Religious Discrimination at Workplace: A Research Proposal

This research proposal investigates the impact of religious discrimination on employee performance and productivity, focusing on Marks & Spencer as a case study. The proposal outlines the research aim, objectives, and research questions, exploring the concept of religious discrimination at the workplace and its effects on employee morale and organizational productivity. The literature review covers religious discrimination, its impact on employee performance, and ways to prevent it. The methodology section details the research philosophy (positivism), approach (deductive), strategy (questionnaire), choice (quantitative), time horizon (cross-sectional), data collection methods (primary), and sampling techniques (random sampling). The proposal includes the questionnaire and expected data interpretation, concluding with a reflection on the methodology. The study aims to identify the effects of religious discrimination, the different ways to overcome it and provide recommendations to reduce the impact.

RESEARCH
PROPOSAL

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Overview of Research............................................................................................................1
Background of Research.........................................................................................................1
Rationale of Research.............................................................................................................1
Research Aim.........................................................................................................................2
Research Objectives...............................................................................................................2
Research Questions................................................................................................................2
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................3
Religious discrimination at workplace...................................................................................3
Impact of Religious discrimination on performance and productivity of employees in Marks
& Spencer...............................................................................................................................3
Different ways for preventing workplace from religious discrimination...............................4
METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................................................5
Research Philosophy..............................................................................................................5
Research Approach.................................................................................................................5
Research Strategy...................................................................................................................5
Research Choice.....................................................................................................................6
Time horizon..........................................................................................................................6
Data collection........................................................................................................................6
Sampling.................................................................................................................................6
DATA COLLECTION AND INTREPRETATION........................................................................7
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.............................................................................18
REFLECTION AND ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY.........................................................20
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................22

TOPIC: Workplace discrimination.
INTRODUCTION
Overview of Research
At the workplace, discrimination is based on the certain prejudices and also occurs when
a staff members is to be treated in an unfavourable manner on the basis of sexuality, religion and
gender. The workplace discrimination occurs when a person is discriminated adversely against
any factors. Discrimination reduces the morale of employees and also minimize productivity of
an organisation (Bayl‐Smith and Griffin, 2014). The unlawful workplace discrimination occurs
when manager takes the any adverse actions against employees due to some attributes of person.
There is a discrimination arise on the basis of religion at workplace. The religious discrimination
is treating person in different manner in employment on the basis of religion, practices and
beliefs.
Background of Research
Religious discrimination consists treating an individual in an unfavourable manner due to
religious beliefs. At the workplace, religious discrimination at workplace is employment related
action which affect a staff member in different way either negatively or positively due to their
beliefs, spiritual practices and religion. It is treating an individual or a group in different way due
to the specific beliefs which they hold regarding religion. The religious beliefs brought in to
workplace which impact way the experiencing of people and impact productivity. This kind of
discrimination at workplace reduce the morale of employees and affect organisational
productivity in a negative manner (Cleveland, Vescio and Barnes-Farrell, 2013). Marks &
Spencer is a multinational retailer with the headquarter in London. This specialises in selling the
high quality of clothings, food items and home goods. The staff members of Marks & Spencer
have been permit to refuse to serve the consumers regarding purchasing alcohol and pork goods.
Managers of Marks & Spencer should not discriminate indirectly against employees through
applying policy which applies to all the staff members regardless of any religion but it has
influence of the disadvantaging the staff members of specific religion.
Rationale of Research
The main reason behind conducting present research is to get the better understanding
about religious discrimination because this is a major issue that arise at workplace. Through

conducting the research, learner can know about the different reasons behind arising religious
discrimination and effective way to overcome from it. Other than this, through conducting the
present information, skills and core competencies of a learner will be enhanced and can able ti
perform in an effective way.
Research Aim
The aim of present research is “To identify the impact of Religious discrimination on
performance and productivity of employees.” A study on Marks & Spencer.
Research Objectives
 To understand the concept of religious discrimination at workplace.
 To determine impact of Religious discrimination on performance and productivity of
employees in Marks & Spencer.
 To identify the different ways for preventing workplace from religious discrimination.
Research Questions
 What is religious discrimination at workplace?
 What is the impact of Religious discrimination on performance and productivity of
employees in Marks & Spencer?
 What are the various ways for preventing workplace from religious discrimination?

LITERATURE REVIEW
Religious discrimination at workplace
According to opinion of Dina Gerdeman (2020) Religious discrimination is related to
treating an individual differently due to specific beliefs which are about religion. The religious
discrimination can consist treating some person in an unfavourable manner due to association
with some person that practice religious beliefs. At the workplace, religious discrimination can
happen in different ways. One is based on the employment related decision on the basis of
decision, it could take form of hiring or promoting someone on the religion basis. Second is
about to harassed an employee at workplace. Third is concerned with when manager fails to
provide the reasonable accommodation. These all things develops negative impact on
productivity of employees and also reduce their performance level. In context to this, there are
some legislations developed through government for preventing the workplace environment from
religious discrimination. Laws help in prevent the discrimination against those which are related
to familiar or recognized groups such as Christians, Jews and Muslims but this protects those
which hold the feelings sincere towards morality, religion and ethics. There is an act of Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits managers from discriminating against the person
due to their religion in recruiting, firing and also one other terms and conditions related to
employment.
Impact of Religious discrimination on performance and productivity of employees in Marks &
Spencer
On the basis of Ellen E Jones (2020) Religious beliefs brought in workplace can impact
way people experience about work and many impact on the productivity. At workplace, religion
can bring some issues which managers have to be faced. Resolving these complexities needs
understanding legislations and balancing requirements of business with desire of staff members
to practice of its religion. To treating the employees on religion basis reduce morale of staff
members and this can cause enhance in absenteeism. Marks & Spencer company is mainly
committed to driving sustainable business that is successful and the environmentally responsible.
This consists giving staff members in United Kingdom and also overseas with safe working
environment and giving better organisational culture that promotes personal development,
diversity and inclusivity. Some of the employees in Marks & Spencer practise the religions

which restricts drink or foods which they can be handle in suitable roles. In this organisation,
Muslim staff restricts to serve the alcohol to consumers.
Different ways for preventing workplace from religious discrimination
As per opinion of Nancy E. Joerg (2020) Preventing the workplace environment from
religious discrimination is necessary to develop positive workplace so that employees of each
religion can work effectively without facing any religion related issues. There are some different
ways given below which Marks & Spencer adopted to prevent workplace environment from
religious discrimination:
Training- Marks & Spencer company should conduct the training programs for raise
awareness regarding the diversity problems at workplace. There is a need to company to have
written policy and also take the immediate steps to stop religious discrimination through some
other staff.
Post religious discrimination notices- The most effective way to prevent religious
discrimination on job is to post the notices at workplace explaining about religious
discrimination.
Explain clear complaint process- Under this, management should let the staff members
at workplace know about the clear process of complaint. It many have deterrent impact if staff
members know that this is possible to be complain regarding religious discrimination and firm
stand on the complain process policy.

METHODOLOGY
It is a systematic method of analysis which applied to area of the study. This comprise
theoretical analysis of body and principles which are related with knowledge branch. This is
general research strategy that helps in outline way under which an investigation is to be
undertaken. For conduct the research methodology, research onion would used. Research onion
was developed through Saunders et. al. 2007. this illustrated stages which should be covered
properly when developing an investigation strategy (Combs and Milosevic, 2016). There are
some stages included in research onion mention below:
Research Philosophy
This is related to set of the beliefs which mainly concerned with nature of the reality that
being investigated. It explains about thinking and perception of an investigator. Interpretivism
and positivism are two different research philosophies.
In performing the present investigation, positivism philosophy will be used because in
this research is mainly generated through philosophical stance which can bot replicated and
providing the authentic outcomes in an effective manner. The another reason behind using this
philosophy is that it follows independent approach under which the observation of an
investigator is not impacted through belief (Nier and Gaertner, 2012).
Research Approach
It is related to testing the facts and findings of an investigation with various effective
designs. This is concerned with searching investigation kind and carried out to reach at
conclusion. Inductive and deductive are two different kinds of research approaches.
In doing the investigation, deductive research approach will be used because this is
helpful for an investigator to draw valid conclusions on theory that required to be proved by an
investigator.
Research Strategy
This layer of research onion depicts about carried out an investigation. This is helpful in
examine research objectives through using some research methods. There are different kinds of
research strategies such as action research, case study, questionnaire, observation, interview and
many others (Offermann and et. al., 2014).

In conducting the present investigation, there will be questionnaire strategy will be used
because it mainly used in the quantitative research and examined the data empirically. These are
mainly used to examine the causative variables between people and their behaviours by using
questionnaire.
Research Choice
This layer is related with the quantitative and qualitative methodologies. There is a need
to an investigator to decide about selection of any specific method for conduct an investigation
significantly.
In present investigation, quantitative method will be used because this carries the single
values which mainly analysed through applying the analytical tools. Its main focus is on
searching out the figures and facts that helps an investigator to draw the valid conclusion
(Rosenblat and et. al., 2017).
Time horizon
It is related to providing the time for completion of project in an effective manner. It
explains about the needed time for completion of project work significantly. The time horizons
are of two different kinds which are longitudinal and cross sectional.
There will be cross sectional time horizon used because the research is mainly related
with study of specific phenomenon at particular time.
Data collection
It is a min stage in research onion that mainly contributes towards overall reliability and
validity of overall study. Data collection defines the way to collect data by using the different
sources. There are primary and secondary two different data collection methods.
In conducting the present investigation, there will be primary method used because it
collected information from first hand and directly from source. In order to collect data from
primary source, questionnaire will be developed by consisting the questions on specific research
area.
Sampling
It is a procedure that mainly used in the statistical analysis under which pre identified
observations are taken from large size population (Wood, Braeken and Niven, 2013). It is mainly
used to sample from large population based on kind of the analysis that being performed. There

will be 40 respondents chosen by using the random sampling method because this is not baised
and give equal chance to all the respondents.
DATA COLLECTION AND INTREPRETATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
Q1) Are you aware about the concept of religious discrimination?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) Does religious discrimination put their impact over the employee’s productivity at
workplace?
a) Yes
b) No
Q3) What are the major effects of religious discrimination that employees faced at
workplace?
a) Reduce employee productivity
b) Create inequality at workplace
c) Lack of employee involvement
Q4) What are the alternative ways by which Marks and Spencer can prevent from religious
discrimination?
a) Provide equal opportunities
b) Create good hiring policies
c) Train employees
Q5) According to you, promoting equality at working area is crucial for company in
reducing religious discrimination?
a) Yes
b) No
Q6) What are the advantage acquire by Marks and Spencer after managing religious
discrimination?
a) Enhance employee productivity
b) Improve brand reputation

c) Reduce employee turnover
Q7) As per your point of view, religious discrimination creates conflicts among staff
members at working area of Marks and Spencer?
a) Yes
b) No
Q8) What is the impact of religious discrimination over the Marks and Spencer image?
a) Positive
b) Negative
Q9) According to you, religious discrimination increases conflicts among workers at
working area of Marks and Spencer?
a) Yes
b) No
Q10) Recommended the ways by which company can eliminate religious discrimination at
working.
Data sheet
Q1) Are you aware about the concept of religious discrimination? Frequency
a) Yes 30
b) No 10
Q2) Does religious discrimination put their impact over the
employee’s productivity at workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 25
b) No 15
Q3) What are the major effects of religious discrimination that
employees faced at workplace?
Frequency
a) Reduce employee productivity 20
b) Create inequality at workplace 10
c) Lack of employee involvement 10
Q4) What are the alternative ways by which Marks and Spencer
can prevent from religious discrimination?
Frequency
a) Provide equal opportunities 15

b) Create good hiring policies 15
c) Train employees 10
Q5) According to you, promoting equality at working area is crucial
for company in reducing religious discrimination?
Frequency
a) Yes 30
b) No 10
Q6) What are the advantage acquire by Marks and Spencer after
managing religious discrimination?
Frequency
a) Enhance employee productivity 20
b) Improve brand reputation 10
c) Reduce employee turnover 10
Q7) As per your point of view, religious discrimination creates
conflicts among staff members at working area of Marks and
Spencer?
Frequency
a) Yes 30
b) No 10
Q8) What is the impact of religious discrimination over the Marks
and Spencer image?
Frequency
a) Positive 20
b) Negative 20
Q9) According to you, religious discrimination increases conflicts
among workers at working area of Marks and Spencer?
Frequency
a) Yes 30
b) No 10
Theme 1: Awareness about concept of religious discrimination.
Q1) Are you aware about the concept of religious discrimination? Frequency
a) Yes 30
b) No 10