Evaluation of Cantor Fitzgerald Lawsuit

This report examines the Cantor Fitzgerald lawsuit and raises questions about workplace safety for women. It discusses measures to address these issues and promote ethics in the workplace.

Running head: EVALUATION OF CANTOR FITZGERALD LAWSUIT.
Evaluation of Cantor Fitzgerald Lawsuit
Name of Student
Name of the University
Author Note

EVALUATION OF CANTOR FITZGERALD LAWSUIT.
Executive Summary
The aim of this report to understand ethics in work place. For this purpose a case study of
Cantor Fitzgerald lawsuit has been examined. From the analysis of this case study serious
question has been raised in mind with regards to the safety of women at the workplace. The
article shows how a women has to compromise her position in the work place. The report
further discussed how these kind of issue can be counter at the workplace by using some
immediate and effective measures against the culprit.

EVALUATION OF CANTOR FITZGERALD LAWSUIT.
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................4
Mandatory arbitration requirement............................................................................................4
Women harassment at office......................................................................................................5
Quid pro quo sexual harassment............................................................................................6
Hostile work environment......................................................................................................6
Forced job change, unemployment and abandonment of well- paying careers.....................6
Sexual Harassment cost to companies...................................................................................7
Legal cost associated to sexual harassment...........................................................................7
Employee turnover.................................................................................................................7
Reduced productivity.............................................................................................................7
Gender inequality at the major position at the office Work place.............................................8
Work place ethics.......................................................................................................................8
Management needs to act as a source of inspiration for the employees................................9
Seek employee buy-in..........................................................................................................10
Constant communication between the management and employees is of utmost importance
in inculcating workplace ethics............................................................................................10

EVALUATION OF CANTOR FITZGERALD LAWSUIT.
CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................11

EVALUATION OF CANTOR FITZGERALD LAWSUIT.
Introduction
The Case study is related to the Lee Stowell who works in a Wall Street brokerage house
named Cantor Fitzgerald. In her case study she had given light on the corporate lifestyle at
the work place. She claimed that she has been harassed and oppressed at the work place in the
office of the Cantor Fitzgerald.Lee Stowell is 54 years of age, she filed a lawsuit condemning
her former boss, a colleague and cantor, harassment, discrimination, and vengeance.
Lee Stowell case study revolves around some important law and fact which are mentioned
below.
 Mandatory arbitration requirement
 Women harassment at office
 Work place ethics
 Gender inequality at the major position at the office Work place
This above requirement has been individually discussed with respect to the above case study.
Mandatory arbitration requirement.
This refers to a contract clause that requires the parties involved in the disputes to resolves
their matter before an arbitrator instead of going into court system. This is another form of
legal settlement in which the parties who are involved in a disputes, agree to review their case
by the third party, who is not related to judiciary.
These types of binding agreement are mostly seen in case bank issuing credit cards, between
employer and employee. This binding agreement prevents the sufferer to file a law suit
against the defaulter or the culprit. Arbitration is often referring to as the misunderstood form
of agreement. This contract removes the people ability to sue on the defaulter. In this cases

EVALUATION OF CANTOR FITZGERALD LAWSUIT.
the law says that, neutral arbiters must review the presented evidence and must deliver the
outcome. From the employer’spoint of view, arbitration is less expensive process than the
normal court procedure.
In the given case, when Stowell made an allegation on her former boss for the sexual
harassment, discrimination and retaliation at the work place. The brokerage firm on the reply
said that Mrs. Stowell herself has taken part into the matter and initiated the ugliness. Further
Brokerage firm Canto had filed a motion with the New Jersey judge to direct the lawsuit from
an open court to arbitration which is a general provision in an contract of employment that
recommend workers to resolve the criticism in the process of arbitration, without going for
judge and jury. As a result this process protect the company and shareholder from the
humiliation and cost of law suit expenditure.
Based on the hearing of both the party, the judge rejected the cantor’s request to send Stowell
Complaint to arbitration. This provide an opportunity to the Stowell to clearly present her
side in front of the court.
Women harassment at office.
As per the law, which says that the women at the work place must be protected against any
kind sexual harassment. Sexual harassment results in damage of the fundamental rights of
women to equality, life and liberty and equality in the working condition. In the present case,
Mrs. Stowell has been physically harassed at the office.
There are two forms of Sexual harassment recognized by the law of the United States.

EVALUATION OF CANTOR FITZGERALD LAWSUIT.
Quid pro quo sexual harassment
In this kind of harassment, an employee is required to tolerate sexual harassment in exchange
for employment, a raise or job benefit or promotion.
Hostile work environment
Sexual harassment in the workplace results in an offensive work environment or
unreasonably interferes an employee’s work performance.
There are many consequences of harassment at the work place.
Negative effects on the mental and physical health.
A number of studies show that sexual harassment has very bad effects on the health of the
individual. Research has shown that the harassment can cause depression, psychological
effect on the health of an individual. Harassment increases the chances of the work place
accidents.
Reduced opportunity for on- the- Job learning and progress
Harassment can restrict women access to such learning opportunity. Research shows that
harassment affects the career of the women. This slow down the progress of their career and
loss of many work opportunity.
Forced job change, unemployment and abandonment of well- paying careers.
Women who claim sexual harassment may be forced to change quit their Job, this often
turned them unemployed, and loss of sound paying careers. A recent study data finds that
eight out of ten women faces sexual harassment are forced to leave their Job. Financial cost

EVALUATION OF CANTOR FITZGERALD LAWSUIT.
of an individual vary from person to person depending upon the target occupation and career
trajectories.
Sexual Harassment cost to companies
Workplace harassment can result in substantial costs to companies including legal costs if
there are formal charges of harassment, cost related to employee turnover and cost related to
lower productivity from increased absences, lower motivation and commitment. While there
are no recent estimates of the business costs of sexual harassment, earlier studies suggest
these cost are substantial. Some of the economic burden of sexual harassment, earlier studies
suggests these cost are substantial.
Some of the economic burden of sexual harassment comes out of taxpayer’s pockets.
Legal cost associated to sexual harassment.
High profile sexual harassment cases highlight the potential legal costs of tolerating
harassment for employers. Typically, the amount of financial payouts in settlement is kept
confidential, making it difficult to reliably estimate total legal costs related to harassment.
Employee turnover
Research shows that sexual harassment in the workplace can increase employee turnover.
Cost related to the employee turnover constitutes the largest economic cost of sexual
harassment. Replacing an employee can be very expensive.
Reduced productivity
There is substantial research to show that workplace sexual harassment is associated with
reduced motivation and commitment, as well as lower job satisfaction and withdrawal.

EVALUATION OF CANTOR FITZGERALD LAWSUIT.
Gender inequality at the major position at the office Work place
Stowell claims that there was an inequality at the work place. Most of the top position are
occupied by the only men. In today’s fast moving world we are still Stacked in the old age
thought process. Women are important part of the society and they should be given equal
employment opportunity on the employee. Gender inequality are hard to break, in united
states and some developed countries their public policy are an important part in reducing the
gender inequality. As these laws encourage the employee to go beyond stereotypes and
recognize the contribution that contribution that each individual male and female can make to
the workplace and to relationship at home.
One reasons for the work place inequality is the decline in the fertility rates in post industrial
countries. Since 1980 the fertility rate have declined fertility rates have steadily declined
around the world. In the United States, the fertility rates is 1.9. In southern Europe and East
Asia, fertility rates are below 1.3.
So, women deserve to be equally treated as the men. They must be given equal status as the
men.
Work place ethics
Workplace ethics are nothing but the rules and procedures that should be carried out in an
office by the employer and the employees to maintain a professional company culture and to
build a better relationship with their customers by providing better services. Workplace ethics
leads to happy and satisfied employees who enjoy coming to work rather than treating it as a

EVALUATION OF CANTOR FITZGERALD LAWSUIT.
mere source of burden. Employees also develop a feeling of loyalty and attachment towards
the organization. Employees change primarily because of two reasons - Career growth and
monetary benefits. Management needs to make employees feel secure about their job and
career. Unnecessary favouritism is against workplace ethics. If you favour anyone just
because he is your relative, the other team members are bound to feel demotivated and thus
start looking for new opportunities. An individual’s output throughout the year should decide
his/her increment. To ensure consistency in understanding and practice across all levels,
organizations often establish frameworks and policies to shape work practices, interactions,
and behavior within an organization. To build a strong ethical work culture, management can
take the following steps:
Management needs to act as a source of inspiration for the employees.
It is generally observed that team managers, leaders influence their team members to a large
extent. Superiors strictly need to adhere to the rules and regulations of the organization for
their employees to follow the same. Remember, you have no rights to scold your subordinates
if you yourself are at fault. Moreover no one would bother to listen to you as well. Don’t
expect your team members to sit till late if you yourself leave early.
It is the role of the management to motivate the employees and guide them as to what is right
and wrong. Remember a boss is like the captain of the ship. It is your responsibility to take
your team members along and provide constant mentoring. Rebuking is not the only solution.
If you know one of your team members is meeting his girlfriend during office hours, do you
feel insulting or criticizing in front of others would help? NO. Call him to your cabin or speak
to him in private and make him realize that it is not morally correct to bunk office. You need
to counsel him and make him understand his mistake politely. Trust me, being rude would
make the situation more worse. Do not discuss the matter in front of others. The other person

EVALUATION OF CANTOR FITZGERALD LAWSUIT.
might not like it. Your job is to make the other person feel guilty and realize that indeed he
has done something wrong. Believe me; he would never repeat his mistake.
Seek employee buy-in
Involve employees in the process of drafting workplace ethics policy. Employee
involvement will help the management to understand their perspective and take measures to
get everyone on the same page. Ethics consultation group can be formed to take up concerns
regarding ethical behavior at workplace and training programs can be conducted to impart the
necessary skills.
Constant communication between the management and employees is of utmost
importance in inculcating workplace ethics.
Management ought to be transparent with its employees. Let them have a say in company’s
decisions. Let them decide what is right and what is wrong for them. Sit with them, discuss,
brainstorm ideas and listen to what they have to say. Never ignore their opinions. Let them
come out with their grievances.
Lend a sympathetic ear to their problems as well. Try to provide them a solution. If
you feel most of your employees have a problem coming to office early as they in any case
have to stay back till late in the evening as per the client’s availability, please adjust the office
timings accordingly.

EVALUATION OF CANTOR FITZGERALD LAWSUIT.
CONCLUSION
From the analysis of this report, it can be summarized that employees are the assets of
the company, and it is the responsibilities of the company to treat their employee fairly. It is
also obvious, because of few employee of the organization, entire company or the business
has to face the unlawful charges. These bad people because of the position, get an
opportunity to harass people who are below their position. These anti social element should
be identified as early as possible by the organization.
Women should be given equal freedom in comparison to the men. Women
participation must be encouraged in the higher position. Employer should regularly review in
their organization about women safety and Work culture ethics should be maintained in an
entity.

EVALUATION OF CANTOR FITZGERALD LAWSUIT.