Business Ethics (The Office)

"Business Ethics" is the second episode of the fifth season of the television series The Office, and the show's sixty-eighth episode overall. The episode aired in the United States on October 9, 2008 on NBC.

Plot

In the cold open, 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 and much insulting commentary (Oscar thought they were already engaged, Angela brings up Roy, Andy acts irrirated that Jim is intruding on his own engagement, and Dwight points out Pam's not a virgin)...except Michael Scott (Steve Carell), who 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, where she allows the office to tell her about their personal time-theft stories without fear of consequence. 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 coupons to Outback Steakhouse, Holly feels that she should take action.

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, restraining himself from speaking when Jim spreads misinformation about his favorite show, Battlestar Galactica, and by urinating in a soda bottle, rather than use the bathroom. Michael, upset by Holly's feelings, takes her to the local seafood restaurant to smooth things over, and also try to start something with her inconspicuously. After failing on both counts, he becomes bitter towards her and treats her with the kind of contempt he previously reserved for Toby Flenderson.

Dwight finally stops caring about Jim's antagonism when he comes back into the office, having sneaked away to be intimate 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. After Holly is scolded by corporate for forgetting to collect the signatures of all the employees who attended the business ethics seminar, Michael feels sorry for her and lets things go. He stands up for Holly when the rest of the staff is reluctant to participate in the rest of the seminar by ordering them to finish it. This in turn, seems to improve their relationship once again.

Meredith's connection to Outback allows her to provide the food to the entire office, as seen in the ending.

Ratings

In the 18-49 demographic, Business Ethics earned a 4.6/11 ratings share. The episode was watched by 9.0 million viewers.