Literature Review and Equality in the Workplace: Higher Education

This report, created for a higher education assignment, provides a detailed literature review focusing on the concept of equality in the workplace. It begins by defining the purpose and types of literature reviews, including narrative, systematic, and theoretical reviews. The report then delves into the meaning and importance of workplace equality, referencing various authors and legal frameworks such as the Equality Act 2010 and Employment Equality Act 1998. It explores both the positive impacts, such as increased creativity and adaptability, and potential negative impacts, such as communication issues and increased costs, of promoting diversity and equality. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and emphasizing the importance of equal opportunities in fostering a successful and inclusive work environment. The report also includes an introduction, a conclusion, and a list of references to support its findings. This assignment is available on Desklib for students to use as a study resource.

Skills for Higher Education

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Assessment 2....................................................................................................................................1
1. Presenting Literature review and its purpose..........................................................................1
2. Literature review on 'Equality in the workplace'....................................................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Time management has its own importance in an individual life and through effective time
management skills, a person can easily accomplish the goals in defined manner. In Assessment
part 2, report describe the meaning and purpose of literature review and by supporting different
authors reviews and arguments, the present study provides the literature review on equality in the
workplace and shows the importance, benefits of equality in workplace by providing different
examples.
Assessment 2
1. Presenting Literature review and its purpose
Literature review: It is a narrative review which includes some substantive findings.
Further it is an already published information on a particular subject. Apart from this, literature
review is a simple summary of many sources but it has an organizational pattern which combines
summary as well as synthesis. Even it is also differ from the academic research paper. Therefore,
literature review gives a new interpretation of an old material and combines it with new and old
interpretation (Hart, 2018).
A literature review is a scholarly paper, which also includes the current knowledge that
involves substantive findings, as well as theoretical and methodological contributions to a
particular topic. The structure of literature review is quite in an organized form such that it
clearly specifies the discussion of different authors. It can be defined as scholarly papers that are
used by researchers to develop their knowledge about particular topic and conduct further
research on the same subject matter.
Kinds of Literature Review:
Narrative Literature Review: This type basically critiques the literature and also
summarizes the body of a literature. This also identifies the gap and inconsistencies in a body of
knowledge. It completely focuses on research questions only.
Systematic Literature Review: This kind of review is more rigorous and a well defined
approach as compared to other sort. It Is basically designs to provide a complete and exhaustive
summary of the current proofs that are relevant to the research questions (Brinjikji and et.al.,
2015). This is simple and quicker method to conduct an investigation.
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Theoretical Review: It plays an important role in order to established those theories
which are already exist. Using this theory, the researcher also establishes the relationship
between past theories and the existing theories which have been investigated.
Purpose
The main purpose of using literature review is to provide exact information about a
particular topic and then identifies gaps during a time of research. By using literature review,
researchers can easily identify the needs of an additional research which should be done and in
addition to this, the main purpose of using literature review is to gain an understanding of
existing research and debates for the relevant topic or the area of further study. Further it also
helps to gain the knowledge on a research field as well and then identifies relationship of a work
in a context of contribution to a topic which is prepared by the researcher and to others (Hart,
2018).
It has been further analysed that by using a literature review, researcher can easily
evaluate sources which are used in order to complete a project. Through this, a researcher also
critically evaluated the arguments and discussion of different authors opinions that helps to lead
towards success of a project. Further, literature review is identifies many gaps through a new
research and also makes some contribution for the development of knowledge on particular
topic. Through this, a researcher also identifies many inconstancies such as conflicts in their
previous studies and left many open questions from other research and it only focuses on single
topic and conveys the best and clear message to readers. This shows varieties of opinions of
different authors and then critics them to present their point of view related to a particular topic.
Thus, this clearly states the purpose of literature review is such that It helps to provide a
foundation of a knowledge related to a topic and also assist to identify the areas of prior
scholarship in order to prevent them from duplication and then gives credit to other researchers.
Further it also helps to identify the needs of further research and the relationship of works in the
context of their contribution to the topic and to other works.
2. Literature review on 'Equality in the workplace'
Meaning and importance of Equality in workplace
According to Baer (2017) equality is a fair treatment of people working at workplace.
Therefore, it is illegal as per laws to discriminate an employee on the basis of race, colour,
religion, gender. Equality is never a cut and dry process but there are many business owners in
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UK who take voluntary steps to build a positive and equal workplace. Moreover, in a working
area, equality means to make sure that all people are given equal opportunities, equal payment
and they are accepted for their differences. While on the other side, as per a views of Malhotra
and Singh (2018) in UK, the Employment Equality Act also states that an employee who are
working in organsiation, they must be treated equally in a term of recruitment, promotion,
working conditions, training and experience. Equality does not mean treating the people only on
the basis of gender but it is the responsibilities of a company to treat all their employees in better
way and decreases a pay gap between a man and women.
Cunningham-Parmeter (2015) states that if a company provide equal opportunities to
their employees that it helps to improve the working culture and even a workforce diversity is
also brings positive changes face of a business. Therefore, it is quite necessary to treat all the
employees at equal level and in UK, working population is ageing and most of the times prefer to
hire men more as compare to women because male staff can work for longer duration whereas
female has to take care of their families thus, they sometimes fails to stay in office for longer
duration. While on the side Turk (2016) critic that the business will not move further if every
employee who works in an office will think the same, acts as a same and also have similar
interest. That is why, the workforce diversity aids firm in bringing new ideas and new ways of
thinking so that company can grow well.
Law related to Equality in workplace
As per the view of Browne (2017) states that, the government makes laws in UK to
maintain equality at workplace. Equality Act, 2010 legally protects the people from
discrimination, harassment and victimisation at the workplace and in wider society. This act
basically replaced previous anti- discrimination law and make a law easier in order to understand
and strengthening the protection in many situations. On the other side, Milner, Demilly and
Pochic (2018) critic that Employment Equality Act, 1998 protects those people at workplace that
includes dismissal and harassment. It further defines that discrimination, as treating one person
in less favourable way than another person. Therefore, an equality in workplace is quite
important. On the other side, if an employee is said to be discriminated in a working area, if they
are treated less favourably than other employees, then whole company is breaching a law of
equality. So, to establish a direct discrimination, all the firm should treated their employees at
equal level, even if a person is disabled.
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Impact of Equality in workplace
As per the view of García Johnson and Otto (2019) when an equality in a workplace is
present that means all the individuals have same chance to develop some more skills and leads a
business towards a great success. This shows the positive impact upon a working area. Thus, it
proves quite important at a time of selecting, leaders and managing entire workforce. Further, it
has been analysed that if different opportunities are available to all employees then people will
feel happy that would raise their contribution towards work. Such that they all are work in a form
of overtime and they also use their skills or talent for the betterment of a firm.
This shows that due to equality at workplace, employees will definitely contribute for the
welfare of a company. Apart from this, Kemper, Bader and Froese (2019) states that if firm
provide equal opportunities to all their employees, also comply with different laws and also
prevent instances of discrimination, at that time employees are able to achieve and completed the
work with their skills and knowledge Moreover, companies who follow better equality, also
implement the regulations in order to uphold such philosophies so that it will show belief and
also compliance those with the public. This will improve the reputation of a firm and also helps
to build its brand image in a market.
Apart from this, equality in workplace also creates positive impact upon the business. In
the same way, as Arthur and Yiadom (2019) states that it helps to increase creativity as well as
adaptability. Such that if different people belongs to different background who came up with
their new ideas and it will help for the smooth functioning of the business and also helps to
introduce new thoughts as well. For instance, if people who belong to different culture,
background and beliefs come together in order to attain the common goal then it will help to
raise creativity and also address variety of complex problem. Moreover, an organization has to
develop a new process for people and come up with different innovative ideas to collaborate and
work together because it will help to minimizes the discrimination and helps to achieve the goals
and objectives of a firm..
Nusrat (2019) critics that equality at workplace also creates negative impact upon the
business. Such that due to diverse working force, an employee become more sensitive in regards
for others race, culture and background. That is why the worker did not freely state their opinions
and as a result they lost freedom to express their views as well. Further, it also leads to create
some communication issues because if company hires different religion people then it will be not
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easy for them to communicate with someone who is not understanding their culture and native
language. Therefore, it is another negative impact upon a business that also affects success.
However, it has been further critically evaluated by Turk (2016) in order to promote
diversity and equality, the firm has to invest some extra amount on seminars and different
programs. This all leads to increase a cost of a firm and as a result, it leads to create adverse
impact upon concern. As a result, they start working individually which lead to decreases the
productivity and entire progress of the business will slow down. Therefore, it clearly shows that
equality at workplace also creates negative as well as positive impact upon the business and the
employees.
CONCLUSION
From the above it has been concluded that literature review is a process of substantive
findings that helps to enhance knowledge about a particular topic and also complete its purpose
as well. Moreover, through this, report has been finished that equality in workplace is another
important key aspect that helps a business to sustain its brand image and by providing equal
opportunities to all the people who belongs to different caste, religion and age, The business can
easily leads towards further success.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Baer, S., 2017. Dignity or Equality?: Responses to Workplace Harassment in European, German,
and UK Law. In Gender and Rights (pp. 483-502). Routledge.
Brinjikji, W. and et.al., 2015. Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal
degeneration in asymptomatic populations.36(4). pp.811-816.
Browne, K. R., 2017. The Quixotic Quest for Gender Equality in the Workplace. U. Tol. L.
Rev.49. p.685.
Cunningham-Parmeter, K., 2015. Marriage equality, workplace inequality: The next gay rights
battle. Fla. L. Rev. 67. pp.1099.
García Johnson, C. P. and Otto, K., 2019. Better Together: A Model for Women and LGBTQ
Equality in the Workplace. Frontiers in Psychology.10. pp.272.
Hart, C., 2018. Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Research Imagination. Sage.
Kemper, L. E., Bader, A. K. and Froese, F. J., 2019. Promoting gender equality in a challenging
environment: The case of Scandinavian subsidiaries in Japan. Personnel Review.48(1).
pp.56-75.
Malhotra, L. and Singh, J., 2018. Gender equality at workplace: Employees’ perspective towards
gender based talent acquisition and retention practices. ZENITH International Journal of
Multidisciplinary Research.8(8). pp.43-54.
Milner, S., Demilly, H. and Pochic, S., 2018. Bargained Equality: The Strengths and
Weaknesses of Workplace Gender Equality Agreements and Plans in France. British
Journal of Industrial Relations.
Nusrat, F., 2019. Women Empowerment or Gender Equality: A Predicament for Augmenting
Satisfaction and Performance of Female Employees.(A Study on the Ready-made
Garments Sector of Bangladesh). International Journal of Business and Social
Research. 9(1).Turk, K., 2016. Equality on trial: Gender and rights in the modern
American workplace. University of Pennsylvania Press.
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