"Business Ethics" is the third episode of the fifth season of the television seriesThe Office, and the show's seventy-fifth episode overall. The episode aired in the United States on October 9, 2008 on NBC. In this episode, new HR repHolly tries to conduct a business ethics seminar, which does not go smoothly when it is revealed that Meredith has been having sex with a supplier in order to gain discounts. Meanwhile, Jim tries to prove to Dwight that he does waste company time, which he claims he does not.
Plot
In the cold open, Pam is talking to Jim 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, however, is elated by the news and tackles Jim with a flying hug when he hears the news. Following Ryan's recent actions, corporate wants Holly 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. This seminar eventually escalates into a confessional orchestrated by Michael in which the staff admits to dishonesty in the workplace. However, when Meredith mentions that she has sex to gain discounts for the company, Holly feels that she should take action. At the seminar, Dwight 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 interjecting when Jim spreads misinformation about Battlestar Galactica, urinating in a soda bottle under his desk to avoid leaving for the bathroom, and somehow managing to sneeze with his eyes open. Dwight finally stops caring about Jim's antagonism when he comes back into the office, having snuck away to have sex withAngela. 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 ordering 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", as seen in the ending.
Reception
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.
