Impact of Workplace Discrimination on Women at Sainsbury's: A Study

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of workplace discrimination at Sainsbury's, focusing on its impact on the performance of women employees. The introduction defines workplace discrimination and highlights its negative effects on both employees and the company, emphasizing the importance of promoting diversity and equal opportunities. The study investigates the issues women face due to gender-based discrimination, including unequal opportunities, biased treatment, and challenges in balancing work and personal life. The literature review explores the impact of discrimination on Sainsbury's, covering effects on performance, working environment, productivity, and employee morale. It also examines ways to eliminate the negative impacts, such as implementing anti-discrimination policies, providing training, and allowing flexible working arrangements. The report aims to identify the impact of workplace discrimination, determine the specific issues faced by women, and explore effective strategies to mitigate these effects, providing valuable insights for Sainsbury's and other organizations striving for a more equitable and productive work environment. The research methodology and data collection process is outlined, followed by data analysis, research outcomes, recommendations, and a conclusion. The report also includes a reflection and a list of references.

Research Project
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Impact of discrimination in the workplace of Sainsbury.............................................................5
Issues faced by women due to gender based discrimination at workplace of Sainsbury............6
Ways of eliminating impacts of workplace discrimination on women’s performance...............7
Research Methodology and Data Collection...................................................................................8
Data Analysis and Interpretation (1000)..........................................................................................9
Research Outcomes (300)................................................................................................................9
RECOMMENDATION (200).........................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION (200)......................................................................................................................9
REFLCETION (200)REFERENCES..............................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
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TOPIC: Impact of workplace discrimination on working performance of women employees. A
case study on Sainsbury.
INTRODUCTION
Workplace discrimination can be defined as unfair treatment which is being done by
colleagues and employers on the basis of gender, race, cultural background, disability and others
(Berrey, Nelson and Nielsen, 2017). All these types of workplace discrimination has several
negative effects on performance of the company and employees as well. It is important for
retailers and companies to promote diversity or providing equal opportunities to all of their
employees and especially to eliminate discrimination done on the basis o gender with women.
Women are being given less opportunities as compare to men as it is being believed that they are
less productive and physical strong as compare to men so they are being given less opportunities.
Background of the study
Workplace discrimination on the basis of gender as giving them less opportunities, not
giving flexibility, maternal leaves all affects performance of employees and also affect
workplace in a negative manner (Dhanani, Beus and Joseph, 2018). It lowers morale so by
promoting diversity, Sainsbury’s can boost morale in employees and also can accomplish all pre
determined goals. This present study is based on Sainsbury’s which is the 2nd largest chain of
supermarkets in the UK. It was founded in the year of 1869 by John James. It has around
116,400 employees and managing all of them is not an easy tasks. It is analysed from the case
study of Sainsbury’s that it requires identifying ways of promoting diversity at workplace in an
effective manner for being in the competition. This present study is going to show importance of
literature or secondary data collection which can help out to Sainsbury’s and researcher in
accomplishing goals by gathering views of different viewers on the importance of promoting
diversity and equality, providing equal opportunities to women, problems which they face
because of gender discrimination along with effective ways of solving them. Further, it will also
discuss importance of using all elements of research as how it can help researcher in gathering as
well as analysis data for accomplishing goals.
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Aims and Objectives
Aim
“To identify impact of workplace discrimination on working performance of women
employees. A case study on Sainsbury.”
Objectives:
 To Identify the impact of discrimination in the workplace of Sainsbury.
 To determine the issues faced by women due to gender based discrimination at workplace
of Sainsbury.
 To explore ways by which impact of workplace discrimination on women's working
performance can be eliminated by the Sainsbury.
Research Questions:
 How discrimination impact on workplace of Sainsbury?
 What type of issues faced by women employees due to their gender in the workplace of
Sainsbury?
 What are the effective ways through which Sainsbury can easily overcome impact of
discrimination over working performance of women?
Rationale:
Workplace discrimination is being done on several basis in different organizations but
any type of discrimination affect overall performance of the company as well as lower morale of
employees. But one of the main type of discrimination which affects employees’ performance,
productivity, morale and others is gender based discrimination. From ancient times it is being
believed that women are less productive than men and cannot perform work as like men. So, one
of the main reasons of conducting this research is to make people aware about importance of
allowing and giving fair as well as effective job and promotion opportunities to women as like
men and how it can affect company’s and their performance in an effective manner (Smith, E.F.,
Gilmer and Stockdale, 2019). It is one of the effective and common topic which can help
students at academic level and employees, employers at commercial levele. At academic level,
students can understand at initial stage as which benefits they and other people can take by
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giving equal opportunities to women and companies can also know better ways of promoting
diversity at workplace for getting several benefits.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Impact of discrimination in the workplace of Sainsbury
Discrimination on the basis of gender has several negative effects on workplace of Sainsbury’s
and others companies who do not give equal opportunities to all of their workers. One of the
main effects which it has on performance. According to the view of Payne and et.al., (2020)
discrimination on the basis of gender affect overall company’s performance because when
women feel that they are not being given fair treatment and other opportunities even after putting
efforts and showing their worth then it makes them feel de-valued at workplace and they are less
likely to focus on their work. It increases errors and hamper quality of products and services of
the company which ie needed to be delivered to customers. By getting poor quality of products
and services customers started to switch their shops. So, from this it can be said that it affects
performance of both company’s and employees and also become the reason of poor brand.
In addition, in the context of effects of workplace discrimination, Pang and et.al., (2018)
stated that discrimination at workplace makes atmosphere and working environment negative
which also affects productivity of employees. When employers discriminate their some workers
specially to women then they start taking about company, its policies which creates poor
working environment. When company hire new employees for vacant post then by entering in
this poor working environment they become frustrated because people take time in adjusting in
any type of working environment and due to discrimination and poor working environment,
employees start to leave the company and do not retain with the company for the long run which
affects productivity and sales. Biased nature of employers towards men as compare to women
also leads to a culture of mistrust, rivalry and jealousy. Al these negative behaviours and feelings
of employees towards their colleague affect their productivity and also harm relationship with
reach others.
For more supporting this view, Coleman, (2019) said that when people are being
discriminated because of their gender, race and others and when employers do not consider their
performance then it makes them feel de-motivated at workplace. And at the time of team
working or working in a team with male colleagues they become less supportive which affects
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team goals. It also affects their relation because people who are being discriminated are less
likely to talk to other and it also leads to conflicts among them. Increasing rate of conflicts
become reason of staff turnover and poor image of the company in the eye of customers and
stakeholders. So, overall it can be said that discrimination affects workplace to the great extent.
Issues faced by women due to gender based discrimination at workplace of Sainsbury.
It is sated that employers and company discriminate their employees on different basis like
age, disability, race and gender. But one of the main type of discrimination is being done on the
basis of gender and in this type, women are being given less opportunities as compare to men
and unequal treatment at workplace which affects them to the great extent in a negative manner.
For women people believe that they should do household chores even if they are doing job but
for men society and people believe that they do not require doing household chores and it is the
main reason and thinking by which men takes several opportunities because they have to focus
only on their job and performance but on the other hand, women have to do a lot of work like
taking care of children, parents and others. All these things and attitude or ways of looking to
women affects them at workplace to the great extent. Due to this thing, employers think that
women cannot perform work as like men and that is why they are being treated unfairly even
after they score and Help Company in accomplishing their goals (Tiwari, Mathur and Awasthi,
2018). This behaviour of employers towards women lowers self-esteem and confidence of
women and they become de-motivated at work. De-motivated women or employees are less
likely to concentrate on their work which lowers their performance and productivity and they
become frustrated also.
In addition, McNair and Bush, (2016) said that rather lower self-esteem and de-motivation
there are several negative effects which gender discrimination have on women and one of the
main effects which it has is: workplace conflicts as well as facing problems in maintaining
balance between work and professional life. When men are being provided promotional and
other opportunities and when employers do not understand situations of women like pregnancy,
marital problems and others then it creates feeling of jealousy. This negative feelings and
behaviours at workplace tend to lead poor relationship with colleagues at workplace which
increases conflicts. For getting promotional and other opportunities and also for proving
themselves sometimes women put their extra efforts and work for longer hours by which they
face problems in maintaining a social and professional life. It affects their mental as well as
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physical health and they become frustrated. Sometimes women are being sexually harassed and
this increases fear of safety at workplace and they are more likely to isolate themselves from
their co-workers. All these negative behaviours direct affects overall productivity and
performance of company in a negative manner.
Ways of eliminating impacts of workplace discrimination on women’s performance
It is important for Sainsbury’s and other companies to understand importance of promoting
diversity at workplace and providing equal opportunities to all of their employees. It can allow
them to accomplish their goals, taking advantages of competition and others. There are several
ways by which Sainsbury’s can eliminate all negative effects which gender discrimination have
on employees and overall performance of them. As per the view of Xie and Lv, (2016)
implementation and development of policy at workplace related to discrimination like Anti
discrimination, providing maternity leaves to women, equality act, Sainsbury’s can promote
equality and diversity at workplace and can improve workplace atmosphere. By implementing
anti discrimination and others acts, company can allow and make it compulsory for all
employees to follow all rules and guidelines of it which can protect women and other employees
against discrimination. By getting equal opportunities as well s maternity leaves as per the
policy, women can put extra efforts to company because it makes them feel valued and increase
trust for company. So, it can be said that development and implementation of policy is one of the
best way and strategy of promoting diversity and improving performance.
Training is other main strategy for eliminating impacts of workplace discrimination because
there are different nature of people whose perceptions towards female employees vary. So, by
providing training employers can make aware to all employees about importance of promoting
diversity at workplace and how it can help all employees in improving their productivity and
provide those opportunities for which they deserve. It is found that some employees’ resists
promoting diversity so, by providing training and making up their mind, employers can solve this
problem Combs and Milosevic, (2016). In addition, for promoting equality and giving fair
treatment to female employees it is important for Sainsbury’s to allow flexible and part time
working because it is not possible for married women to work for longer hours. So, by allowing
them of working part time and flexibility in working hours, employers can make them feel
valued and motivate them towards accomplishment of goals of company. Giving attention an
care to female employees in some situations like pregnancy, child health and other family related
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issues, providing flexibility of working employers can show concern towards them. When
employers show concerns towards employees then it increases trust and encourage them to stay
with the company for the long run and by suggesting some strategies helping them out in
meeting their goals.
Research Methodology and Data Collection
Research Type: It is one of the main elements of the research methodology on which basis
further elements depend. Research type refers a form of collecting data as whether it is in
numerical form or in non numerical. Qualitative and quantitative are known as research type. All
those information and data which are being gathered by researcher in numbers form is known as
quantitative. On the other hand, non-numerical data or information collected in words and
feelings form is known as qualitative research. Selection of the type depend upon the nature of
research. For this study scholar selects quantitative research as it can allow it in knowing the
actual data and on which basis by viewing majority of answers it can get outcome. This outcome
gained by quantitative research or numerical data relevant to the topic can also allow researcher
in meeting all pre determined goals and help company in identifying impacts of workplace
discrimination on performance.
Research philosophy: Researcher philosophy refers a belief about ways in which information
about phenomenon should be gathered and used. There are mainly 3 research philosophies such
as: epistemology, axiology and ontology. But in the context of research as per the nature of topic,
positivism and interpretivism is being used and selected by researcher. Through positivism and
interpretivism, researcher can collect data and also analyse qualitative and quantitative data.
Positivism research philosophy is associated and suitable with quantitative research and
interpretivism is associated with qualitative (Winit‐Watjana, 2016). Positivism philosopher
believes that with observations researcher can gain factual data. In the interpretivism research
philosophy researcher believes that by observing a social world they can het scientific data and
taking human interest in it they can make study successful. Hence, this is quantitative research so
scholar selects positivism research philosophy.
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REFERENCES
Books and journal
Berrey, E., Nelson, R.L. and Nielsen, L.B., 2017. Rights on trial: How workplace discrimination
law perpetuates inequality. University of Chicago Press.
Coleman, H., 2019. The Impact of Discrimination Against The LGBTQ
Community. Ramifications, 1(1), p.4.
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.
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.
McNair, R.P. and Bush, R., 2016. Mental health help seeking patterns and associations among
Australian same sex attracted women, trans and gender diverse people: a survey-based
study. BMC psychiatry, 16(1), p.209.
Pang, J.H. and et.al., 2018. Impact of Discrimination on Job Satisfaction in the LGBT Plastic
Surgery Community. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery–Global Open, 6(8S), p.224.
Payne, S.C. and et.al., 2020. Physician Experience: Impact of Discrimination on Physician
Wellness. In Humanism and Resilience in Residency Training (pp. 159-189). Springer,
Cham.
Smith, E.F., Gilmer, D.O. and Stockdale, M.S., 2019. The importance of culture and support for
workplace flexibility: An ecological framework for understanding flexibility support
structures. Business Horizons, 62(5), pp.557-566.
Tiwari, M., Mathur, G. and Awasthi, S., 2018. Gender-based discrimination faced by females at
workplace: A perceptual study of working females. Journal of Entrepreneurship
Education, 21(3), pp.1-7.
Winit‐Watjana, W., 2016. Research philosophy in pharmacy practice: necessity and
relevance. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 24(6), pp.428-436.
Xie, X. and Lv, J., 2016. Social networks of female tech-entrepreneurs and new venture
performance: the moderating effects of entrepreneurial alertness and gender
discrimination. International entrepreneurship and management journal, 12(4), pp.963-983.
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