Research Proposal: Strategies for Reducing Workplace Discrimination

This research proposal focuses on workplace discrimination within the retail chain Morrison. It aims to investigate strategies for reducing discrimination and maintaining equality and diversity. The proposal outlines the introduction, literature review, research methods, and timeline. The introduction highlights the importance of managing equality and diversity for company success, defining equality and diversity, and emphasizing the need to address workplace discrimination. The literature review explores the concept of workplace discrimination, its impact on company performance, and challenges faced in managing it, drawing on various scholarly sources. The research methods section describes the use of a qualitative research type and an inductive research approach. The proposal seeks to understand the concept of workplace discrimination, examine its impact on Morrison, identify challenges, and recommend strategies for improvement, ultimately contributing to increased productivity and profitability. The research questions address the concept, impact, and challenges of workplace discrimination. The rationale explains the researcher's interest in the topic and its relevance to company growth and personal academic interests. The research will provide insights into managing and eradicating workplace discrimination at Morrison.

RESEARCH
PROPOSAL

Table of Contents
Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................4
RESEARCH METHODS................................................................................................................7
TIMELINE.......................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
APPNEDIX....................................................................................................................................11
Questionnaire............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
The success of the company is totally dependent over the management of equality and
diversity is very important for the success of the company (Stergiou-Kita, Pritlove and Kirsh,
2016). This is majorly because of the fact that if the equality and diversity are not managed
within the company then the employees will not like this fact and will not work in proper
manner. Equality is referred to as the act of the company in which they provide for all the equal
opportunities for growth irrespective of any of the discriminating factor like age, gender,
qualification, income, experience and many other different discriminating factors. On the other
side diversity is defined as the fact that all the employees are being hired from different cultures
and it is important for company to have diverse and equitable workforce for success. This is
necessary because of the reason that this will provide a happy and satisfied workforce and this in
turn will increase the profitability of the company to a great extent.
Under the equality and diversity the major thing to be considered is the managing the
workplace discrimination. The workplace discrimination is defined as the discriminating among
the employees on different basis like gender, age and many other discriminating factors. For the
company to get successful the most important thing is to manage and reduce the workplace
discrimination. This is necessary because of the reason that if this will not be managed in
effective manner then the company will have not good and cordial manner and it will not be able
to manage all its work in proper and effective manner. The present research is based on company
Morrison which is a retail chain in UK. The present report will outline the workplace
discrimination which is taking place at the workplace and how to deal with it. Also, the present
report will hlpe the researcher in making the aim and objective in order to give direction to the
researcher in which they have to work. Hence, this research will help the researcher in managing
the workplace discrimination taking place in Morrison and ways of eradicating and decreasing
the impact of workplace discrimination.
Aims and objectives
“To investigate the various strategies for reducing workplace discrimination with regards to
maintaining equality and diversity. A study on Morrison.”
Objectives
 To understand the concept of workplace discrimination.
 To examine the impact of reducing workplace discrimination with respect to Morrison.

 To identify the challenges faced at time of managing the workplace discrimination with
regard to maintenance of equality and diversity.
 To recommend best strategies to reduce workplace discrimination and increasing the
productivity and profitability of company.
Research question
1. What is the concept of workplace discrimination?
2. What is the impact of reducing the workplace discrimination within the company?
3. What are the challenges being faced by company in managing workplace discrimination?
Rationale
The major reason for the researcher to select the topic of workplace discrimination is that
this is the latest issue which is being faced by the company in order to manage the working in the
company. Thus, the most important reason for the selection of this topic is that this will help the
company in developing and growing to a great extent. Also, another major issue for the selection
of this topic is that this includes the personal and academic interest of the researcher. This is
majorly pertaining to the fact that researcher also wants to lean the issues relating to the
workplace discrimination and its negative impact over the working of the company. Thus, this
research will help the researcher in gaining knowledge of the fact that how the workplace
discrimination can be removed or eradicated from the company.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Theme: concept of workplace discrimination
In the words of Marchiondo, Ran and Cortina (2018) workplace discrimination is referred
to as the treating the employees on different level. This may include differentiating among the
employees on basis of different factors like age, gender, income, employment status and many
other different factors. It is very essential for the company to manage the workplace
discrimination as this decreases the working efficiency of the employees. This is due to the fact
that if the management within the company will not be good then the employees will get
demotivated and they will not like to work within the company.
But in against of this Paraskevopoulou, Drydakis and Sidiropoulou (2019) states that the
workplace discrimination is very important to be reduced as if there will be high workplace
discrimination then the company will not be able to attain the objectives of the business. This is
necessarily because of the fact that the workplace discrimination reduces the working capacity

and the mind of the employees. Thus, the employee does not work up to the maximum potential
of them and this reduces their working efficiency to a great extent. But it is very essential for the
company to manage the workplace discrimination and always try to reduce the workplace
discrimination. This is so if the discrimination at the workplace will be low then the company
will not be facing much issue in managing their profitability and sales of the company.
Theme: impact of workplace discrimination over performance of company
But in the words of Kalev (2019) managing workplace discrimination and try to reduce it
will help the company in increasing the success and growth of the company. This is majorly
because of the reason that if the discrimination is not managed in successful manner then the
employees will not be happy in working within the company. Thus, for getting success it is
necessary that the company manages the equality and diversity within the workplace. Also,
another major impact of the reduction in the workplace discrimination is the increase in the
performance of the employees. This is because if the environment within the company will be
cordial and good then the employees will also be happy in working within the company and this
will also boost up the morale of the employees working within the company.
On the flip side, in the views of Heilman and Caleo (2018) articulated that the most
important impact of the high workplace discrimination in the workplace is over the performance
of the company. This is majorly pertaining to the fact that when there is high discrimination
among the employees then they does not feel good and are not in mood of working in effective
manner. Thus, this reduces the morale of the employees and they do not perform in the intended
manner. Hence, this reduces the overall performance of the company and the employees as well
and also reduces the profits and income of the company to a great extent. In addition to this
Kanze Conley and Higgins (2020) criticizes that if the workplace discrimination is low or not
present in the company then the goodwill of the company will be high. This is majorly pertaining
to the fact that when all the employees working within the company are treated in effective and
efficient manner then they are satisfied in working within the company. Thus, they work in the
effective manner and this increase the working capacity and efficiency of the employees and the
company as well. Hence, the consumer also likes to work in good manner and this increases the
goodwill of the company within the market.
On the contrary Combs and Milosevic (2016) argues that the major impact of low
workplace discrimination is that the company is able to manage the working of the company to a

great extent. This is because all the employees within the company are happy and satisfied so
there is not any of the issue in working within the company and all the operations of the
company are taken in good and effective manner. Thus, this increases the sales of the company
as well. It is so because of the fact that if the company will not work in effective manner then the
consumer will not like it. But if the workplace discrimination is low or not there then the
employees will perform with their full potential and this will improve the quality of the goods
and services being provided by the company, thus, this will increase the number of consumer for
the company. Hence, this will result in increase in the sales of the company and this in turn will
result in high increase in the income and revenue of the company.
Theme: Different challenges being faced by the company in managing workplace discrimination
But as per the views of Dhanani, Beus and Joseph (2018) in managing equality and
diversity within the company there are many different challenges which are being faced by the
company in managing the workplace discrimination. The biggest challenge is the cultural
difference and this is the challenge because of the fact that because of variation in the culture the
thinking of the employees are different. Thus, this may create clashes and ego problems among
the employees and because of this they may not treat other employees fairly. Hence, this may
result in increase in the discrimination at the workplace. This is a major challenge because of the
reason that in company there are people coming from different cultures and it is not possible for
company to make the policies by keeping all the different cultures into mind. Hence, this poses a
challenge because if employees belonging to any particular culture will not be respected or
involved then this will decrease the morale of the employees.
As per the thinking of Azmat, Cuñat and Henry (2020) the major challenge which is
being faced by the company in managing the workplace discrimination is the biasness of the
people at the higher level in the company. This is majorly pertaining to the fact that there are
many employees who have contact with the people at the higher position within the
management. Thus, this might face many challenges in reducing the workplace discrimination. It
is so because of the fact that if the employees belonging to high level will not work in favour of
the other employees rather than just focusing over the development of the people in their close
contact then they will not like this. Thus, this will build the feeling of inferiority among the
people or employees who do not have high contact with people belonging to higher level in
management.

RESEARCH METHODS
Research type- there are many different ways in which the research can be conducted and
this majorly include two different method that is qualitative and quantitative. The first that is
qualitative is a method in which the attributes and qualitative data only (Akpovo, Moran and
Brookshire, 2017). This type of research method does not include the information which have
numbers or facts and figures attached to it. On the other side the quantitative research is the one
which includes the numbers and facts and figures and these are studied to complete the research.
But in case of present research, the qualitative research will be used as this will assist the
researcher in managing and understanding the research topic in detail.
Research approach- this is referred to as the assumption on which the whole research is
being dependent. If the assumption or the objectives is not clear then the research will not be
done in effective manner. The approach of research is of two different types that are inductive
and the deductive approach. The deductive is the one in which the researcher formulate the
hypothesis and then try to test the hypothesis that is whether they are correct or not. On the flip
side the inductive approach is the one in which the aims and objective relating to the research
topic are listed. Then after the collection of data the data is analysed in proper and effective
manner in order to reach to some conclusion. The inductive approach will be used as this
includes the formulation of aims and objectives and then collecting the data and analysing it to
draw some conclusion.
Research philosophy- the philosophy is defined as the beliefs and values on which the
whole research is based. It is very essential for the company to undertake all the different beliefs
and values at time of doing the research. The philosophies are of two different types that is
positivism and interpretivism. The positivism is the study which undertakes all the factual and
facts and figures and related information. But in case of interpretivism philosophy the human
interest is integrated with the research and this is much good in case of qualitative research. The
philosophy of interpretivism will be used as this is more suited with the qualitative research type.
Data collection- this is the most important step in the completion of the research. This is
majorly because of the fact that if the data will not be good and effective then the research
outcome will not be good (Daniel, Kumar and Omar, 2018). Thus, for this there are two different
methods of collecting data that is primary and secondary. In the primary source direct data is
collected from the respondent and this is used for the first time in the research. But the secondary

data is the one which includes the use of already published data is used for the research. In case
of the present research, researcher makes use of both primary and secondary data will be used as
this provides for more in depth and variety of data (Kumar, 2019). Also, in case of primary
collection the use of questionnaire will be made for better collection of data.
Sampling- the population of area for the study of the research is very large and it is not at
all possible that the researcher to study all the part of the population. Thus, for this purpose the
researcher will select only few samples from the whole population and will make the study on
them. Thus, this sample will be selected with help of random sampling method. This is majorly
because of the fact that under this method every person has equal probability of getting selected
as samples. For the study the researcher will use 25 respondents for completing the research.
These respondents are the employees of the company and they will be handed over the
questionnaire and they will fill it by themselves and answer the question by them.
Data analysis- only the collection of the data is not enough for the research to be
successful. Thus, it is essential for the researcher to make use of the good data analysis technique
and methods. This is so because of the fact that if the data will not be analysed in proper manner
then the appropriate conclusion may not be drawn. Thus, for this the use thematic analysis will
be done as this includes use of charts and tables and make it more presentable. Also, this
includes the use of the charts and interpretation and this clearly states about the data collected by
the researcher.
Ethical consideration- this is the most important thing for the research to be successful
and this is because of the reason that if the research will not take place in ethical and morally
correct manner then the research will not be good. Hence, for this the most important thing is
that the research gets the consent and ethical approval form signed with the respondent. This is
necessary because this form states that all the data being given by the respondent is by the
permission only and the researcher can use the data in their research. Also, another major ethical
issue is that the researcher must use all the reliable and valid sources of data for the collection of
data. This is because this ensures that the research is done in proper and ethical manner.
Research limitation- this is the most important thing because it is not possible that all the
things are readily and easily available to the researcher rather there are many different limitation
being faced by the company (Haydon, Browne and van der Riet, 2018). The major limitation
being faced by the researcher was the time as the time for the research was limited but then also

the researcher tried to manage the research in proper and effective manner. Also, another major
limitation or restriction for the researcher was that there are many different sources of collecting
data so the main issue was that which source of data is essential for the researcher to use and
which not to use.
TIMELINE
The time line is defined as the schedule of the whole plan in which the research will be carried
on. This is a chronological system which includes all the activities which are involved in the
completion of the whole research. This is essential because of the reason that if this will not be
listed then the whole research will not take place in the intended manner. Thus, the timeline of
the current project is was follows-
PARTICULAR
S
WEE
K 1
WEE
K 2
WEE
K 3
WEE
K 4
WEE
K 5.
WEE
K 6
WEE
K 7
WEE
K 8
WEE
K 9
Selection of
topic
Formulation of
aim and
objectives
Literature
Review
Research
methodology
Data analysis
Recommendatio
n
Conclusion

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Akpovo, S.M., Moran, M.J. and Brookshire, R., 2017. Introduction: Rethinking Cross-Cultural
Research Methodology through a Collaborative Lens. In Collaborative Cross-Cultural
Research Methodologies in Early Care and Education Contexts (pp. 1-12). Routledge.
Azmat, G., Cuñat, V. and Henry, E., 2020. Gender Promotion Gaps: Career Aspirations and
Workplace Discrimination.
Combs, G.M. and Milosevic, I., 2016. Workplace discrimination and the wellbeing of minority
women: Overview, prospects, and implications. In Handbook on well-being of working
women (pp. 17-31). Springer, Dordrecht.
Daniel, B., Kumar, V. and Omar, N., 2018. Postgraduate conception of research methodology:
implications for learning and teaching. International Journal of Research & Method in
Education. 41(2). pp.220-236.
Dhanani, L.Y., Beus, J.M. and Joseph, D.L., 2018. Workplace discrimination: A meta‐analytic
extension, critique, and future research agenda. Personnel Psychology. 71(2). pp.147-
179.
Haydon, G., Browne, G. and van der Riet, P., 2018. Narrative inquiry as a research methodology
exploring person centred care in nursing. Collegian. 25(1). pp.125-129.
Heilman, M.E. and Caleo, S., 2018. Gender discrimination in the workplace.
Kalev, A., 2019. Rights on Trial: How Workplace Discrimination Law Perpetuates Inequality.
Kanze, D., Conley, M.A. and Higgins, E.T., 2020. Kanze, Conley, & Higgins, 2019 Motivation
of Mission Statements: How Regulatory Mode Influences Workplace Discrimination.
Kumar, R., 2019. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage Publications
Limited.
Marchiondo, L.A., Ran, S. and Cortina, L.M., 2018. Modern discrimination.
Paraskevopoulou, A., Drydakis, N. and Sidiropoulou, K., 2019. Age, gender and race in the
workplace: discrimination in recruitment.
Stergiou-Kita, M., Pritlove, C. and Kirsh, B., 2016. The “Big C”—stigma, cancer, and workplace
discrimination. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. 10(6). pp.1035-1050.

APPNEDIX
Questionnaire
Name:
Age:
Gender:
1. Are you aware of the concept of workplace discrimination?
Yes
No
2. Is there is practice of workplace discrimination within the company?
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
3. What is the impact of high workplace discrimination over working and performance of
company?
Positive
Negative
No impact
4. Does the company make use of any of the strategy for reducing the workplace
discrimination within the workplace?
Yes
No
5. What is the major impact of workplace discrimination?
Decrease in productivity
Lowering morale of employees
Decrease in goodwill
All of the above
6. Are there any of the challenges company is facing in reducing the workplace
discrimination?

Yes
No
7. What are the major challenges which are being faced by company at time of managing
high workplace discrimination?
Cultural difference
Biasness of high level employees
Difference in thinking
All of the above
8. What are some of the recommendation with which company can lower the workplace
discrimination and improve the performance of the company?