Toxic Work Environment

## Episode navigation

**"Toxic Work Environment"** is the third episode of Season Four of *Superstore*, and the fifty-eighth episode of the show overall.

## Summary

*Amy and Jonah get combative to keep their new relationship hidden from their co-workers. Meanwhile, Glenn spirals when he learns Kelly wants to transfer to a new store, and Cheyenne struggles to organize a Cloud 9 carpool.*

## Plot

In the parking lot, Amy and Jonah arrive at work in Amy's car and as they argue who should go in the store first, Dina catches them. Amy lies that they are carpooling which Cheyenne and Justine overhear. Justine wants in on the pool and suggests carpool karaoke which Sayid repeats when he learns of it. In the store, Cheyenne points out that it makes no sense for Amy and Jonah to be carpooling since they live so far apart. As Garrett starts to meddle, Amy distracts Cheyenne by suggesting she organize a store carpool. Garrett finds Amy and Jonah's efforts to hide that they are dating boring and transparent. In Glenn's Office, Kelly asks for a transfer to a store closer to her home which alarms Glenn. He offers to force Jonah to be with Kelly again and makes an inane comment about working close to home.

As Sandra and Jerry shop, Carol interrupts and they tell her they are moving in together. Glenn tells Mateo that he'd like to take employee of the month away from him and give it to Kelly. Perturbed, Mateo points out that while Kelly is a great person, she's a bad worker which Glenn acknowledges. Having put a lot of work into planning the carpool, Cheyenne shows Dina who points out many flaws including Sarah's divorce, Herman is dead, Cody and Heather are separated by a river and that she won't ride with Elias. As Amy and Jonah wonder if others can tell they are dating, they see Justine eavesdropping so they start mock fighting. Glenn calls together a number of staff and presents Kelly with a made-up award, the Golden Vest, hoping this will motivate her to stay. Seeing another opportunity to deflect suspicion they are dating, Amy and Jonah argue in Produce in front of Don, Joanna and Roger.

Jealous of the Golden Vest, Mateo accuses Kelly of playing dumb and threatening to leave in order to get it. When she calls the award meaningless, like "Employee of the Month", Mateo insults her and leaves. Seeing Jerry shopping alone, Carol fawns over him and makes excuses to lift her shirt up several times, revealing her breasts. In the Warehouse, Amy and Jonah stage a bigger fight, including mock violence, so that Heather, Janet, Gabbie and Ted can hear them, but not see them. In the Break Room, Cheyenne shows Garrett that's she's worked out the compatibility of certain staff to pool together but he points out that many of the staff she's matched up don't work the same shifts. In the store, Sandra crashes a cart into Carol's cart and threatens her to stay away from Jerry. As Kelly asks Glenn if he's signed her transfer papers, he asks her not to go and points out the love in the store just as Sandra pushes Carol and her cart into a display.

Staging another mock fight, Dina intervenes and confronts Jonah over Amy's protests. In Glenn's office, Dina and Glenn discuss the staff problems. Glenn blames himself but Dina is more concerned with a bad analogy Glenn making to a rotting fish. A woman shopping for clothes piles them on the head of a child. (♫ Janet Jackson - Miss You Much ♫) Glenn gathers the staff for a toxic workplace talk in the Break Room and when he asks what could cause this, Amy and Jonah play up their mock dislike. Glenn asks for criticism which Dina really wants to express, but he picks Amy. Encouraged, Amy gives a mild rebuke which takes Glenn a while to get over. Jonie replaces Mateo's employee of the month picture with Kelly's picture as the Golden Vest winner. (♫ New Edition - Can You Stand the Rain ♫) Glenn has Kelly and Jonah role play as each other to demonstrate empathy. Kelly expresses her desire to leave the store but when Jonah speaks, Dina interrupts and makes an impression of Kelly's high voice. This leads everyone to mimic Kelly's mannerisms.

Jerry sits at Coffee & Bakery and smells candles. (♫ Force MDs - Tender Love ♫) After Cheyenne makes a celebrity impression, Carol makes an insulting impression of Sandra. Sandra fires one back but in the course of her monologue, realizes she may have stolen Jerry from her and be part of the reason for Carol's erratic behavior. Carol still wants Jerry back which Justine opposes, Janet supports and Jonah thinks Jerry should decide. Dina and others pressure Sandra into a coin toss, which she loses to Carol's delight. In the store, Jonah apologizes to Kelly for being a bad boyfriend. Frustrated that Glenn won't sign her transfer payments, she makes an impression of him. As Cheyenne presents her comprehensive carpool plan, several staff gives reasons why they like driving alone so she leaves, defeated.

In order to make Kelly happy, Jonah manipulates Glenn into believing that she is the cause of the troubles with the store's culture. Sandra breaks the news of her losing the coin toss to Jerry and says that he's with Carol now. Jerry says that he will always love her and he learns Carol won't let them be friends. In the parking lot, Amy and Jonah continue mock arguing but once Jonah points out no one can hear them, Amy finds it hard to stop being combative with him. At the front door, as Kelly happily leaves with a box, Glenn and Mateo say goodbye with Mateo now wearing the Golden Vest.

## 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

Kelly Stablesas KellyKaliko Kauahias SandraIrene Whiteas CarolKelly Schumannas JustineCarla Renataas JanetChris Graceas JerryAmir M. Korangyas SayidJon Miyaharaas BrettDanny Guraas EliasSelisha Shertickas SarahMariana Toscaas HeatherChristopher Riordanas ChrisErnie Reyes Jr.as Customer

## Running Gags

* Amy's name tag: Amy wears a different name tag in every episode. For this one it's "Denise".
* **Crazy Customers and music**: For all customer interludes and music see Toxic Work Environment (music).
* Glenn's tie: Large cartoon clouds.

## References

* As Dina catches Jonah arriving at work in Amy's car, he lies that he's in the car to retrieve a receipt from Del Taco.
* Believing that Kelly is acting, Mateo compares her to Helen Mirren.
* Dina compares Jonah to an American Girl doll.
* Cheyenne does an impression of Fran Drescher.

## Trivia

* A Cloud 9 Delivery Truck, Glenn's office, Glenn's monkey puppet, the Warehouse, Coffee & Bakery and Stratus make an appearance.
* Dina says that Herman is dead and, Glenn reveals that Elias is his brother-in-law.
* The episode is also found under the title "Toxic Workplace".

## Quotes

“*Excuse me, I've got to go stop the love.*”— **Glenn**

## Video

Glenn’s Toxic Workplace Meeting - Superstore (Episode Highlight)