LITGATION VALUE: $6,000 – $10,000
Despite what you might think, Michael’s demand that all employees provide him with candidates to serve as the mother of his children does not violate any major employment law. After all, Michael made the demand of all employees and not, for example, only female employees or employees of a particular race. Continuing to employ an incompetent manager isn’t illegal. Yet.
That being said, allowing managers to require their subordinates to act as match-makers as a term and condition of their continued employment isn’t a good idea. In fact, it is as far away from a good idea as you are likely to get. Employment law cases don’t exist in a vacuum. And while this incident, standing alone, is not per se illegal, it will surely come up in the inevitable sexual harassment or gender discrimination trial that arises from Michael’s prior conduct. As a result, Dunder Mifflin is going to have to pay someone like me between $6,000 and $10,000 to draft a motion asking the Court to exclude testimony about this incident from trial, which they may or may not win. Somehow, I just don’t think that Michael (or his boss) will think that the coffee date with Pam’s landlady was really worth it.
I have to think nicknaming a gay employee “Oscar Meyer Weiner Lover” will cost something down the road.
Continuing to employ an incompetent manager isn’t illegal, yet.
Yes Michaels has problems relating, but he is not evil, and he is very competent as far as sales go. Last season he knocked down the major accounts and his branch leads in sales i think. He was top salesman twice. The hilarious and accurate episode where everyone went out and sold was very accurate in terms of how sales work should be done and not, and Michael showed he really knows what he is doing. Andy wrecked Michael’s sales at every turn, epsecially the bonding moment with the customer over the fish photo.