Maternity Leave

## Episode navigation

**"Maternity Leave"** is the sixth episode of Season Four of *Superstore*, and the sixty-first episode of the show overall.

## Summary

*Amy faces a nightmare day at work when she learns she doesn't have maternity leave, made worse by Cheyenne and Mateo's campaign to change her baby's name. Meanwhile, Jonah and Garrett take on hiring the new seasonal help.*

## Plot

In the nursery at her house, Amy has just gotten her new baby boy Parker to sleep when the phone rings. It's Glenn who informs her that due to her suspension, she doesn't qualify for maternity leave. Haven just returned from the hospital and exhausted, Amy agrees to come in. Arriving at work in her pajamas, Jonah tries to encourage her. Sandra hears a tablet ringing and answering it, finds Dina calling who is still in the hospital. Bored, she demands Sandra carry the tablet and pursue a customer she believes is shoplifting. A woman, Kimmer, approaches Garrett and Jonah asking for directions to Glenn's Office for an interview for seasonal work. Not wearing any shoes and overly spiritual, as she wanders away they're miffed that Glenn is probably going to hire her. Amy tells Cheyenne and Mateo that Adam is watching Parker. They consider the name "Parker" strange and try to hide their puzzlement over her choice. A raccoon eats in the Produce section. (♫ Warrant - Cherry Pie ♫)

Seeing Kimmer has been hired and is punching a box, Garrett and Jonah manipulate Glenn into allowing them to conduct the interviews for the last seasonal hire position. While preparing for the interviews, Amy walks by and they comment on her disheveled state. Amy's so exhausted that she stocked firewood in the Toy Department, took a customer's cart by mistake and, Jonah points out she's lactating. Mateo discusses the name "Parker" with Cheyenne and comparing it to child abuse, convinces her to join him in getting Amy to change it. The interviews start with Penny who is extremely energetic and demonstrative. She tells them that she has another job offer but turned off by her, they pass. Amy asks if she can use Glenn's office to pump her breasts and while initially agreeing, he becomes more uncomfortable as his office is filled with pictures of his new baby. He tells Amy she can use the "lactation room" which turns out to be a utility closet.

Sandra holds the tablet with Dina on it so she can rebuke Heather and Elias for minor infractions. Not satisfied, Dina tells her to get rebar, and a welding torch from Henry's locker. The interviews continue with a man who can't decide where to sit, an unintelligent man, a glib man, a woman with a nose bleed, a vaper, a man with a swastika tattoo and a man with an offensive t-shirt. As Amy pumps her breasts in the utility room, Sayid interrupts to pray and insists that it can't wait. Kimmer practices yoga and crashes into a display. (♫ Ralph Tresvant - Sensitivity ♫) At Coffee & Bakery, Jonah and Garrett review the bad candidates and regret not hiring Penny. In the Break Room, Cheyenne and Mateo show Amy a presentation that compares the name "Parker" to a homeless person and a bad movie character. Even though Penny has accepted her other job offer, Garrett and Jonah convince her to work at the store which they say is like a family.

They immediately regret hiring Penny as she goofily sings and dances while working, which embarrasses them when Glenn sees her. Working a checkout, Amy starts to cry in front of a customer. In the Stock Room, Sandra wears glasses and hockey helmet with a cage while grinding rebar. From the tablet, Dina yells instructions at her while Sandra yelps as sparks fly into her face. Sandra enters the store with a head frame made from the rebar, which has Dina's tablet attached to it covering Sandra's face. While doing go-backs, Penny makes train noises which Garrett finds annoying. A young man, Lonnie, asks if he can apply for a position but being all taken, he's turned away. Acting polite and honest, Garrett and Jonah want to hire him, especially as Penny passes by mimicking a robot. In the utility room, Sayid complains about the noise Amy's breast pump makes.

Garrett and Jonah fire Penny who has a hard time accepting it and won't let go of her work vest. Bothered by a phone call from Adam while walking through the store, Glenn gives Amy a gift which pushes her over the edge. Ranting about all her medical issues and exhaustion, she screams at Glenn to kill himself which results in him running to his car in tears. Watching and having prepared a placard of replacement names for "Parker", Cheyenne and Mateo sulk away. Later, Amy expresses her regret to Jonah for her behaviour towards Glenn. Surprised that Jonah listens patiently without telling her an inspiring story, she teases him and they laugh. Saying that he's never done anything as hard as Amy is doing, she finds it encouraging. Sayid walks by with his prayer rug and tells Amy it's time for her to pump her breasts.

With the tablet showing Dina covering her face, Sandra tries to help a customer with teas while Dina talks. However, she can't see and ends up knocking many boxes off the shelves. In Glenn's office, Amy apologizes to Glenn who in turn says he's sorry, as he considers the gift he offered her inadequate. To make up for this, Glenn reaches behind his desk and gives Amy a puppy. Not wanting to hurt Glenn's feelings, she reluctantly takes the dog and leaves. In the store, Garrett and Jonah praise Lonnie's work ethic to which he jokes back in a self-deprecating manner. Excusing himself to use the bathroom, Garrett and Jonah congratulate themselves on putting the work in and finding a good employee. However, they then see Lonnie peeing on the floor in the middle of the store.

## 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

Kaliko Kauahias SandraAmir M. Korangyas SayidAngela Malhotraas KimmerEden Shuras PennyDanny Guraas EliasMariana Toscaas HeatherSelisha Shertickas SarahJim Woodsas Nervous ApplicantJonny Svarzbeinas DummyAlbert Minero Jr.as Intense GuyDonielle Nashas Bloody Nose WomanMichael John Laneas Tattooed GuyJesse Wangas CustomerDrew Tarveras Lonnie

## Running Gags

* Amy's name tag: Amy wears a different name tag in every episode. For this one it's "Tara".
* **Crazy Customers and music**: For all customer interludes and music see Maternity Leave (music).
* Glenn's tie: Large cartoon clouds with suns.

## References

* Jonah's mother texts him with a question about Westworld.
* As Garrett and Jonah manipulate Glenn into allowing them to conduct the seasonal hire interviews, Garrett mentions that Glenn has been carrying them, like Footprints in the Sand and also mentions Jesus.
* As Penny says she has another job offer, she mimics Vito Corleone from The Godfather.
* Sayid interrupts Amy in the utility room so that he can pray to Allah.
* As Cheyenne and Mateo try to convince Amy that naming her baby "Parker" is a bad idea, Cheyenne wonders about Parker Posey.
* While convincing Penny to accept their job offer, Garrett mentions the Olive Garden.
* Lonnie was delayed from applying for a seasonal position due to playing Fortnite.
* Jonah mentions he acted in the play The Taming of the Shrew.
* As Sandra, with a tablet showing Dina covering her face, helps a customer with teas, Dina suggests Earl Grey.

## Trivia

* Glenn's office, Glenn's monkey puppet, Coffee & Bakery and the Stock Room make an appearance.

## Quotes

“*Oh, wait, hey! Why don't you use the lactation room?*”— **Glenn to Amy**

## Video

Jonah and Garrett Interview Idiots - Superstore (Episode Highlight)Amy Goes Off on Glenn - Superstore (Episode Highlight)