Introduction
Gender discrimination acknowledges that men and women are not counted as equal within the work environment that in turn affects living experience of an individual. Such differences arises due to the distinctions in the cultural norms, biology and the psychology. Some distinctions or differences are grounded empirically whereas others appears as socially constructed. It has been stated that different lived of the gender around many domains involving life expectancy, education, family life, personality, careers, interest and the political affiliations. The present study is based on Sainsbury, a largest or leading retail and the chain of the supermarket in United Kingdom. It is the brand that is built upon heritage of facilitating the customers with the healthy, tasty, fresh and safe food. Furthermore, the report highlights the rationale and an importance of the study to the scholars and the organization. Moreover, it presents review of the research problems on the basis of the objectives framed and the use of appropriate research methodologies in making the study more useful.
Aims and objectives
Aim
âTo identify influence of gender discrimination in management and the leadership on employee's performance in context of the retail sector companies: A study on Sainsbury.â
Objectives
- To demonstrate an understanding regarding the concept of gender discrimination at the workplace
- To determine the factors that leads to gender discrimination within the work environment
- To analyse an effect of gender inequality on performance of an employee
- To recommend appropriate measures in order to avoid gender discrimination in workplace
Rationale
The major reason behind conducting this study is to make detailed analysis on the impact of the gender inequality on the performance or working efficiency of an employees. This has been seen as the major issue in today's world because gender inequality is seen in most of the organization in respect of any of the factors whether it is pay or working capacity. Therefore it is important to understand and analyse the extent to which an employees performance gets affected because of the gender discrimination.
Significance
The study would helps the organization in understanding an impact of gender inequality on the effectiveness and efficiency of its employees which in turn affects the overall productivity of an enterprise. This research report will also helps the other scholars, students and the professors who are looking for conducting the study or thesis regarding this research problem. It enables an investigator in gaining knowledge relating to various methodologies and in drawing appropriate inferences from the report. This study assist the participants in making critical analysis of relationship between gender inequality and the employee performance.
Research Methodology
Research Type- Under this report, qualitative method will be utilised by the researcher which helps in studying the qualitative features that is feelings, emotions and attitudes regarding gender discrimination (Fletcher, 2017). This method is tend to be most suitable as it provides for detailed assessment of the research problem in an effective way.
Research Approach- In this study, inductive approach would be used by an investigator that helps in beginning with the observation and ending at drawing adequate findings.
Research Philosophy- referring to this research report, interpretivism philosophy will be opted by the scholar that enables in studying all the elements of human interest in a better way. It is counted as the suitable philosophy in making the qualitative analysis.
Data collection- Researcher would be collecting the data by using both the sources that primary and the secondary. These sources helps in gathering the data accurately through structuring questionnaire, conducting direct interview, survey, internet, journals, books and articles.
Sampling- An investigator in this study make use of purposive sampling which is said as the non-probabilistic sampling in which sample is selected on random basis. This reduces the chances of errors in the study as equal chance is not been given to the populating in getting chosen (Attia and Edge, 2017). The sample is taken as 20 employees of retail sector company in terms of respondents.
Data Analysis- The researcher will use thematic analysis in the report where several themes are been developed based on the responses of the participants. This helps in making qualitative study more useful and presentable to the other scholars and retail segment companies.
Timescale
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Choosing topic |
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stating aims and the objectives |
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Conducting LR |
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Selecting adequate research methods |
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Gathering data |
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Assessment of the data |
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Discussion |
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Conclusion |
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Recommendation |
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Alterations as per the specification of clients |
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P 2. LITERTURE REVIEW
To demonstrate an understanding regarding the concept of gender discrimination at the workplace.
In accordance to the Sipe and et.al., (2016), gender discrimination in an organization is considered as the complex phenomenon which could be reflected in the organisational structures, practices and the processes. For the women, most of the harmful gender discrimination issues are been enacted in the human resources. It is because practices of human resource directly affects the training, hiring, promotion and the pay of the women. Gender discrimination is largely based on the gender and sex of the individual person. Park and et.al., (2017) sought to establish the fact that, workplace discrimination based on the gender of the individual person. The employee within the organization is treated differently based on their gender. Female in the workplace are paid less as compared to the men for the same task. This eventually leads to lower productivity of the employees within the organization. This negatively influence the morale of the female employees within an organization. Gender discrimination is considered to be illegal and government should focus on developing laws to reduce such inequality within the work place environment. Gender discrimination in turn also leads to high degree of stress within the victim.
To determine the factors that leads to gender discrimination within the work environment
Verniers and Vala, (2018), stated that gender disparities exist due to various factors that includes unequal pay, working capability, decision making, leadership etc. In terms of unequal pay, employer pays higher wages and the salaries to the men than women because they feel that men works more in comparison to women. Moreover, with respect to working capacity, employers in an organization feels that men is having higher capacity of working than the women due to which gender inequality resulted within firm. In context of decision making, in the workplace of most of the organizations, men are invited for participating in the management decision and the women are not given priority in making the decisions rather they are instructed the manner in which the task need to be performed. As in respect of leadership, men are preferred by the company to act as the leader or representative instead of women. Tiwari, Mathur and Awasthi, (2018) examined the fact that, Men within the organization is given higher salary packages when compared with the female employees for the same level of work or task within the organization. This in turn results in lower level of productivity within the organization. Women within the workplace are promoted less often when compared with the men. This results in low degree of employee satisfaction within the work place. High degree of income gap in turn largely influence the motivation of the employees within the organization. Racism is also one of the major factor which eventually leads to gender discrimination within the work environment. Gender discrimination within the organization tends to result in low degree of accessibility to the resources within the organization.
To analyse an effect of gender inequality on performance of an employee.
Heilman and Caleo, (2018), reflected that diversity on the basis of gender is the largest factor that affects performance of an employees in both positive and the negative ways. Gender inequalities affects the morale of an employees that in turn leads to reduction in the productivity of the company. This could affect the performance and the position of the company in an entire industry. Hussain, Malik, Hyder, Khan, and Anwar, (2016) established the fact that, finding an appropriate level of work life balance within the organization is considered to be one of the relevant challenge which in turn largely affects the performance of the employees within the company. High degree of gender discrimination within the organization in turn causes damage to the employer and employee relationship. Gender discrimination leads to high degree of stress and tension within the employees which in turn eventually causes high degree of mental and physical problem.
P3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methods: It is a prominent measure as it helps in gathering new and valid information related to subject matter. It is grouped into qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The researcher of the study has chosen for qualitative set of methodology because it is useful in utilizing various set of new range of data in order to determine the influence of gender discrimination in management and the leadership on employee's performance in context of the retail sector companies.
Research philosophy: It is a way in accordance to which the particular study will be carried out (CuervoÂCazurra and et. al. , 2017). It is grouped into interpretivism and positivism philosophy. The researcher of the study has chose interpretive philosophy method because it tends to evaluate various components of the study by integrating human interest.
Research approach: This is the planned procedure which is useful in resolving various research problems. It is grouped into inductive and deductive approach. The researcher of the study has chosen inductive approach in order to attain valid conclusion related with the concept of gender discrimination at the workplace.
Research design: It is an effective frame work to analyse various elements and patterns related with the research problem. It is grouped into exploratory and descriptive design (Tuffour, 2017). The researcher of the study has chosen descriptive design method to gain wide and in- depth knowledge to determine the factors that leads to gender discrimination within the work environment.
Data collection: It is a procedure to gather relevant information to answer stated research questions. It is grouped into primary and secondary source of collecting data (Dougherty, Slevc and Grand, 2019). Primary sources such as questionnaires helps in gaining new data sets and secondary helps in exploring the already collected data sets through books, journals, etc. The researcher of the study has chosen both primary and secondary sources to analyse effect of gender inequality on performance of an employee and also recommend appropriate measures to avoid gender discrimination within organization.
Sampling: It is one of the prominent methods which helps in choosing appropriate sample to carry out the set research project (Edson, Henning, and Sankaran, 2016). It is grouped into simple random probabilistic and non- probabilistic sampling method. Random method gives every person within the large population equal chance of getting selected. The researcher of the study has selected 20 employees of retail sector company with the use of random probabilistic sampling method.
Data analysis: This is one of the prominent procedure to cleanse and model data to discover conclusive and valid results (WinitÂWatjana, 2016). It is grouped into thematic and SPSS analysis. The researcher of the study has chosen thematic analysis where each themes of the study will be analyse to recommend appropriate measures in order to avoid gender discrimination in workplace.
Cost consideration: Cost associated to carry out the project must be accurate. The researcher of the study evaluates that, the cost associated with carrying of the study is $3000. Proper budget plan and Gantt chart must be prepared to analyse the cost associated with carrying out each activity.
Accessibility: It is an effective measure which helps in removing different set of obstacles associated with the research study (Moon and et. al. ,2019). The researcher makes sure that their data on the website is accessible by the individuals.
Ethical issues: The key ethical issue associated with the research is to protect the confidential information of the participants (Edson, Henning, and Sankaran, 2016). Informed consent is also considered to be one of the ethical issue while carrying out the research. Issue of anonymity and confidentiality are key ethical issue while carrying out the research.
P4. DATA ANALYSIS
Theme 1: Large number of employees have been working for 14 to 21 years within the Sainsbury retail company.
PARTICULARS |
NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS |
% OF RESPONDENTS |
0 to 7 years |
4 |
20% |
7 to 14 years |
2 |
10% |
14 to 21 years |
11 |
55% |
More than 21 years |
3 |
15% |
TOTAL |
20 |
100% |
Interpretation: The above research is conducted from 20 employees of the retail company. Among which, 55% established and determined the fact that, maximum number of employees has been working within the Sainsbury company for 14 to 21 years. This demonstrates that, the employees tends to have high degree of complete knowledge regarding the aims, mission and goals of the company. This way it helps in completing relevant set of tasks with utmost accuracy.
Theme 2: Yes, maximum respondents understand the key concept of gender discrimination.
PARTICULARS |
NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS |
% OF RESPONDENTS |
Yes |
15 |
75% |
No |
2 |
10% |
Maybe |
3 |
15% |
TOTAL |
20 |
100% |
Interpretation: The above research is conducted from 20 employees of the retail company. Among which, 75% established and determined the fact that, gender discrimination within the workplace is highly dependent on the unequal treatment between men and women. Gender discrimination within the organization results in lower morale and low degree of satisfaction among the victim. As supported by the literature review, gender discrimination is an illegal activity and the government must develop necessary laws to reduce such inequality within the work place environment (Motro and Ellis, 2017).
Theme 3: Highly agreed, leadership has effective influence of the performance of the employees.
PARTICULARS |
NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS |
% OF RESPONDENTS |
Agreed |
10 |
50.00% |
Highly agreed |
2 |
10.00% |
Disagreed |
2 |
10.00% |
Highly disagreed |
4 |
20.00% |
Neutral |
2 |
10.00% |
TOTAL |
20 |
100% |
Interpretation: The above research is conducted from 20 employees of the retail company. Among which, 60% established and determined the fact that, leadership within the organization is very useful in increasing the performance level of the employees. This way it helps in motivating various employees and also helps in maintaining strong relationship with the employees of the organization. Other 10% did not pass any clear reflection on this theme.
Theme 4: Yes, equality and diversity within the organization helps in enhancing the productivity of the company.
PARTICULARS |
NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS |
% OF RESPONDENTS |
Yes |
16 |
80% |
No |
2 |
10% |
Maybe |
2 |
10% |
TOTAL |
20 |
100% |
Interpretation: The above research is conducted from 20 employees of the retail company. Among which, 80% established and determined the fact that, equality and diversity within the work place is very useful in improving and enhancing the productivity and performance of the organization (Eboiyehi, Fayomi and Eboiyehi, 2016). It helps in equal set of opportunity to the individual without any biasses between men and women.
Theme 5: Unequal pay, is one of the key factors that leads to gender discrimination within the work environment.
PARTICULARS |
NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS |
% OF RESPONDENTS |
Unequal pay |
10 |
50% |
Ineffective working capability. |
5 |
25% |
Women getting less promoted |
3 |
15% |
All of the above |
2 |
10% |
TOTAL |
20 |
100% |
Interpretation: The above research is conducted from 20 employees of the retail company. Among which, 50% established and determined the fact that, giving unequal pay to the men and women is considered to be one of the most prominent factor which eventually leads to high degree of gender discrimination within the workplace. As supported by literature review, men are paid higher as compared to the women for the same level of work (BogiÃâ¡eviÃâ¡-MilikiÃâ¡, 2019).
Theme 6: Highly agreed, men within the organization are at higher advantage when compared with the women because of gender discrimination.
PARTICULARS |
NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS |
% OF RESPONDENTS |
Agreed |
12 |
60% |
Highly agreed |
3 |
15% |
Disagreed |
1 |
5% |
Highly disagreed |
2 |
10% |
Neutral |
2 |
10% |
TOTAL |
20 |
100% |
Interpretation: The above research is conducted from 20 employees of the retail company. Among which, 75% established and determined the fact that, men are are at high degree of advantage when compared with the women because of gender discrimination. Men are promoted higher and given higher income pay scale as compared to women.
Theme 7: Yes, organization comply with the various equality and diversity laws.
PARTICULARS |
NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS |
% OF RESPONDENTS |
Yes |
17 |
85% |
No |
1 |
5% |
Maybe |
2 |
10% |
TOTAL |
20 |
100% |
Interpretation: The above research is conducted from 20 employees of the retail company. Among which, 85% established and determined the fact that, organization comply with the various equality and diversity laws such as Equality act, 2010, workplace gender equality, etc. in turn helps in carrying several business operations in a legal and appropriate manner (Verma, N. , 2019). This helps in removing barriers and any such discriminating activities.
Theme 8: Gender inequalities, is the key challenge faced by the management associated with the gender discrimination.
PARTICULARS |
NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS |
% OF RESPONDENTS |
Gender inequalities |
9 |
45% |
Low degree of education |
4 |
20% |
Social issues |
7 |
35% |
TOTAL |
20 |
100% |
Interpretation: The above research is conducted from 20 employees of the retail company. Among which, 45% established and determined the fact that, inequalities within the gender related with the men and women are considered to be the key challenge which in turn has been faced by the management associated with the gender discrimination. 35% said that, there are various social issues and lack of broader mindset resulted in major challenge linked with gender discrimination.
Theme 9: Determining the effect of gender inequality on performance of an employee.
Interpretation: The above research is conducted from 20 employees of the retail company. Maximum employees has established and determined the fact that, gender inequality within the workplace results in lower performance and productivity of the employees (Arora and Malam, 2018). It also leads top high degree of stress and tension within the employees which in turn eventually causes high degree of mental and physical problem.
Theme 10: Evaluating effective recommendation to reduce gender discrimination within organization.
Interpretation: The above research is conducted from 20 employees of the retail company. Maximum employees has established and determined the fact that, management of the organization should follow appropriate standards or laws relating to equal remuneration, fair wages etc. in order to avoid the issue of gender inequality within the workplace (Evans and et.al.,2019).
P 5. REFLECTION
It was very interesting for me to carry out this study as it has helped me in broadening my knowledge and has also attained wide degree of knowledge related with the impact of gender inequality in the leadership and the management on the performance of employees with respect to retail sector organization. The most interesting part of the study was to select the appropriate method for research as it has helped me carry out the research in a relevant and ethical manner. One of the most prominent measure for carrying out the research study was selected. I was also very excited to understand that the literature review of the study helps in gaining wide aspects of the various google scholars related to research topic. I was very fascinated by the fact that, how same topic can have different viewpoints and shows relevant conclusive results. Moreover, it was very interesting for me to select the appropriate sample size and carry out data analysis. I have arranged all the data in a systematic and relevant manner and predicted the data in order to attain conclusive results and outcomes. The most challenging part while carrying out the study was to complete all the task within the stipulated time frame. This was done by preparing a proper timeline and coordinating each set of activities. I have also regularly took feedback from the tutor in order to make sure that I am carrying out the project correctly. This study has helped me improve my communication skills which in turn eventually leads to higher growth and sustainability.
P 6. RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
It has been recommended that, management of the retail company must focus on reducing gender discrimination within the retail company (Mamun-Ur-Rashid, 2019). The organisation must comply with and also implement various set of laws and standards relating to equal remuneration, fair wages, etc. to both men and women. This is very useful in avoiding the issue of gender inequality within the workplace system. Subsequently, complying with laws related with Equality act, 2010, workplace gender equality, etc. is very useful in effectively carrying range of business operations in a legal and reliable manner. This way it helps management in removing barriers and various discriminating activities that has been taken place within organization (Eboiyehi, Fayomi and Eboiyehi, 2016). Making work life balance as a priority in turn helps in improving the gender equality within the organization. Getting women in the power and providing opportunities to women to move forward helps in removing gender discrimination within the retail company. Fighting biasses and also focus on creating and inclusive culture within the workforce in turn helps in improving equality and reducing gender discrimination within the work place. Need assignment writing service in the UK? Our experts provide the best writing service from expert writers.
It has been concluded that, gender discrimination within the organization eventually affects the productivity and performance of the business. Gender inequality also results in high degree of stress and tension within the employees. This eventually leads to high degree of mental problem associated with the employees. It has been summarized that, men are at higher advantage when compared with the women because of gender discrimination. It has been concluded that, one of the most significant factor associated with the gender discrimination within the organization is mainly linked with unequal pay scale to the men and women. Men within the organization are paid higher as compared to the women for the same degree of work. Women getting less promoted than men is also one of the major factor which in turn results in lower operational performance and productivity within the organization (Eboiyehi , Fayomi and Eboiyehi, 2016). It has been concluded that, gender discrimination is also an illegal practice and the government authority must focus on implying certain legislations and standards within the organisation in order to improve equality among all the employees within the organization. Racism and social issues are considered to be one of the key issues which in turn results in lower operational growth and productivity within the organization.