[Tribeca ’22] ‘Employee of the Month’ review: On the job training

Employee of the Month is an workplace comedy that explores the misogyny in the office. Ines (Jasmina Douieb) has worked for seventeen years at EcoCleanPro. She does customer service, Human Resources, and whatever menial tasks her male coworkers ask of her.  Her latest job is to train an intern named Melody (Laetitia Mampaka). When the two accidentally kill a coworker, they must work together to cover up the crime.

It does not take long to understand the conditions Ines is working under. Her colleagues belittle her, do not take her seriously, and question her work ethic. It is a running theme throughout Employee of the Month. Even as things escalate and the situation becomes more exaggerated, the message of the movie is clear. Ines (and any woman who works at EcoCleanPro) is not as capable as the men.

Ines is one of the great strengths of Employee of the Month. Early on, it is shown that Ines is a diligent worker. As things become more chaotic, she is constantly up to the task. Another example of great writing is how the toxicity of this employer is conveyed. Events may become over the top, but the sexism is grounded and realistic. This keeps the story relatable even as the body count increases.

There are some bumps towards the end. A secret about Melody’s past does not quite fit with the tone. While Employee of the Month ably handles a serious issue in a comedic way, the revelation is one that takes all the fun away. It is unnecessary since the film has already done an excellent job of addressing a serious issue. IT is an otherwise great mix of commentary and comedy.

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