The Influence of Gender Pay Gap on Employee Productivity at M&S

This research project examines the influence of the gender pay gap on employee performance and productivity, using Marks and Spencer as a case study. The study explores the concepts of equality and diversity, highlighting their importance for organizational success. The research methodology includes a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data collection through questionnaires and secondary sources. Key findings reveal the negative impacts of unequal pay, including lower employee morale, decreased productivity, and higher turnover rates. The report identifies challenges faced by Marks and Spencer in managing the gender pay gap, such as issues with reporting accuracy and employee demotivation. Recommendations include providing training and development opportunities to address the issue. The research emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations and addresses limitations related to data availability and time constraints, concluding with suggestions for improving gender pay gap management at Marks and Spencer.

RESEARCH PROJECT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The management of equality and diversity is very essential for the success of the
company. The equality is referred to as the providing of better and equal opportunities to all the
employees within the company irrespective if their age, gender, income, experience and other
factors. In contrast to this the diversity is defined as the hiring of employees from the diversified
cultures and backgrounds. Both diversity and equality are important for the success of the
company as this will ensure that the employees within the company are comfortable and satisfied
while working in the company. The current study was based on the company Marks and Spencer
which is a company in the retail sector and which was founded in the year 1884 by Thomas
Spencer and Michael Marks. The company deals in a variety of product and services like food
products, home and furnishing products, clothing, fashion and other related product and services.
The current research was based on the objective of finding the influence of gender pay
gap over the performance and productivity of the workers within the place of work. From the
study it was found that the framing of aim and objective is the crucial stage for the success of the
whole research as the whole research is based on finding the issues of gender pat gap within the
company and with this research it was found that the major issue is the unequal pay, higher
employee turnover, inequality among employees and many others.
Also, in addition to this through the research it was found that the high gender pay gap
also affects the productivity of the employees and the working capacity of the employee
decreases as they feel demotivated as they are getting less pay against what they deserve. In the
end, it was also seen that there are many challenges which Marks and Spencer faces at time of
managing the gender pay gap. These challenges are like decrease in morale of employee, lower
productivity, accuracy of reporting and many other challenges. Thus, in the end some of the
recommendation was made to Marks and Spencer in order to improve the working and managing
gender pay gap. The most common recommendation was the providing of training and
development to the employees as if the employees will be trained then they will not get the
actual money which they deserve.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents...........................................................................................................................3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................4
RESULT AND FINDINGS.............................................................................................................7
DISCUSSION................................................................................................................................17
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................24
RECOMMENDATION.................................................................................................................25
REFLECTION...............................................................................................................................26
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................29
Appendix...................................................................................................................................31

Research Aim
To examine the potential influence of gender pay gap over the productivity and
performance of employees at workplace. A case study on Marks and Spencer.
Research Objectives
 To critically elaborate the concept of equality and diversity in the context of business.
 To articulate the issue of gender pay gap within Marks and Spencer.
 To appraise how gender pay gap influence the productivity and performance of
employees at workplace.
 To access the measures that can be opt by Marks and Spencer to rectify the issue of
gender pay gap at workplace.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The research methods are the most important part of research completion and this is
majorly because of the reason that if the research methods are not selected in appropriate manner
then this will affect whole research. Thus, for this it is very essential for researcher to decide in
advance all various methods to be used in research. The research methods are the methods which
assist in successful completion of research and attain all aim and objectives of the research.
 Type of research- the most important decision in the research is the selection of type of
research method which will be used by researcher in completing research. This is of
majorly two types that is qualitative research and quantitative research. The quantitative
is the one which includes analysis of numbers and numeric information relating to topic
of research. This is necessary because of the reasons that when there are many different
type of information which can be used only in form of numbers in order to analyse the
research topic (Beins, 2017). On the flip side qualitative research is a type of research
which includes analysis of information which does not include numbers and which
studies attributes, values and other related concept. For the completion of current study
use of mixed research is made as this will include both qualitative and quantitative data
for the completion of research.
 Approach for research- the approach of research is defined as process or series of steps
which are used in order to manage the research and complete it in successful manner. The
approaches of research are of two different types and these are inductive and deductive
approach (ten Ham-Baloyi and Jordan, 2016). The deductive approach is the one which is

basically relating to evaluation of existing theory and strategies with respect to the
hypothesis set relating to research topic. On the contrary inductive approach is the one
which includes development of set of information by observing things happening in the
nearby places. In order to complete the research over influence of gender pay gap on
productivity and performance of employees the approach used is deductive approach. The
reason behind this selection is that this is majorly because of the reason that this will
include the analysis of the existing theory relating to the topic of research.
 Philosophy of research- the philosophy of research is defined as assumptions or beliefs
and values on basis of which various methods of research are being selected. It is very
essential for the researcher to use right philosophy behind selection of methods of
research. The philosophy from which the researcher can select is either interpretivism or
positivism. The first one is related with integration of efforts of human into the study. On
the other side second one that is positivism is related to analysis of factual information
relating to the topic of research. In the present case the interpretivism is being selected as
the researcher wanted to integrate efforts of human in research as well.
 Collection of data relating to research- this is extremely important stage for completion of
research in effective manner. This is majorly because of the reason that if data will not be
good and effective then researcher will not be able to analyse it in proper manner and no
conclusion will be drawn. Thus, for collection of data there are two main sources that is
primary and secondary source of data. The primary source is the one from which data is
collected for first time and is being used in research for first time. On the other side the
secondary source of data is the one which is already published source of data and which
has been used in some other research as well (Tarr, Gonzalez-Polledo and Cornish,
2018). For the present investigation combination of both primary and secondary data is
being used as for primary data the data will be collected with help of questionnaire. For
the purpose of secondary data, different articles, books and other publications will be
studies relating to topic of research. The mix of both primary and secondary data is used
as primary data gives the researcher first-hand information. In addition to this secondary
data provides the primary data authentication by adding the views and opinions of
different authors in form of literature review.

 Sampling- this is referred to as selection of some of participant from whole population
(Alpi and Evans, 2019). This is basically because of the reason that population is very
large and it is not possible to make study of every participant. Thus, because of this
reason some of samples from whole population are selected. This research has been
completed with help of random sampling method in which every participant from
population has equal chance of getting selected. Thus, the sample size of 60 participants
has been selected to conduct and complete the study in successful manner.
 Analysis of the data- this is also the crucial stage of successful completion of research
and this is majorly because of fact that if collected data will not be analysed in correct
way then it will be of no use. Hence, the analysis of data is very essential as this analysis
will only help researcher in successfully completing whole research. For the purpose of
analysing data use of thematic analysis is made and under this themes relating to
questionnaire is made. Further the data collected is presented in form of tables and charts
and then interpretation of data will be done. This is the simplest and easy method of
completing research as this will assist researcher in effectively analyse data and draw
effective conclusion from it. Thus, in this type of research data will be presented with
help of tables, charts in finding and then in discussion interpretation of data will be
presented supported by secondary sources.
 Ethical consideration- this is also very essential for successful completion of research
because if research will not be on basis of ethical principles then research will not give
intended result. Thus, for this most important thing is that researcher must get signed
ethical approval form from the participant. This is necessary as the researcher will use
personal information being provided by respondent in the research. Another major ethical
consideration for researcher is that they must include the data which is latest and valid as
if data will not be good then research will not list out intended results and due to this
research may become weak (Woodgate, Zurba and Tennent, 2016).
 Limitation of research- as every aspect have both sides that is positive and negative in the
same manner the research also has some of limitations. The major limitation in
undertaking research is that data is available in abundance and it cannot be figured out
that which source of data is more reliable and authenticate. Thus, for this as well the
research need to research with great concentration that they do not work with

inefficiency. Another major limitation was of time as time provided for research was very
low and but then also the researcher with their hard work managed to complete research
on time. In addition to this another major limitation of completion of research was the
budget as this is major requirement of research. The finance is major requirement of
completion of research as in every activity of research money is required but for current
study finance provided is very low and thus, this creates problem. But researcher with his
proper allocation and prioritising skill made research successful in that limited budget as
well.
 Reliability and validity- this is also major consideration for research to be successful.
This is majorly because of the reason that if data will not be reliable and valid then
research will not be much effective (Tang, Lai and Cheng, 2016). For this data need to be
reliable it means that whenever data is being used for test then test must give same result
all the time. In the same manner data also need to be valid and this means that data must
not be much older and also all details must be latest and relevant to the topic of the
research.
In the end it can be said that defining all research methods in advance is very helpful for
the researcher in completing the research successfully. This is pertaining to the fact that when
methods to be used for research are known to researcher then they know how they have to
strategize whole working. Thus, this will result in more effective and efficient completion of
research. This is majorly because of the reason that when research methods are being evaluated
and then selected then best research methods are being selected and this result in better working
and completion of research in successful manner.
RESULT AND FINDINGS
Theme 1: Respondents knows the concept of equality and diversity
Aware with the concept of equality and
diversity
Respondents
Yes 45
No 15

Theme 2: Yes, gender pay gap is one of the biggest issue face by company
Gender pay gap is consider the major issue due
to non- appropriate management
Respondents
Yes 50
No 10
Theme 3: There is no gender pay gap at Marks and Spencer
Gender pay gap in is Marks and Spencer Respondents
Strongly agreed 5

Agreed 10
Neutral 5
Disagreed 14
Strongly disagreed 26
Theme 4: No, company do not pay equal amount to men and women.
Company pay equal amount to men and
women
Respondents
Strongly agreed 7
Agreed 9
Neutral 4
Disagreed 13
Strongly disagreed 27

Theme 5: Gender pay gap affect productivity
Gender pay gap affect productivity Respondents
Yes 48
No 12
Theme 6: Unequal pay is considering the gender pay gap issue
Major issue of gender pay gap Respondents
Unequal pay 41
Inequality among employees 9

Higher employee turnover 4
Unconscious bias 6
Theme 7: Many challenges did company face due to gender pay gap
Challenges did company face due to gender
pay gap
Respondents
Lower productivity 23
Non- inclusive workforce 9
Accuracy of reporting 5
Decreasing employee morale 23

Theme 8: Yes, this issue affects the business in negative manner.
Gender pay gap affect business Respondents
Positive 10
Negative 45
Neutral 5
Theme 9: Bias in hiring and pay decision is a factor that affect gender pay gap
Factor affect gender pay gap at workplace Respondents
Workplace discrimination 9