Business Ethics (The Office)

Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) is talking to Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) on the phone, and Jim reluctantly reveals their engagement to the office, to no congratulations, aside from a surprised reaction from Oscar, who had assumed they were already engaged, and much insulting commentary from everyone else. Michael Scott (Steve Carell), however, is elated by the news and tackles Jim with a flying hug when he hears the news.

Following Ryan Howard's (B. J. Novak) recent actions, corporate wants Holly Flax (Amy Ryan) to set up a seminar regarding business ethics. To start off the meeting, Michael and Holly dance to a recording of Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" while changing the lyrics to "Ethical". Then, Michael invites the office to tell her about their personal time-theft stories without fear of consequence (by providing them with "immunity"). This seminar eventually escalates into a confessional orchestrated by Michael in which the staff admits to dishonesty in the workplace. However, when Meredith Palmer (Kate Flannery) mentions that she has sex to gain discounts for the company (and gift certificates to Outback Steakhouse), Holly feels that she should take action.[1]

At the seminar, Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) claimed that he never takes personal time during work, so Jim uses a stopwatch to count even the smallest distractions that befall Dwight, such as yawning, sneezing and using the restroom. As a result, Dwight never stops working: he restrains himself from interjecting when Jim spreads misinformation about Battlestar Galactica, urinates in a soda bottle under his desk to avoid leaving for the bathroom, and somehow manages to sneeze with his eyes open. Jim notes that he has been so busy timing Dwight, he hasn't even started work. Dwight finally stops caring about Jim's antagonism when he comes back into the office, having snuck away to have sex with Angela Martin (Angela Kinsey). Dwight does admit that he is not as ethical as he claimed, and Jim appears happy to hear this and stops using the stopwatch.

Michael, upset by Holly's feelings, takes her to a restaurant to smooth things over, and inconspicuously tries to ignite a relationship. After Holly states that Dunder Mifflin is not a family but a workplace, Michael becomes bitter towards her and treats her with the kind of contempt he previously reserved for Toby Flenderson. Later on a conference call, corporate turns a blind eye to Meredith's unethical behavior due to the discounts but scolds Holly for neglecting to collect the signatures of all the employees who attended the business ethics seminar. Michael immediately becomes sympathetic toward her, and stands up for Holly when the rest of the staff is reluctant to participate in the rest of the seminar by violently threatening them to finish it. This in turn, seems to improve their relationship once again as Michael sits quietly as Holly conducts the seminar properly.

Meredith provides Outback takeout to the entire office, so she is no longer the sole beneficiary of the "tip." The workers are confused exactly why Meredith accepts steak coupons, but agree to let Meredith continue her behavior.

In the 18–49 demographic, Business Ethics earned a 4.6/11 ratings share. The episode was watched by 9.0 million viewers. This episode got a good review from Travis Ficket of IGN, but it claimed, "it was all too familiar."

"Business Ethics" was voted the twenty-first highest-rated episode out of 26 from the fifth season, according to an episode poll at the fansite OfficeTally; the episode was rated 7.34 out of 10.[2]

• "Business Ethics" at NBC.com
• "Business Ethics" at IMDb
• "Business Ethics" at TV.com