Research Project: Workplace Discrimination at Unilever and Its Effects

This research project examines the impact of workplace discrimination on employee performance at Unilever, a multinational consumer goods company. The study investigates the negative effects of discrimination based on various factors such as sexuality, color, age, gender, and others, and how these factors influence employee motivation and turnover rates. The project aims to identify the negative impacts of discrimination and explore strategies to improve employee job satisfaction and performance. The research includes a literature review on workplace diversity, inequality, and ways to avoid discrimination, along with the methodology, which includes interpretivism research philosophy and a mixed-methods approach using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The project seeks to determine the concept of diversity and discrimination, identify the impact of inequality and diversity on employees, and determine the ways through which inequality and diversity can be avoided. The project uses primary and secondary research sources to gather authentic and reliable data.

Research
Project

Introduction
Discrimination at the workplace is based on specific prejudices as well as take place
when a staff is experience unfavorable on the basis of sexuality, color, age, gender, race,
religion, maternity, position, culture and so on. Due to workplace discrimination performance of
an employee gets decreased as their motivation level gets decrease as well as it also leads to the
staff turnover ratio (Arnold, Dobbie and Hull, 2020). So it is essential for every company to
develop proper strategies and plans in order to avoid workplace discrimination as that will leads
to enhancement in employee’s performance successfully. The respective research is based on the
organization Unilever, which is a multinational consumer goods firm which head office is
located at the London, United Kingdom. It is founded in 1929 by Lever brothers Branch and
Margarine Unie Line. Respective company offer wide range of food pet food, coffee, beauty and
personal care, cleaning, energy drink, candy, tea, chewing gum, bottled water, frozen pizza, baby
food, food and refreshment, pharmaceutical, healthcare, soft drink, pregnancy test and many
more. The aim of developing this project is to determine negative impact of workplace
discrimination on employee’s performance of Unilever and the way they overcome it effectively.
For this researcher adopt numbers of methodologies as that will help in gather more authenticate
and reliable information effectively.
Research topic
The impact of workplace discrimination on job satisfaction of employees.
Research aim
To identify negative impact of workplace discrimination upon Unilever’s employee
performance and how they can overcome it.
Research objectives
 To determine brief concept of workplace discrimination and job satisfaction.
 To identify negative impact of workplace discrimination faced by Unilever.
 To determine ways through which Unilever can develop job satisfaction among the
employees.

Research questions
 What is the concept of diversity at the workplace?
 What are the impact inequality and diversity on employees?
 What are the ways through inequality and diversity can be avoided?
Rationale of research
The rationale of developing this project is to determine the one of the crucial topic which
is experienced by almost every companies even if it big, medium or small i.e. workplace
discrimination at the workplace (Gozali and et. al., 2020). By conducting respective research
project manager is determining information of related to the workplace diversity and
discrimination. In addition to this researcher also want to develop their understanding related to
the inequality and diversity at the workplace. Along with this, by conducting research on the
workplace discrimination project manager able to identify the ways through which a company a
may adopt and implement diversity as well as avoid inequality at their workplace as that will
help in attaining desire growth at the potential market successfully.
Literature Review
 What is the concept of diversity at the workplace?
As per the perspective of Sophia Lee, 2020, diversity at the workplace determined to situation
when an organization management develop strategies so that their employees not feel any
discrimination on any basis such as gender, race, colour, sexual orientation, education level, age,
ethnicity and many other attributes. Workplace diversity is beneficial for both internal as well as
external aspects through which attain their desire goal as well as target successfully (Diversity in
the workplace – benefits and challenges, 2020). There are numbers of benefits which a company
gain through workplace diversity such as new perspectives as they hire different people who are
from different background, cultures, nationality which help them in getting effective more
effective as well as new ideas which leads to growth of business successfully. Along with this,
when a company adopt workplace diversity they able to motivate employees that help in
enhancing innovation level which leads to accomplishment of work in best and effective manner.
Moreover, when there is a proper workplace diversity employee able to perform their work in

effective manner as they feel motivated, encouraged and happy at the workplace. workplace
diversity also leads to the increase in profit as employees feel motivated and encouraged which
leads to enhancement in their performance as well as productivity successfully.
 What are the impact inequality and diversity on employees?
As per the view point of Kimberlee Leonard, 2019, at the workplace inequality take place on
different basis due to which several issues arise such as decrease employees motivation level,
productivity, increase conflict, enhance turnover ratio and many more (The Effects of Gender
Discrimination in the Workplace, 2020). The workplace inequality generally takes place on
several bases such as gender, income, colour, position, age, race, religion and so on. The
workplace discrimination, impact on the workplace in several aspects such as it enhance conflict
because when employees feel discriminated they rise their voice against it according to right
which leads to the conflict at the workplace. On the other hand it also leads to staff mental health
issues because they go through mental trauma as different people say many things which is not
right and person think about it all time as they feel bad. It also leads to decrease in company
productivity as when staffs not feel motivated as well as encouraged toward wok then will not
perform properly due to which there as well company productivity negatively. These are the
main impact of the inequality at the workplace which every company need to avoid or minimize
as that will help in enhancing productivity.
Furthermore, in respect of Lauren Clarke, 2020, there is several impact of the diversity
which are experienced by a company when they adopt it, such as it enhance productivity because
when there is diversity employee feel motivated as well as encouraged (Amazing Benefits of
Cultural Diversity in the Workplace, 2020). Moreover, it will also increase the creativity of the
employees which help in adopting changes in effective manner, it happen because when there is
people from the different location then they have different as well as innovative ideas which
leads to growth of business successfully. Moreover, diversity at the workplace leads to enhance
reputation of the company at the marketplace which lead to increase in profitability as well as
market value successfully. Diversity at the workplace also improves staff engagement which
reduces the rate of staff turnover effectively.
 What are the ways through inequality and diversity can be avoided?

As per the view point of Mehdi Tounsi, 2017, there are several ways through which a company
can adopt inequality at their workplace so that employee’s performance get enhanced and firm
attain desire goal successfully. First ways is to drive skills development equally so that each and
every staffs of the company get equal opportunity for the development which enhance their
motivation level as well as it also increase their moral for conducting work in effective manner
(3 Ways To Stop Gender Inequality In The Workplace, 2020). The next strategy is related to the
development of role models according to this company give proper opportunity to male and
female for becoming the role as that will help in promoting positivity at workplace. This will
also leads to employee’s retention for the long time duration which directly increases goodwill of
the firm successfully. In addition this, an organization also need to eliminate or remove the
gender based roles as that will showcase that management promote equality at the workplace and
best performer always win as well as get responsibility.
Furthermore, as per the perspective of the Charong Chow, 2019, in order to adopt
workplace diversity a company may adopt or implement the numbers of strategies as well as this
will also help management in attaining the predetermined target and goal successfully (15 Ways
To Improve Diversity And Inclusion In The Workplace, 2020). For example an organization must
acknowledge as well as honor the multiple religion as well as cultural practices in effective
manner as that will help in promoting diversity at their workplace successfully. A company
management also need to offer training to their employees so that they can enhance their skills as
well as abilities to work in a diverse working environment as well as this will motivate and
encourage staffs. In addition to this, an organization management also need to foster a company
culture at which every staff’s voice or perspective is welcome, respect and heard. Through this
types of activities a company able to promote diversity at their workplace successfully and
effectively.
Methodology and Data Collection
Research philosophy
This is determined as method or a technique which is adopted by a researcher in order to
understand the phenomenon of the gathered as well as analyse of data or information. There are
several types of the research philosophy which a project manager may adopt for gathering

authenticate and reliable information successfully such as positivism, interpretivism, axiology,
epistemology, ontology and many more. In respect of the this research, project manager is
adopting interpretivism research philosophy as that will help in collecting gather proper and
authenticate information effectively. So by it they able to collect appropriate information related
to the workplace discrimination at multinational firm.
Research approaches
This is determined as strategy or method that is generally adopted by researcher in order
to conduct help project manager so that they will select appropriate method for collecting
validate as well as trustworthy information linked to the research topic (Helmold and et. al.,
2020). There are generally two kinds of the research approaches that a project manager may
adopt for the gathering information such as deductive as well as inductive research approaches.
In context of the respective project, project manager is adopting the deductive research approach
as that will help them in gathering proper information which are authenticate and reliable
information for getting proper outcome successfully. Along with this, adopting proper research
approach help in developing decision or planning by which desire outcome can be attain
successfully and effectively.
Research methods
 Quantitative method – In standard and human sciences, and maybe in different fields,
quantitative investigation is the organized precise assessment of unmistakable marvels by
methods for quantifiable, numerical, or computational strategies. By this analyst of the
separate exploration ready to assemble confirm and solid data which are in type of the
measurements just as numerical.
 Qualitative method – Subjective assessment is multimethod in focus, including an
interpretive, naturalistic approach to manage its subject (Issa, 2020). This suggests
emotional researchers study things in their trademark settings, attempting to comprehend,
or decode, ponders in regards to the suggestions people bring to them. In this information
or data is as the outline so those analysts' select proper information for getting pre
decided result.
In respect of respective research, project manager gather information through the mixed
method because that help in gathering more authenticate as well as reliable information related to

the research project. It is so because researcher conduct literature review for gathering qualitative
information as well as they also create proper questionnaire in respect of quantitative method.
Through this they want to gather authenticate as well as reliable information for getting pre
determined outcome. In addition to this, these methods are cost effective, provide authenticate
information, ethical data and so on.
Research sources
 Primary source – It is also known as first hand gathered data and information. In this
sources researcher of a research gather authenticate data by themselves so that its
reliability can be ensure (McNeil and et. al., 2020). This is considered as time taking
method as well as it required huge amount of resources so that research work conduct in
best manner. For this researcher may adopt numbers of methods such as survey,
questionnaire, interview, observation and many more. So when researcher of this project
will adopt this method they need to gather information and data related to workplace
diversity by them which require huge time as well as resources.
 Secondary source – It is considered as those resources which are gathering by researcher
from the existing sources. In this generally project manager identify different author or
researcher who conducts their project on same topic according to that they will gather
information so that they will attain their desire goal as well as objective for gather proper
data for outcome. In this undertaking administrator for the most part direct assessment of
existing books, articles, websites, and paper, etc at the online just as disconnected
medium as that will help in accumulate legitimate data. In regard of individual
exploration, if venture supervisor receive optional sources they will accumulate data from
the sources which are as of now present.
In respect of respective research, project manager adopt both primary as well as
secondary sources as by it they gather authenticate and reliable information. In respect of this,
project manager develop questionnaire for primary sources as well as for secondary they conduct
literature review section.
Sampling methods
It is determined as method or technique through which researcher able to decide the
audiences who are best for their research project. There are different types of sampling methods

such as simple sampling, simple random sampling and many more (Sutton and et. al., 2020).
While deciding the numbers of audience or conducting sampling it is essential for researcher to
determine appropriate number of candidates as if they select more than project manager not able
to determine or calculate outcome. On the other hand if they select less than they not able to
gather information properly. So it is essential to select appropriate numbers. The researcher or
project manager of this research selects 40 respondents as their sample size. In addition to this
for selecting sample size they adopt random sample sampling method.
In respect of respective research they adopt simple random sampling as through that they
able to provide change to all audiences as well as the selected number of audiences are 40
respondents.
Questionnaires
It is considered as technique or method in which project manager develop a set of
question which will be asked from the numbers of respondents so that they get proper outcome
for the research (Volpe and et. al., 2020). The questionnaire developed by respective research,
investigator is mentioned below:-
Questionnaires
Name –
Age –
Contact no. –
E mail Id –
Q 1. Do you know about the workplace discrimination?
a) Yes
b) No
Q 2. Do you think discrimination at the workplace affect the job satisfaction of the staffs?
a) Yes
b) No
c) May be
Q 3. What are the impacts of the discrimination at the workplace related to the
performance of employees at Unilever?

a) Positively impact
b) Negatively impact
c) Both
Q 4. What are the negative impacts of workplace discrimination experienced by employees
at the Unilever workplace?
a) Decrease motivation level of employees
b) Decrease performance quality of staffs
c) Increase staff turnover
d) Decrease profit and market value
e) All of the above
Q 5. What are the main factor/ s on the basis of which workplace discrimination take place
at Unilever?
a) Age
b) Religion
c) Gender
d) Culture
e) Race
f) Income level
g) All of the above
Q 6. What is the methods Unilever management may adopt for the enhancement of the job
satisfaction level among staffs?
a) Focus on long term
b) Keep constant communication
c) Always recognize good work
d) Give frequent feedback
e) All of the above
Q 7. What are the impacts of diversity on the employees of Unilever’s workplace?
a) Motivate employees
b) Enhance creativity
c) Increase productivity
d) Improve performance

e) All of the above
Q 8. What are the ways through which management can avoid issues related to the
discrimination at workplace of Unilever?
a) Encourage diversity
b) Motivate employees
c) Avoid conflict
d) All of the above
Q 9. Is there is any legal rules and regulation for avoiding workplace discrimination at the
workplace?
a) Yes
b) No
c) May be
Q 10. What the rules and regulation which Unilever need to follow in order to avoid
workplace discrimination?
a) Equality Act
b) Civil Rights Act
c) Age discrimination Act
d) All of the above
Q 11. Any suggestions for the further improvement which researcher may adopt ……….....
…………………………………………………………………...……………………………….. .
Frequency table
Q 1. Do you know about the workplace discrimination? Frequency
a) Yes 30
b) No 10
Q 2. Do you think discrimination at the workplace affect the job
satisfaction of the staffs?
Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 10
c) May be 10
Q 3. What are the impacts of the discrimination at the
workplace related to the performance of employees at Unilever?
Frequency

a) Positively impact 25
b) Negatively impact 10
c) Both 5
Q 4. What are the negative impacts of workplace discrimination
experienced by employees at the Unilever workplace?
Frequency
a) Decrease motivation level of employees 5
b) Decrease performance quality of staffs 6
c) Increase staff turnover 9
d) Decrease profit and market value 5
e) All of the above 15
Q 5. What are the main factor/ s on the basis of which workplace
discrimination take place at Unilever?
Frequency
a) Age 8
b) Religion 2
c) Gender 4
d) Culture 5
e) Race 6
f) Income level 5
g) All of the above 10
Q 6. What is the methods Unilever management may adopt for
the enhancement of the job satisfaction level among staffs?
Frequency
a) Focus on long term 10
b) Keep constant communication 4
c) Always recognize good work 6
d) Give frequent feedback 8
e) All of the above 12
Q 7. What are the impacts of diversity on the employees of
Unilever’s workplace?
Frequency
a) Motivate employees 9
b) Enhance creativity 6
c) Increase productivity 8