An Investigation into Gender Discrimination and its Impact at Waitrose

This research project investigates gender discrimination in the workplace, specifically focusing on Waitrose, a British supermarket. The study explores the impact of gender discrimination on employee performance and morale, examining factors such as the gender pay gap and unequal opportunities. The research employs a descriptive research design, utilizing a questionnaire distributed to 40 Waitrose employees to gather primary data. The literature review covers the impacts of equality and diversity, as well as gender discrimination in the workplace, and ways organizations deal with gender discrimination. The project aims to identify effective strategies for eliminating gender-based discrimination, including creating inclusive environments, addressing pay gaps, and providing management training. The findings are presented through frequency tables and analysis, offering valuable insights for Waitrose and other businesses seeking to foster a more equitable and productive work environment. The project concludes with recommendations for combating gender discrimination and promoting employee retention.

Research Project

INTRODUCTION
Discrimination at workplace is considered as one of the most important issue which being
seen across the world in different manner. Gender discrimination is acknowledged as one of the
most important issues among them all as it is affecting morale of individual at constant basis and
affecting their working practices (Koch, D'Mello and Sackett, 2015). The present investigation
has been conducted on Waitrose, a British Supermarket which mainly deals in groceries. The
company was incorporated in the year 1904 and headquartered in Bracknell, Victoria, England. It
is the subsidiary of John Lewis Partnership. This investigation will going to cover detailed
information on the present stated issue that is Gender based discrimination at workplace and its
core influence over employees’ performance. Also, it will provide most appropriate suggestions
through which gender discrimination at workplace could be eliminated effectively. In order to do
so in most adequate manner appropriate methodology would be selected effectively. This
investigation would be highly important for the management team of Waitrose, its employees
and other businesses who are also facing issues related to gender discrimination. By attaining
this knowledge businesses would easily provide support to businesses in creating better
environment to work without inclusion of any sort of gender discriminatory practice at
workplace.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
At the initial stage, I would give thank to mentors and guide who have supported me in
completing the investigation and provided me adequate guidance at each and every level so that I
can complete it within the provided timeframe. At next, I want to thank overall team of Waitrose
who have equally shown their contribution and provided me desired data with which I have
drawn valid outcome. At last, I want to thanks my family and nearest friends as they have trusted
me and shown required support in the whole work process.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...............................................................................................................3
Question...........................................................................................................................................1
Rationale & Objectives....................................................................................................................1
Rationale..........................................................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................1
RESEARCH DESIGN and information sources.............................................................................3
Research Philosophy..............................................................................................................3
Research design......................................................................................................................4
Primary and/or Secondary data collection sources, populations............................................4
QUESTIONNAIRE................................................................................................................4
Research Approach.................................................................................................................5
Research Choice.....................................................................................................................6
Research Strategy...................................................................................................................6
Sampling.................................................................................................................................6
Methods you used to collect the data.....................................................................................6
Methods you used to analyse this data...................................................................................6
Analysis & Findings........................................................................................................................7
Frequency table......................................................................................................................7
Evaluation......................................................................................................................................17
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................19

Question
How do you know to understand about the impact gender discrimination in the workplace
and what are the ways for eliminating gender basis discrimination at workplace?
Rationale & Objectives
Aim
"To determine the ways for eliminating gender basis discrimination at workplace”. A study on
Waitrose.
OBJECTIVES
 To investigate the impact of E & D in the workplace.
 To explore the impact gender discrimination in the workplace.
 To research the way organisations are dealing with gender discrimination.
QUESTIONS
 How E&D impact in the workplace?
 What is the impact of gender discrimination in the workplace?
 What are different ways organisations used to dealing with gender discrimination?
Rationale
The purpose of conducting this investigation is the personal interest of investigator for
developing their research skill by simply investigating detailed information over the same. This
developed knowledge would effective support investigator in conducting more effective research
in the near future.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Impact of Equality &Diversity in the workplace
As per the thought of Rosenblat and et. al., (2017), it has been identified that equality
define as a strategy which ensure each and every person have equal opportunities at the
workplace and must be treated equally without any bias ness. On the other hand, diversity refers
to the process where differences between people, group are putting positive value on the
differences. It has also been examined that equality& diversity are associated to promoting equal
opportunity to each and every person as per their capabilities and free from any sort of
discrimination. It is also very essential for the business organisations to adopt all these practices
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in a legal manner which ensure that there might not be any kind of discrimination among
individuals at the working environment. Each and every staff member must be treated in equal
manner and must be given similar opportunities apart from on the basis of age, gender, culture,
educational background, sexuality & any kind of disability. It has been identified that Equality as
well as diversity creates both positive as well as negative influence on the workplace. In
reference to the positive impact organisation get wider range of opportunity by attracting
individuals towards the company. This will provide high range of profitability and assist in
developing positive image of the company at the competitive marketplace. Whereas, diversity
creates negative influence as employees are from different backgrounds and due to their different
thoughts and opinions conflicts and disputes arise at the workplace. This as a result affect the
overall performance of employees and leads towards higher employee turnover ratio.
Impact of gender discrimination in the workplace
As per the viewpoint of Miller and Vagins, (2018) Gender discrimination associated to
the point where male and female employees getting opportunities on the basis of their gender.
Employee experience discrimination because of their gender which influences the overall result
in a negative manner. Impact of discrimination is usually negative in nature which can be in form
of anxiety, stress and depression which seriously affect the health of staff members and reduce
the efficiency of workers. This influences their mental health, reduce psychological reactivity
which affect their whole performance in a negative manner. It has also been identified that
gender discrimination reduces the performance of employees as they feel demotivated and does
not perform in an effective and appropriate manner. In reference to the present context, it is
examined that Waitrose mainly reported around 13.9% mean on the gender pay gap. It can easily
be understood that, discrimination against females on job is highly affecting the quality of life
which creates negative influence on the growth and development of individuals.
Way organisations are dealing with gender discrimination
On the basis of Zhao and et. al., (2018) opinion it is said that for every organisation like Waitrose
need to find out some effective measures so that they can eliminating gender based
discrimination from their workplace. There are ample numbers of ways which are going to be
discussed as follows:
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Create diversity from inside out- Organisation reduce years of experience requirements
from their job posting. This is the kind of procedure which will help in motivating educated and
qualified women that they must apply for job.
Reduce or eliminate gender pay gap-Pay gap among men as well as women does not
continue unless an effective confidentiality environment in a business entity is promoted. It has
been said that there is a requirement to create new working environment of accessibility which
motivates Waitrose business entity in order to discuss wage difference among females & males
as well as avoid for asking the applicants what was their last job salary.
Provide effective Training for the Management- Staff members need to be identify as
well as report discrimination faced at workplace, but on the same note management team need to
respond effectively to all the discrimination complaints. It has also been analysed that this will
also motivate staff members if management team adopt effective training session related to
discrimination grievances. This will help in producing positive working environment for the staff
member and help in increasing their efficiency and effectiveness. In addition to this, it has also
been said that management team of Waitrose must obtain regular basis training sessions, get
feedbacks on the working environment, and many more. This will help them in order to deal
with discrimination arise at workplace in an effective manner and reduce the negative impact of
such issues on the performance of employees.
RESEARCH DESIGN and information sources
Research methodology is an essential section of every investigation which provides support
in completing whole research in the systematic manner. For present investigation, the respective
researcher makes use of research onion which includes several layers. All of these are mentioned
below:
Research Philosophy
This layer simply provides indication on the belief that is taken by the researcher for
completing this research it is mainly of two type’s that is interpretivism and positivism. Among
them all Positivism research philosophy has been used by the investigator as it provides specific
knowledge over the subject area.
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Research design
Research design is referred to as best structure followed by the researcher while executing
research on the specified topic. Research design is of many types such as descriptive, correlation,
experimental, review, meta analytic etc. With reference to present investigation, among them all
investigators has selected descriptive form of research design as questionnaire has been used
under the survey method. This simply provides detailed information to the investigator which
supported in obtaining outcome towards the same in lucrative form.
Primary and/or Secondary data collection sources, populations
For performing present investigation in detailed manner investigator has selected mutually
the secondary and primary form of data collection sources for collecting huge data on research
problem that contributes in attaining research outcome. In primary method, questionnaire has
been particularly chosen by the researcher under survey method. This questionnaire would
further filled by sample population that is 40 employees of Waitrose. Whereas, books, journal,
online articles and other published data has been adopted by the investigator as the main
secondary source. Developed questionnaire for this research is stated as below:
QUESTIONNAIRE
Q1) Have you heard of the Equality Act 2010?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) What impact does equality and diversity has in the workplace?
a) Positive impact
b) Negative impact
Q3a) As an employee, have you ever felt discriminated in the workplace?
a) Yes
b) No
Q3b) If yes did this impact your performance level?
a) Yes
b) No
Q4) In your opinion what are the causes of gender discrimination in the workplace?
a) Abusive relationship
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b) Communication issue
c) Leadership style
d) organisation structures
Q5) Do you think that gender discrimination arise the conflict at workplace?
a) Yes
b) No
Q6) What issues are faced by companies due to gender discrimination? (Please select all that
apply)
a) Increase absenteeism
b) Increase employee turnover
c) Minimise organisational profit
d) Any other (please state)
Q7) What measures do workplaces take to eliminate gender discrimination in the workplace?
(Please select all that apply)
a) Educate employees
b) Provide training
c) Develop equality policies
d) Any other (please state)
Q8) Should organisations treat all genders equally at workplace?
a) Yes
b) No
Q9) Does gender equality contribute to employee retention??
a) Yes
b) No
Q10) What recommendations would you give to your organisation to combat gender
discrimination.
Research Approach
Deductive and inductive are two main forms of research approach used by researcher as per
the core requirement of their research. For performing current study deductive approach has been
used by the researcher as this is based on quantitative method and provides accurate research
outcomes.
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Research Choice
While carrying out investigation, researcher have to make several choices among them
main is selection of right method or methods. Research choices are mainly of three types that is
mono method, mixed method and multi methods. For current study, mono method has been
adopted by the investigator as it include Quantitative method as research choice which provides
the authentic and reliable information. In order to analyse the findings, the respective
investigator have made use of graphs as the they are self explanatory and helps reader in
determining findings by reviewing it properly.
Research Strategy
For executing this research in effective manner, the respective researcher focuses on
making strategy of using Questionnaire as its core research strategy because it helps in gathering
more data in less time period.
Sampling
Sampling is the effective method by which sample size is selected from total population.
Sampling is bifurcated into two parts such as probabilistic and non probabilistic. The sample
population has been selected for the current investigation with random sampling method under
probabilistic method. 40 employees have been chosen as the sample size.
Methods you used to collect the data
Questionnaire method has used for collecting utmost primary data from the chosen sample
size. The tool has been selected for obtaining accurate data on research problem with the
inclusion of several views and perception over the same.
Methods you used to analyse this data
In order to analyse the gathered information in rightful manner, investigator has made use
of quantitative method as it helps them out in obtain valid research outcome. In context of
present research the main reason behind choosing this research method is the initial selection of
deductive approach for executing whole research work in rightful manner.
Access: Access to the gathered information would be given to the investigator and
authorised person only. This is so because that the data is highly confidential. Also, all of the
gathered information would be stored with the security check in with the motive of maintaining
confidentiality.
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Cost: This is determined as the most important part of the research which helps investigator
in completing whole research activities effectively. Here, it can be said that researcher has made
budget for the activities which would be executed while conducting research. The estimated
budget for the current research is £ 200 which includes several activities such as internet
connection, stationery, access to secondary material, manpower, equipments and others.
Ethical issues: Researcher has to consider several ethical norms at the time of conducting
research in an appropriate manner. By following this, they can keep themselves secure from legal
issues. For conducting this investigation, researcher focuses taking permission from respondents
before using their provided information in the same study.
Analysis & Findings
Frequency table
Questionnaire
Q1) Have you heard of the Equality Act 2010? Frequency
a) Yes 35
b) No 5
Q2) What impact does equality and diversity has in the workplace? Frequency
a) Positive impact 33
b) Negative impact 7
Q3 a) As an employee, have you ever felt discriminated in the
workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 32
b) No 8
Q3b) If yes did this impact your performance level? Frequency
a) Yes 33
b) No 7
Q4) In your opinion what are the causes of gender discrimination in the
workplace?
Frequency
a) Abusive relationship 10
b) Communication issue 11
c) Leadership style 10
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d) organisation structures 9
Q5) Do you think that gender discrimination arise the conflict at
workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 36
b) No 4
Q6) What issues are faced by companies due to gender discrimination?
(Please select all that apply)
Frequency
a) Increase absenteeism 12
b) Increase employee turnover 8
c) Minimise organisational profit 15
d) Any other (please state) 5
Q7) What measures do workplaces take to eliminate gender
discrimination in the workplace? (Please select all that apply)
Frequency
a) Educate employees 11
b) Provide training 9
c) Develop equality policies 18
d) Any other (please state) 2
Q8) Should organisations treat all genders equally at workplace? Frequency
a) Yes 36
b) No 4
Q9) Does gender equality contribute to employee retention? Frequency
a) Yes 35
b) No 5
Theme 1: Equality Act 2010
Q1) Have you heard of the Equality Act 2010? Frequency
a) Yes 35
b) No 5
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