplace discrimination and how can a working environment make discrimination free. There
are a range of complexities that have to be suffered through establishment when they are
implementing and imposing and discrimination free workplace within the form and strategies are
required to be created in order to deal with it (Kato and Kodama, 2018). Marks & Spencer is
chosen in order to frame several management activities to implement and create discrimination
free workplace. It will assist the company to satisfy several objectives and also maximise their
profitability along with efficiency.
Work Break down structure
It is a tool that is segregated in large projects and in several small factors which can assist
different task to take place in a more appropriate form. It assist in dividing wok and task in small
sections that assists in maximising its efficiency and having cost effectiveness in overall firm. It
is associated with having a hierarchical composition of work that is performed through a project
group so that different deliverable can be formulated. It is connected with appropriate planning
of project, performance of project, monitoring and controlling of several actions that are
connected to project or final reporting (Gordon, 2018). It assist entire project to be accomplished
in adequate form because it is an effective technique to get a specific project to be completed in
particular timeframe.
Gantt Chart
It is a chart that was framed by Henry Gantt who invented this chart in 1910 & 1915.
This chart is utilised to depict relationship among several actions and also associated with current
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schedule status of a project. It is connected with graphical representation of several actions that
have to be executed with reference to particular time frame (Roberson, 2019). In this, time is
denoted n the x axis which is horizontal and different activities and task on the Y axis. It assists
enterprise in having all information and data as well as remaining updates about information of
project. It is also connected with what are addition assets and resource that are required for
getting project being accomplished on time.
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LITERATURE REVIEW
The concept of equality & diversity at workplace
Accordant to the view of Marshall, equality and diversity in working environment
indicates to offering similar or fair growth option to workers. It is included as most crucial
section of company as execution of diversity will direct to maximisation in execution
(Georgiadou, Gonzalez-Perez and Olivas-Lujan, 2019). Marks & Spencer is international firm
and it is organising its business practices in several section of the globe. So it is crucial for this
for this venture to promote equality and diversity in working environment because this will assist
in maximising the moral of workers. Equality and diversity will direct to reduce in
discrimination among workers of several cultures, background, colour, race and religion etc.
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This conception is most crucial for each person who executing in an establishment
because it assists in bringing equal opportunities without any kind of discrimination in working
environment. Equal amount of growth options are being distributed with the assistance of such
conception being accepted through disquieted authorities in any establishment. Diversity at place
of work is mostly connected with advancement of human rights & opportunities and this is with
regards to standards such as dignity (Gottardello, 2019). It is tied up with several individual
components like observing, appreciating and assessment of people’s abilities, foundations and
encounters and then use of these distinction so that there is a requiring employees that can assist
in maintenance of a significant position in rivalry atmosphere.
As per the view of Ruth Mayhew, 2017, Equality and diversity has an important
component that help a firm to accomplish its aims and objectives in an improved form. Diversity
refers to that concept that considers religion, race and other aspects whereas equality refers to
provide equal development options and treatment to the employees in term of language, culture
and religion etc. Implication of this factor in workplace improves whole performance of the
company and also helps to get over with the issues of employees turnover etc. Several workers
can easily be able to communicate appropriately and can administrate effective interaction
among team members in an effective form.
The problems faced by staff members due to discrimination within Marks & Spencer.
There are several complexities and issues that is suffered through workers of particular
enterprise due to maximise in discrimination. It is essential for Marks and Spencer firm to find
out and determine all these problems in reference to minimise its influence.
 Low growth– Due to discrimination within Marks & Spence enterprise, staff members
will not be capable to contribute their maximum effectiveness. It will direct to influence
over their execution and development rate. Discrimination will lead to offer fewer
opportunities to workers that will influence moral of a person (Syed and Ozbilgin, 2019).
Employees will not capable to attain their expected aims and objectives in reference to
discrimination in working environment.
 Reduce job satisfaction– Discrimination in company will direct to maximise
complexities and affect workers. Maximise in organisational issues will lead to impact
over workers execution. Due to discrimination in place of work employees will not feel
fulfilled with their employment.
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 Low morale: When there is discrimination completed in any firm then it directs to
reduction in worker morale because they do not posses fulfilment for their employment
any more that directs to obligation of unfavourable mindset between the entire employees
in a specific establishment (Hossain and et. al., 2019). Such amount of incompetence
among worker may direct to instant negative impact on efficiency of workers. This will
have serious implications on accomplishment of objectives in a company. Conflicts: There are very high chance that if there are discriminatory activities that are
existing in any form then it may directs to occurrence of serious issues between workers.
It is associated with when special action is offered to one worker then it may have a
unfavourable implication in term of attendance of disappointment in another worker that
may direct to issues between workers. It leads to minimise in their involvement regarding
attainment objectives and at same time, it also minimises their satisfaction extent in
working environment.
Determine various strategies adopted by managers of Marks & Spencer in order to provide
discrimination free environment.
It is crucial for the administrator of Marks & Spencer, organisation to minimise
discrimination from working environment and offer discrimination free atmosphere to workers.
For this administrator of respective firm requires offering discrimination free atmosphere to
workers. For this administrator of respective venture requires improving effective plan of
actions. Administrate of Marks & Spencer enterprise requires to offer efficient training to its
workers. It will direct to endorsing equality and diversity at company and minimising
discrimination conflicts. Training and development plan of actions will assist in developing the
execution of respective enterprise and accomplishment of expected objective.
Another plan of action that can be accepted through Marks & Spencer in the enterprise is
associated with having a cross cultural acknowledgement that is most required for dealing with
several challenges which are arising in business while they are willing to accept activities
associated to equality in any venture (Thomson, Wei and Swallow, 2019). Cross culture
communication is also a ability that is very essential for administrators in working environment.
If administration is aware of culture of individual who are performing in their company and their
respective backgrounds that is crucial for dealing of several operations & modifications in
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business. Hence, working environment there must be positivity that can be positivity that can
motivate workers so that they can be engaged in all business actions in an effective form.
As per the view of Cristian Grossmann, 2018, equality and diversity ensure each
individual to put their effective involvement regarding and attainment of business objective in an
effective form. Moreover, diversity objectives to respect recognise ad value employee’s
divergences that promote entire performance in an effective manner. Some of the strategies that
Marks & Spencer implements within its working culture is treating equally, help each worker to
develop their full efficiency (Chang and Milkman, 2020). With the help of it, enterprise can
maximise its market share and size or develop their profitability in an amended manner. Several
polices which are associated to activity of assortment of workers can also be reframed so that
there are no discriminatory activities that can direct to discrimination policies in establishment.
Special measures for this consider promotion & recruitment, several kinds of training
programmes for workers who are engaged in hiring and assortment of workers. This will direct
to accomplishment of equality base on all basis such as gender, caste or any such kind of
associated basis.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES AND DATA COLLECTION
There are several methodologies that will assist researcher to collecting and assembling
data. It is crucial that surveyor is utilising accurate and effective methods of data collection
because it will lead to create impact over research project, There are two key sources of
accumulating information is primary and secondary and the description of both methods is
defined as under:
Primary data collection method– This kind of methods is included as correct and
effective form of gathering information. In it, investigator will be capable to collect first hand
and pure information which is never used before. There are several sources by which surveyor
can gather and collect primary information like observation, experiment, survey, interview and
many more. This tool of data collection is needed more time and it is cost consuming that can be
include which is the key limitation of it (Ayega and Muathe, 2018). It is crucial that the
researcher have correct and effective data about the research topic. Primary method will assist in
gathering more reliable and relevant information regarding research topic. In reference to this
research project, the researcher utilise questionnaire to gather information from selected and
targeted people to share their views and ideas in more efficient manner. Due to COVID 19
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pandemic, the primary source of data collection also affect in negative manner, as researcher is
not able to collect information by making direct interaction with people which affect the
authentic and purity of information. Data protection is the main ethics which is related to the r
research as to collect information the investigator use internet and to protect the information the
person use appropriate technology which assist in securing the information which is considered
by the people regarding research. This will create an optimistic impact over research method in
term of enhancing its reliability and importance.
Secondary data collection method– It is another method of data collection and
determining information within less time. It will lead to assemble more useful and effective data
about the topic. There are several sources by which surveyor can collect secondary information
and this considers books and journals, newspaper, article, magazines, business documents,
government sites, companies websites and many more (García Johnson and Otto, 2019). There
are some demerits of gathering data by secondary tool of information gathering because it will
not be capable to offer authorised information. This data collection method disquieted with those
factor in which researcher collect data and information through articles, journals, magazines and
many more which is already available in the marketplace or it is completed by some other
scholars. In context of this report, researcher makes use of different scholars, magazines, articles
and others for gathering the matter associated to data that help to deliver accessible info for other
contributors between marketplaces. In term of data collection, there are diverse issues faced by
the researcher due to data collection because there is not possible to make direct contact and
communication with respondents and representatives which are selected by the surveyor. This
created major problem as when research collect data by direct contact then the person able to
assemble pure and real data, there will no chance to have fake information.
For the completion of this research project, the surveyor will require £30500 and the
financial plan of it is as under:
Particular 2019-2020 (£)
Implementing technology cost 18000
Expenses on promotional activities 6000
Magazines 2500
Expense on training and development
programmes
4000
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