Literature Review: Equality and Diversity in the Workplace

This literature review examines the concept of equality within the workplace, drawing upon various scholarly articles and viewpoints. It begins by defining a literature review and its objectives, followed by an in-depth analysis of equality in the workplace. The review explores the benefits of a diverse and equal workplace, such as increased innovation, enhanced productivity, and improved company reputation. It also addresses the importance of cultural diversity, commitment to equality, and the implementation of policies to prevent discrimination and harassment. The review covers the impacts of globalization on workplace diversity, and the ways in which companies can foster equality, including altering hiring practices, promoting leadership roles for both men and women, ensuring equal pay, and prioritizing work-life balance. The review also touches upon potential drawbacks of workplace equality, such as the loss of unique cultural traits and the need for formal policies to support equality. The conclusion emphasizes the vital role of literature reviews in research and how they can contribute to building a positive work environment. References to books and journals are included, supporting the analysis of the topic.

LITERATURE REVIEW
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INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................................3
What is literature review and what does it achieve?..................................................................................3
Literature Review on the topic “Equality in the Workplace”....................................................................3
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES...............................................................................................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
For conducting a study or make any project, mostly all researchers used to gather
adequate amount of information (McDonald, 2012). For this purpose, they used secondary
sources to make literature review under which different authors’ point of view has evaluated.
The present study is based on equality in the workplace, where some articles are extracted from
internet access, to conduct literature review on the same.
What is literature review and what does it achieve?
A literature review is the most important part of a research where a survey is conducted
on past data, that has been gathered by other authors. By analyzing various point of view, they
can address issues and obtain valid outcomes a well. It majorly covers four main objectives for
analyzing a research, that are- surveys the research in a specific area of organization or
academic, synthesis data into a short and relevant summary, analyze data through identification
of gaps between previous and current knowledge in critical manner, finally present the entire
information in organized and significant manner (Lanctôt and Guay, 2014). This would aid
researchers in achieving the main objectives and goals that are set at initial stage of research, for
making a project. Henceforth, literature review contributes a specific role in investigating a
particular topic and obtaining effective outcomes. This is because this section helps in
identifying and understanding useful information on a particular subject, which enhances
academic skills of project-makers also.
Literature Review on the topic “Equality in the Workplace”
As per the article given by Merhawi Kidane, Oxford dictionary describe diverse culture
as when there is existence of different different culture or ethnic group in a society. Diverse
culture at a workplace is consider as a outcome of a practices, traditional, beliefs of employees
on the basis of age, ethics, age, gender, religions and many more (Beirne and Hunter, 2013).
Globalization of economic is one of the major driving force of diverse culture at a workplace. In
an organization employer develop their strategies and plans by considering variety of culture at
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its workplace. Employer also celebrating employees diversity at working place in order to
motivate them. Cultural diversity is beneficial for an organization in various ways such as when
there is diverse culture at workplace an organization able to gain benefit of innovation. This is so
because when there is variety of employees at workpalce an organization able to get different
different ideas which is unique for each other, that will help them in conducting innovation in
appropriate manner (The Importance of Cultural Diversity in the Workplace, 2017).
Along with this by adopting culture diversity in effective manner at an organization, they able to
enhance their productivity as well as reputation in appropriate way.
As per the article given by Wanda Thibodeaux, it has been evaluated that due to
globalisation, every organisation whether working at large or small scale, get chance to move
business in international market (Advantage and Disadvantage of Equality in the workplace.
2018). In this regard, they provide job opportunity to workers belong to different background,
experience and beliefs, to work with them. As a result, it increases diversity at such companies
where, employers give support to develop equality in the workplace. But before integrating this
concept, corporations need to concern on benefits and drawbacks of the same.
Opportunity: When equality at workplace is present where all individuals have given
chance to take opportunity for career development, then in such condition employers become
able to enhance productivity of each worker (Guay, Goncalves and Jarvis, 2014). But, for this
purpose it is important to give responsibility to effective leaders for managing the entire
workforce.
Lawsuit Protection: At the time of publication, rules and regulations of UK at local,
state as well as federal level, concerns more on supporting workplace equality and preventing
instances of discrimination. In this regard, when a company promotes equality and give
commitment to maintain positive culture at workplace. Therefore, lawsuits due to violations of
regulations related to discrimination is less likely for such companies.
Loss of unique culture: Workplace equality, although includes some drawbacks also
because it mainly emphasizes within lens of tolerance as well as cultural celebration. This have
reflected that within HR practice, no one culture can be promoted in organisations that concern
on bringing diversity and developing at workplace. All with this, employees belong from
different backgrounds and areas may also lose traits, which make them unique from each other.
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Bureaucracy: To support and strive the workplace equality, regulatory bodies as well as
employers of organizations also have to define in exact manner about the same (Hayes and et.al.,
2012). This would can be difficult for both because perceptions of equality of every person are
not always same. Corporations have to make formal policies for developing equality in
workplace. In this regard, they can’t provide incentives and not even enforce disciplinary action.
Along with this, employers have to organize training programs for their workers to reduce gap
skills and create equality as per basis of business policies. This would may lead to take workers
away from their job role and chance of hiring by others also increases in such condition.
According to perception of Ryan Westwood, it has evaluated that equality begins with
developing such a culture, where every member feels valued and being included in each business
activities. Equality in the corporate world leads to reduce discrimination and developing feeling
of collaboration in workers, having different backgrounds (Why equality matters and four ways
to develop an authenticate?, 2019). It will help in reducing conflicts among people who are
distinct on the basis of culture, race, gender, linguistic, nationality and more. Therefore, to
develop equality, organisations need to consider on following four main ways-
 Commitment to bring equality at workplace: For responding towards business trends,
keeping equality is the initial stage, that assist organisation to give commitment for
bringing equal and positive work culture at workplace (Ravazzani, 2016). It helps in
building a company's brand both at national and international market.
 Support non-profits who develop equality: Involvement of community helps
organisations in building their brands. For this purpose, it is essential to create
empowerment and make an equal pace within business, where every eligible individual
get opportunity to work and get equal pay.
 Monitor company's policy with an equality audit: Having a large gap between male
and female workers' ratio reflects inequality. Along with this, less or no women hold
management position also shows the human resource of a policy. Therefore, company
needs to pay attention on giving employment to equal number of males and females.
Here, monitoring policy with an equality audit like at the time payroll, must ensure that
every member get equal pay as per holding position. Furthermore, corporations also need
to be transparent about business' desire for embracing equality by measuring gender gap.
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 Develop in-house support groups which promote diversity: By promoting diversity at
workplace and giving equal opportunity to eligible candidates, aid a company in
increasing its productivity and brand equity at marketplace. For this purpose,
organisations require to give commitment to enforce as well as uphold a work
environment which is supported and informed.
According to the views of Arvind Rongala, it has been analysed that achievement of
gender equality refers to most essential factors to gain competitiveness and growth of business.
Here, creating equality is considered as more than a goal for building good governance as well as
promoting sustainable development. Therefore, for promoting equality at workplace,
management of a company can use following methods:-
 Altering hiring practices to increase diversity: It has evaluated that today the
companies which have diverse culture, give outstanding performances as compared to
others (Baird, McFerran and Wright, 2014). Therefore, promoting gender equality and
altering hiring practices with better job practices, help in creating diversity at workplace.
 Considering leadership roles for both men and women equally: By granting
leadership roles to deserving candidates help in promoting quality at workplace. It also
boost morale of workers as well as give benefits to employers to manage them more
appropriately.
 Equal pay: Giving equal pay to workers by considering their performance rather than
characteristics also results in eliminating discrimination and promoting equality at
workplace.
 Prioritizing work-life balance: Due to lack of support and proper environment from
childhood, female workers generally find it difficult to achieve career goals. Therefore, to
support them in creating work-life balance and relive stress leaves, companies need to
provide proper allowance to female workers. It includes maternity leaves, flexible
working arrangement and more.
 Strict and effective policies to stop against harassment and workplace offense: As
diversity at workplace sometime create discrimination also where male workers or people
having good background, gains more priority and benefits as compared to others.
Therefore, companies need to frame effective and strict policies for eliminating
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discrimination and prevent workers from harassment and abusive activities. This will
help in boosting morale of employees and encourage them to retain for longer period in
such a positive environment of workplace.
 Create an open minded atmosphere: Diversity at workplace can also be achieved by
developing open minded policy, where every associated workers, managers and team
leaders are allowed to share their thoughts and feelings for improving working culture.
As per Louise Petty, it has analysed that main aim behind promoting equality and
diversity at workplace it to make sure that in a company- everyone has access to take
opportunities and receive fair treatment as well (How Equality & Diversity Improves Your
Workplace: Examining the Benefits, 2016). This would reflected that every person in an
organisation deserves to get right behaviour and get equal treatment as others. Organisational
culture of companies must be free from discrimination, victimisation, harassment and bullying
type of activities. For this purpose, strict policies should be made as per adherence of
employment legislations established by regulatory authorities. It includes Equality Act 2010 and
Protected Characteristics, that makes it unlawful for companies to discriminate against workers
as well as puts an onus on businesses, for prohibiting prejudicial behaviour. This would make
judgements for corporations so that every associated and eligible persons access to same
opportunities for career development. In this regard, benefits of diversity when a company builds
a diverse culture can be examined by few examples as given below:
 Employers become able to hire top talented workers if their job applications are opened
for everyone
 Staff members at workplace also feel empowered by getting equality and respectful
treatment
 Diversity lead to increase creativity and generate unique business ideas for product and
service development
 Employee turnover will also reduce if a company promotes equality at workplace and
runs ethical culture.
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CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from this assignment that literature review plays an important role
in a research. It provides a number of sources from where researchers can extract data, by
reviewing perceptions of different authors and professionals. In context with analyzing the
importance of equality in workplace, it has been analyzed through literature review that
concerning on this concept, corporations can build its brand image. Along with this, developing
equality in the business where every person get equals pay scale and opportunity for career
development, helps in creating and maintaining positive environment also.
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REFERENCES
Books and 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>
Why equality matters and four ways to develop an authenticate?. 2019. [Online] Available
Through:<https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanwestwood/2018/02/23/why-equality-
matters-and-4-ways-to-develop-an-authentic-workplace/#698879d16eb1>.
Advantage and Disadvantage of Equality in the workplace. 2018. [Online] Available Through:
<https://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-disadvantages-equality-workplace-
24365.html>.
How equality and diversity improves your workplace: Examining the benefits. 2016. [Online]
Available Through: <https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/equality-diversity-
benefits-workplace/>.
6 Ways to Promote Gender equality at workplace. 2019. [Online] Available
Through:<https://www.invensislearning.com/blog/workplace-gender-equality/>.
How Equality & Diversity Improves Your Workplace: Examining the Benefits. 2016. [Online]
Available Through:<https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/equality-diversity-
benefits-workplace/>.
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