Investigating Gender Pay Gap Impact on ASDA Employee Performance

This research proposal investigates the impact of the gender pay gap on employee performance within ASDA, a retail sector company. The research aims to determine the effects of pay inequality on employee performance, aiming to evaluate workplace discrimination, identify the challenges faced by the organization, and recommend strategies for fostering equality and diversity. The study employs a qualitative research approach, utilizing an inductive research approach and interpretivism philosophy. The research design is descriptive, and data will be collected from both primary and secondary sources, with a questionnaire survey method for primary data. A simple random sampling technique will be used to select 30 ASDA personnel for the survey, and thematic analysis will be employed for data analysis. The proposal includes a literature review, detailing previous studies on the impact of gender pay gaps, and provides a Gantt chart outlining the project timeline and milestones. The research seeks to provide insights into gender pay gaps within the retail sector and offer potential solutions to improve employee motivation and performance.

Research Proposal Form
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID: ______________________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date: ___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: ______________________________________________
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a question, objective or hypothesis)
Title- To investigate the Impact of gender pay gap upon workers performance at workplace within retail sector: A study on ASDA.
Research aim-
The aim of this research is to determine the impact of gender pay gap upon employee’s performance working in Asda.
Research objectives-
 To evaluate the concept of workplace discrimination.
 To determine the impact of gender, pay gap at workplace within Asda.
 To identify the challenges faced by organization to reduce workplace discrimination especially in gender pay gap
 To recommend strategies to Asda that supports implementation of equality-diversity at workplace.
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
The main reason behind referring this issue is that now deteriorated trend identified in employee performance. In UK, there are several
organizations in which earnings of personnel are unequal on the basis of gender aspects that may cause of employee demotivation. On the other
side, for dealing with intense competitive situation company, operating in retail sector, requires skilled or motivated workforce. Thus, through

the means of thematic analysis this research could shed light on the extent to which aspects pertaining to gender pay gap have an impact on
employee performance.
Along with this, own interest in the area of research and concept pertaining to gender pay gap recognized as the main reason behind the
selection of this project.
The reason behind choosing this topic is to gain more information about gender pay gap and to find out ways to solve this issue which help in
further professional career.
Section Three: Literature sources searched-
According to Weldon-Johns (2019) discrimination is proposing to treat, someone negatively or unfavourably because of certain personal traits,
direct and indirect discrimination is unexpected behaviour of person towards other people. Rice, (2019) stated that workplace discrimination is
act of employer towards few members that impact on staff nature and mentality.
Further Vijayakumar and Sheshadri (2019) also state that gender pay gap at workplace creates negative impact upon the employee performance
such that it makes staff unhappy and dissatisfied, it is harmful an examination of effect of racism. It impacts on health of workers, they cannot
be able to work effectively and contribute to gain common goal. On the other hand, Nye, Eberman and Armstrong, (2017) highlighted that
gender pay gap as a discrimination impact staff productivity along with physical and mental health.
According to Cohn (2019) differences between perspective and culture of staff, company faced issues while implementing strategies and
reducing workplace discrimination. Communication is one of the biggest problem that firm will face when they decided to reduce discriminate
at work area for betterment of workers.
Koskinen Sandberg (2017) identified in their study that discriminatory practices, in terms of pay gap between men and women, have significant
impact on employee’s performance. Moreover, with the motive to attain success and meet organizational goals personnel, including both, make

their best efforts. In this situation, aspect pertaining to gender pay gap negatively impacts employee motivation and thereby both productivity as
well as profitability. However, on the critical note, El-Ramly (2019) found that there are several factors which in turn considered by higher
management while determining pay. It includes complexity of work aspect, level of roles & responsibilities, working experience etc. Hence, by
communicating all such aspects to the individuals issue pertaining to inequality can be resolved prominently. Octaviannand, Pandjaitan and
Kuswanto (2017) depicted in their study that pay gap issue, on the basis of gender, has direct impact on work culture, morale and employee
performance as well. Moreover, in the case of inequality employees are not encouraged to identify and share innovative ideas for business
growth. Abraham (2017) assessed in their study that workplace discrimination, related to pay gap, may result into high level of complaints and
litigation. Thus, by taking into account all the above aspects it can be said that issue regarding gender pay gap has direct and significant impact
on both employee motivation and performance. ASDA company take step towards solve gender pay gap issue, they create specific policy which
is quite beneficial in term of developing positive work environment at workplace. They focus on employment legislations and considered as the
key factor of business success. Firm faces mass legal action from staff over equal pay, they provide fair wages to its staff that help to solve this
problem.
REFERENCES-
Abraham, M., 2017. Pay formalization revisited: Considering the effects of manager gender and discretion on closing the gender wage
gap. Academy of Management Journal. 60(1). pp.29-54.
Cohn, S., 2019. Race, gender, and discrimination at work. Routledge.
El-Ramly, Y., 2019. Steps toward Closing the Gender Pay Gap: CPA Employers Can Take These Concrete Actions to Make Compensation
More Equitable. Journal of Accountancy. 228(3). p.36.
Koskinen Sandberg, P., 2017. Intertwining gender inequalities and gender‐neutral legitimacy in job evaluation and performance‐related
pay. Gender, Work & Organization. 24(2). pp.156-170.
Nye, E., Eberman, L. and Armstrong, K., 2017. Workplace Discrimination in Athletics and Healthcare. Journal of Contemporary

Athletics. 11(3). pp.167-172.
Octaviannand, R., Pandjaitan, N. K. and Kuswanto, S., 2017. Effect of Job Satisfaction and Motivation towards Employee's Performance in
XYZ Shipping Company. Journal of Education and Practice. 8(8). pp.72-79..
Rice, L.A.W., 2019. Bending towards justice: a path for reviving panel hearings under the human affairs law. South Carolina State Documents
Depository.
Vijayakumar, M. S. and Sheshadri, K. N., 2019. Librarianship and Gender discrimination: a study of Indian scenario. Genders. 9. p.1.
Weldon-Johns, M., 2019. Assisted Reproduction, Discrimination, and the Law. Routledge.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Gannt chart
Weeks Week 1 Week
2
Week
3
Week
4
Week
5
Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9
How long this will take:

Selection of
research
topic
Formulation
of aims and
objectives
Drafting
brief
proposal
judgement of
books
Literature
review
Research
Methodology
Preparing
questionnair
e
Sending
questionnair
e for data
collection

Recording
and
arranging
data set in a
structured
format
Data analysis
Conclusion
Findings
Recommend
ations
Doing
formatting
taking
feedback
Changes as
per feedback
given final
submission

Milestone one: ______Data collection ___________
Target date (set by tutor): _At the end of week 6___________________
Milestone two: ______Data analysis_________________
Target date (set by tutor): _______ At the end of week 7_______________
Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
Research type:
In this, to assess for identifying the influence of gender pay gap on employee performance qualitative research type will be undertaken out of
two. The reason behind the selection of qualitative over quantitative is that aspects pertaining to pay inequality cannot be presented in numeric
format.

Research Approach-
Inductive and deductive are two main approaches that researcher can employ for evaluating issue being assessed. For doing qualitative
investigation prominently, inductive research approach will be selected by researcher. Accordingly, by doing evaluation of observations new
theoretical framework will be developed by the scholar.
Research Philosophy-
In this report, for addressing research issue being investigated interpretivism philosophy will be applied. This method is quite good and
appropriate as it helps in presenting appropriate solution by interpreting qualitative facts.
Research Design-
Exploratory and descriptive are the two types of research design that taken by researcher based on research topic and the way they want to do
work. Different online surveys where open-ended questions is asked by researcher is known as exploratory research, on the other hand in
descriptive research, survey will conducted in order to collect more information about the impact of gender pay gap upon employee
performance. The present report will take, descriptive research design in because it help to determine behaviour and opinion of individuals
regarding chosen topic.
Data Collection
In order to investigate the impact of gender pay gap issue on the performance of employee’s data will be gathered from both primary and
secondary sources. In this regard, researcher will choose questionnaire under survey method for primary data collection method. While, relevant
books, articles and Journals pertaining to gender pay gap as well as employee performance will also be evaluated for secondary data collection.
Sampling Method-
For survey purpose, appropriate sample selection is highly required so that research issue can be addressed effectually. Thus, for analysing the
impact of inequality on performance level 30 personnel of ASDA will be selected by the researcher using simple random sampling technique. .

Data analysis-
Technique in relation to data analysis varies according to the research type selected for investigation purpose. Thus, by keeping in mind
qualitative research type, thematic perception test technique has been selected. Referring responses several themes
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted for another qualification and is appropriate.
Agreed: ________________ (name)_______________ Date ______________
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV sampling)
Comments (Optional):
I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV) Date