Employee Appreciation Day

## Episode navigation

**"Employee Appreciation Day"** is the twenty-second episode of Season Four of *Superstore*, and the seventy-sixth episode of the show overall.

## Summary

*Amy and Jonah find themselves on opposing sides as corporate tries to win over employees by showering them with treats. But when the company's tactics grow more extreme, everyone must band together to save one of their own.*

## Plot

In the store, Amy announces it's "Employee Appreciation Day" with perks for the staff such as free ice cream and massages. Jonah derides Amy's announcement as an attempt to stop staff from submitting union cards. Justine and Marcus wonder if they should be naked for various events. Using a t-shirt cannon, Dina accidentally smashes the holographic Myrtle. After Garrett makes an announcement on the P.A., Amy and Jonah watch the staff get ice cream. Jonah derides the attempts to squash the union while Amy defends her actions, having saved the store from being shut down. As Marcus wonders if he should get a massage, due to the tattoo Cheyenne gave him being infected, Mateo and Sandra look forward to forming a union, citing its benefits. An artist draws a caricature of Brett on a motorbike. (♫ Phil Collins - You Can't Hurry Love ♫)

Concerned that the staff are signing union cards, in the Break Room, Amy and Dina show the staff an anti-union video starring MC Cool Cloud and Ashley. Amy and Jonah argue their positions in front of the staff. In the store, a goat passes by a raccoon. (♫ Divinyls - I Touch Myself ♫) Amy points out that unions aren't always the answer but when Jonah reminds her of the lack of maternity leave, she touts she's never having children again, which makes Jonah wonder about their future. Carol reveals that she knows Sandra is sleeping with Jerry and Cheyenne calls Amy a hypocrite for siding with "the enemy", corporate.

At Cloud 9 Headquarters, CEO Neil asks how the union situation at Store 1217 is going. Receiving a report from Dan, who indicates among other actions that ICE will be doing an on-site enforcement, Jeff excuses himself. Elias drops ice cream in a customer's bag and then throws the whole cone in. (♫ Spin Doctors - Two Princes ♫) As Glenn, Sayid, Cheyenne and Mateo discuss Jerry, Amy gets a Skype from Jeff warning her about ICE's arrival. Running into the store, Amy yells at Mateo to get out of the store. Everyone with Mateo individually knew about his illegal alien status but are surprised to find each other knew. ICE agents enter the store and Mateo and Cheyenne run into the back. Garrett makes a P.A. announcement about ICE while the agents watch.

In the Stock Room, Glenn and Dina report that ICE has blocked all the exits. Marcus proposes that Mateo hide in the compactor which Mateo thinks is crazy. Citing that as the reason ICE won't look there, Marcus accidentally activates the compactor which crushes a pile of mannequins. Sayid shows an agent overwhelming proof of his refugee status. In Amy's office, ICE Agent Robson goes through the store's payroll records while Amy watches. Leaving her office, Amy runs into Jonah and says she's done being loyal to corporate. ICE agents wait in line for free ice cream. (♫ Chumbawamba - Tubthumping ♫)

In the Warehouse, Amy gathers a number of staff and asks for ideas to get Mateo out of the store. Sandra and Justine have inane suggestions while Marcus admits he's been living in the store. Dina doesn't think it's possible to have Mateo escape and points out that technically, he is breaking the law. After arguing about the justice of Mateo's status, Glenn points out Jesus was an immigrant from heaven and Marcus wonders if they can get Mateo back into the US if he's deported. Sayid describes what it took to get his refugee status. Finally, Jonah suggests they get the staff to call everyone they know to the store and hope that the crowd will allow Mateo to slip out.

The store is soon packed with people, including Jerry, whose hands Sandra holds. Jealous, Carol tries to get them in trouble by lying to an ICE agent that they're human traffickers. Amy gives direction to Heather and Marcus where to send their friends and is surprised to find Kelly there. Having brought many of her fellow associates from the Fenton store, Amy is concerned that Jonah and Kelly still keep in touch. Bo distracts an agent by asking if he can shoot his gun. Outside the Break Room, Cheyenne regrets how much she's going to miss Mateo and points out to him that even if he escapes ICE, he can't come back to the store. An ICE agent shops. (♫ Elle King - Ex's and Oh's ♫)

Kelly distracts an agent by telling a beauty pageant story of a contestant who was attacked by a strangler. Having reviewed the payroll records, at customer service, Agent Robson tells Amy, Garrett and Jonah they're looking for Mateo. Lying that they don't know him, Robson notices a picture of Mateo on the wall. Amy leaves while Garrett and Jonah still claim ignorance. Finding Cheyenne and Mateo walking through the store, Amy warns them that ICE knows what Mateo looks like. Trapped, Amy gets a call her walkie from Dina, who is in the Surveillance Office. Using the monitors of the store's cameras, Dina starts to guide them away from the agents. Bo continues to distract the agent by asking if he'd turn in an illegal girlfriend.

Dodging the agents, Mateo is spotted by Robson. Jerry asks Sandra to marry him and she accepts. Dina tries her best to guide Amy, Cheyenne and Mateo away from ICE but there's too many agents. Kelly continues to distract an agent by performing a rap she did in a pageant of the Central American countries and their capitals, in Spanish. Continuing to run from ICE, Mateo is soon surrounded. Amy and Cheyenne propose a last-ditch scheme to distract the agents but Mateo stops them and gives himself up. Outside the store, the staff and customers watch as Mateo is driven away by ICE. (♫ Haux - Homegrown ♫) As Glenn puzzles what to do, Jonah can't think of anything. Amy proposes they start a union.

## Cast

### Main cast

America Ferreraas Amy DubanowskiBen Feldmanas Jonah SimmsMark McKinneyas Glenn SturgisLauren Ashas Dina FoxColton Dunnas Garrett McNeillNichole Bloomas Cheyenne LeeNico Santosas Mateo Liwanag
### Featured cast

Johnny Pembertonas Bo Derek ThompsonKaliko Kauahias SandraIrene Whiteas CarolLinda Porteras MyrtleJon Barinholtzas MarcusKelly Schumannas JustineMichael Buninas Jeff SutinChris Graceas JerryKelly Stablesas KellyAmir M. Korangyas SayidJon Miyaharaas BrettDanny Guraas EliasSelisha Shertickas SarahMariana Toscaas HeatherChristopher Riordanas ChrisAlison Whitneyas Cloud 9 Employee (Ashley)Brian Howeas NeilCraig Welzbacheras DanSeth Morrisas ICE Agent RobsonSean Jenkinsas ICE Agent #2Jonathan Brayas ICE Agent #3

## Running Gags

* Amy's name tag: Amy wears a different name tag in every episode. For this one it's "Aylin."
* **Crazy Customers and music**: For all customer interludes and music see Employee Appreciation Day (music).

## References

* Glenn and Dina had a hard time watching the The Peanuts Movie and Charlie Brown in 3D.
* Cheyenne and Sayid thought they were going to watch the film Paddington instead of an anti-union movie.
* One of Marcus' favorite movies is Ride Along 2.
* The staff believe Amy yelling out that ICE is coming is a reference to Game of Thrones.

## Trivia

* MC Cool Cloud, the Stock Room, the Warehouse and the Surveillance Office make an appearance.
* Marcus displays the tattoo Cheyenne gave him. ("Lovebirds")
* Mateo's downfall is a photo he put up of himself, lobbying to be floor supervisor, after Amy was made manager. ("Salary")

## Quotes

“*Yes, everybody keep their clothes on. It's ridiculous how often I have to say that.*”— **Amy**

## Video

Amy Shows an Anti-Union Video - Superstore (Episode Highlight)Mateo Gives Up - Superstore (Episode Highlight)