Holly leads a business ethics seminar as a result of Ryan's scandal, and when Michael encourages everyone to share their own unethical work behaviors, things get out of hand. Meanwhile, Jim messes with Dwight by requiring him to follow the Dunder Mifflin "Time Theft" policy.
WAR
36.9
Wins Above Replacement
“Business Ethics” ranks #117 of 183 The Office episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 76.1 — Great. The episode packs 52 scored jokes at 2.5 per minute, averaging 6.7 on craft and 6.8 on impact, with Michael landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
Get weekly comedy rankings
Join comedy fans getting new analyses, score drops, and the funniest moments each week. Free, no spam.
Top Jokes
Meredith: Well, for the past six years I have been sleeping with him in exchange for discounts on our supplies and Outback Steakhouse gift certificates.
Meredith Escalation Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Jim: At 12:45, he sneezed while keeping his eyes open, which I always thought was impossible. At 1:32, he peed. And I know that because he did it in an open soda bottle under the desk while filling out expense reports.
Jim Escalation Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jim: Really? That's cool. The story's kind of bland. It's about this guy named Dumbledore Calrissian who needs to return the ring back to Mordor.
Jim Escalation Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jim Deadpan/Understatement Meta/Self-Referential Jim · Dwight: You had said that you don't do anything personal during work time, so I'm just making sure.
All Jokes — 52 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Jim · Pam: Not one of them called to congratulate me on our engagement... That, they might be off the hook for, because I didn't tell them.
Jim Pam Setup/Punchline Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Angela · Jim: I thought you were already engaged. Nope. That was Roy. She was engaged to Roy. Thank you, Angela.
Phyllis: I got a gift for Pam and Roy. Do I have to get another one?
Phyllis Character Comedy Observational Andy · Jim: A little close to my engagement there, Tuna. What's your game here? To get married. She's not a virgin, you know.
Holly: Pencils down! Just kidding. Take your time.
Holly Misdirection Character Comedy Holly: It's going to be insane. No, it's not. I have to read from the binder.
Holly Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Michael: Let's get ethical, ethical / I want to get ethical / Let's get into ethics, yeah
Michael Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Michael: And ultimately my strategy is to sort of merge this into a relationship without her even knowing.
Michael Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Kevin: Come on. He's right there. He was hired.
Kevin Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Creed: Check it out, hired guy. Nice.
Creed Callback Character Comedy Callback Ryan: Even though it was an amazing ride and I'll give an example. Anyone see Survivor, Season Six? In New York City, I hooked up with a girl who looked exactly like that.
Ryan Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Kevin: I thought 'very strongly agree' sounded stronger than 'totally agree.'
Kevin Character Comedy Observational Michael: Well, I think we can all totally agree that Holly is totally fantastic.
Michael Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun Jim Deadpan/Understatement Meta/Self-Referential Michael: Can't set them up like that.
Michael Reaction Beat Meta/Self-Referential Stanley · Phyllis · Meredith: I'll do it. I don't care. / I'll smoke with you. / I got a bag of cigars in my purse.
Michael: You need to be Robin Williams and M. Night Shyamalan. You need to be Robin Shyamalan.
Michael: Lauren! Enough with the pencils!
Andy: I'll drop an ethics bomb on you. Would you steal bread to feed your family? Boom!
Andy Character Comedy Setup/Punchline Andy: It's a trick question. The bread is poisoned. Also, it's not your real family. You've been cuckolded by a stronger, smarter male.
Andy Escalation Absurdist ★ Rewatch Kevin: I viewed Cookie Monster Sings Chocolate Rain about 1,000 times.
Kevin Character Comedy Observational Kevin: What was the dilemma? To tell you or not.
Kevin Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Stanley · Dwight: A siesta. Time thief. Time thief. Fire him!
Oscar: You are a thief of joy.
Oscar Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Angela: I once reported Oscar to the INS. Turns out he's clean, but I'm glad I did it.
Angela Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Meredith: Well, for the past six years I have been sleeping with him in exchange for discounts on our supplies and Outback Steakhouse gift certificates.
Meredith Escalation Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Michael Reaction Beat Character Comedy Meredith: Exchange of steak. Have you ever had sirloin steak, honey?
Meredith Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Michael: Meredith, 'the Merenator,' sleeping with suppliers.
Michael Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun Meredith · Michael: Am I in trouble here or something? / Nothing unethical happened and that you just like to sleep around?
Meredith · Michael: There's not a lot of fruit in those looms. For the love of God, we're trying to help you, you stupid bag.
Meredith: Well, it's funny, maybe it's a girl thing, but after we did it, when he would give me those coupons, I just felt good about myself.
Meredith Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jim · Dwight: You had said that you don't do anything personal during work time, so I'm just making sure.
Dwight: Hey, look, monkey knows how to use a stop watch, everybody.
Dwight Character Comedy Escalation Michael: It's Mike-raculous. Reaching. You'll get there.
Michael Wordplay/Pun Meta/Self-Referential Michael: Would you care to bang it out over lunch? I already bought this.
Michael: Terminate her. Terminator. 'I'm from the future.'
Michael Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Andy: I mean, I like all the crazy monsters and stuff, you know, like Klingons and Wookiees and all that, but...
Andy Character Comedy Setup/Punchline Jim: Really? That's cool. The story's kind of bland. It's about this guy named Dumbledore Calrissian who needs to return the ring back to Mordor.
Jim Escalation Absurdist ★ Rewatch Dwight: Really. That doesn't sound right.
Dwight Reaction Beat Deadpan/Understatement Michael: No, it's more of an underwear garment that has little spikes, like, made of... Like sometimes they're made of metal. You know what I'm talking about? You unlock a little door that... Down where you... Where you put... Where you put the...
Jim: At 12:45, he sneezed while keeping his eyes open, which I always thought was impossible. At 1:32, he peed. And I know that because he did it in an open soda bottle under the desk while filling out expense reports.
Jim Escalation Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jim: It's exhausting, being this vigilant. I'll probably have to go home early today.
Jim Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Michael: And I am holding on to her leftovers.
Dwight: So I guess I can assume that was personal.
Dwight Callback Escalation Callback Holly: Turns out being the morality police does not make you popular. I should know, because in middle school I was the hall monitor and the kids used to stuff egg salad in my locker.
Holly Character Comedy Observational Michael: What's the only thing worse than one HR rep? Two HR reps. You get me.
Michael Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Michael: I don't know, can you?
Michael Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Michael: Gently, with a rose?
Meredith · Michael: Don't sign anything. / Get in there right now or I'm going to lose it!
Kevin · Oscar: Wait a second, how does this steak factor in again? I think she got it as a tip, but I don't know why she didn't just take cash.
Stanley · Kevin: I don't care what she's doing, I hope she just keeps doing it. Amen. Just keep the ribs coming.
⏩ The part you fast-forward
Our scorer flagged 12:03-13:00 as the stretch with the fewest or weakest comedic moments. Everything else lands harder.
Top Episodes — The Office
