S03.E14: Safety Training

[fishcakes]

Quote

When Mateo gets injured, Jonah tries to help him avoid Cloud 9 compensation for fear of his immigration status being revealed. Meanwhile, Amy attempts to convince everyone that she likes Kelly.

[cleo]

So glad Mateo told the truth. Loved Garrett tormenting the other guy. Amy/Jonah/ Kelly triangle- meh. 

Where is Cheyenne? Something up with the actress?

Eta- as Canadian though I don't really understand how someone can be undocumented but still pay taxes?

Edited March 9, 2018 by cleo

[EarlGreyTea]

Now that was one of the biggest jaw-dropping ending scenes on TV I've seen in a while! I didn't see it coming.  It was a bit too contrived, but still. Finally things are moving forward.

Mateo and Jeff are one of the best couples on the show. About damn time poor Jeff found out the truth. Really poignant scene when Mateo finally admits he's undocumented. This show is so damn topical. Also, from the looks of the injury at first, Mateo should have gotten a concussion, not just a wrist sprain.

Amy/America looks great in blue.

Edited March 9, 2018 by EarlGreyTea

[tennisgurl]

I hope Mateo and Jeff can make it work, now that Mateo told the truth. 

The return of boob cheese! The investment we all need to make?

"Probably sometime between the 5th century and...now?"

[Irlandesa]

That was a fun episode.  I didn't think Jonah and Amy's kiss necessarily needed to come out.  But that's probably because Jonah and Kelly don't really feel all that serious even though they've been dating a while.  I think, if the Jonah and Amy story were to move forward, which I think it eventually will, anything could have broken up Kelly and Jonah.  It was a little contrived that Dina had video footage from random moments, though.

However, I think pairing it with the other truth bomb in the episode was smart even if it didn't give me the same cathartic release The Mateo reveal did.  Speaking of Jeff and Mateo, I think they're this show's best written will they/won't they duo.  Jonah and Amy are clearly this show's #1 potential pairing, and I don't mind them, but I think the show has overall managed to more successfully hit the emotional and comedic beats of a sitcom couple with Jeff and Mateo.  It might be because Jeff is recurring and there's less pressure but they've been a nice surprise.

4 hours ago, cleo said:

Where is Cheyenne? Something up with the actress?

That's a good question.  I don't notice anything on her Twitter.  It's possible she's filming something else.  That's one nice thing about having a big cast that takes place in a store; someone can just be off shift and there are plenty of people to fill the time.

[EtheltoTillie]

6 hours ago, cleo said:

So glad Mateo told the truth. Loved Garrett tormenting the other guy. Amy/Jonah/ Kelly triangle- meh. 

Where is Cheyenne? Something up with the actress?

Eta- as Canadian though I don't really understand how someone can be undocumented but still pay taxes?

 

Legally it makes no sense to me as an American either unless he's working with a fake ID and Social Security number. Undocumented folks usually end up working in off the books jobs for cash. Large corporations like WalMart/Cloud 9 would follow the rules here for employers and require showing of citizenship docs or green card, plus SS number for tax withholding. I have found this to be a gigantic plot hole that has annoyed me from the start. Writers come up with something without understanding the ramifications. So I can understand why he couldn't go on the cruise because he doesn't have the right paperwork to leave and reenter the US, but if he's using a fake ID and SS number to get his paychecks, there's no reason he couldn't use them to receive the settlement. Just another example of the writers throwing logic to the winds in order to have the reveal. 

 

More thoughts:  Dina's a crafty bitch, isn't she?  

Edited March 9, 2018 by GussieK

[ally862]

4 hours ago, GussieK said:

Legally it makes no sense to me as an American either unless he's working with a fake ID and Social Security number. Undocumented folks usually end up working in off the books jobs for cash. Large corporations like WalMart/Cloud 9 would follow the rules here for employers and require showing of citizenship docs or green card, plus SS number for tax withholding. I have found this to be a gigantic plot hole that has annoyed me from the start. Writers come up with something without understanding the ramifications. So I can understand why he couldn't go on the cruise because he doesn't have the right paperwork to leave and reenter the US, but if he's using a fake ID and SS number to get his paychecks, there's no reason he couldn't use them to receive the settlement. Just another example of the writers throwing logic to the winds in order to have the reveal. 

 

More thoughts:  Dina's a crafty bitch, isn't she?  

I think the problem is that Mateo just found out he's undocumented and he's afraid that he'll get caught. I buy it that he could get a job with a fake Social Security number because it depends on what the company does. I work in HR and some companies just copy the social security number and write it on the I-9 form. But other companies do an electronic verify in which case if something like that happened, he'd get caught. Show up until now he's been using the fake Social Security number, thinking it was his and he locked out that he didn't get caught but now that he knows, he's afraid to use it.

[EtheltoTillie]

10 minutes ago, ally862 said:

I think the problem is that Mateo just found out he's undocumented and he's afraid that he'll get caught. I buy it that he could get a job with a fake Social Security number because it depends on what the company does. I work in HR and some companies just copy the social security number and write it on the I-9 form. But other companies do an electronic verify in which case if something like that happened, he'd get caught. Show up until now he's been using the fake Social Security number, thinking it was his and he locked out that he didn't get caught but now that he knows, he's afraid to use it.

Even without everify companies are required to view citizenship/green card/ work authorization and keep a copy on file for the I9. Not just copy the SS number. I know this because I employ people myself as a small business. There's no way a large company would skirt that requirement. That said, I was unaware that Mateo did not know he was undocumented, as I had not watched the show consistently from the beginning. 

[joanne3482]

1 hour ago, GussieK said:

Even without everify companies are required to view citizenship/green card/ work authorization and keep a copy on file for the I9. Not just copy the SS number. I know this because I employ people myself as a small business. 

If you read the I-9 form employers may photocopy the documents but it isn't a requirement which is a change from back when I first started in HR (19 years ago) when you couldn't.  So really all they had to do was look at the Social Security card and driver's license and be good.  If they're not using everify, it would only be discovered during a government audit - if then.   Would Mateo have been found out if he had signed the forms? Probably not, but now that he knows he's illegal it has made him much more paranoid. 

It may have been Mateo's wrist just based on the way he fell. If he put his hand out to break his fall or to break the fall of the things on his head that could have caused the wrist issue.  I do love him and Jeff and I like that he came clean to him about the whole thing. 

[tominboston]

I know that the issue of legal immigration versus fake IDs is an important one in the real world these days, but as far as I'm concerned this show takes place in Sitcomland so I'm happy to accept whatever situation the writers present for Mateo. Glad he got some money out of the giant monster corporation, though.

Poor Amy. I see that the show has been renewed for next season (hooray!!!), so I assume this season will end with some sort of Amy/Jonah/Kelly cliffhanger. Given that Kelly seems really sweet but is an intellectual lightweight, I assume that Jonah will eventually figure out that she's not a good long term match for him.

Edited March 9, 2018 by tominboston

[iMonrey]

Quote

Where is Cheyenne? Something up with the actress?

We don't see every character every week. Some of them seem to be recurring, like Marcus and Myrtle. I'm sure it's an issue of $$.

I'm just glad Mateo finally admitted the truth to Mateo. But - the ironic thing here is we see footage from the tornado in this episode, and that's also the episode where Mateo called Jeff and told him he loved him. Yet there's never been any acknowledgment of that. Did the writers just forget that happened? 

I loved how the compensation offer kept going up. Marcus only got $200 and Justine got $1000 but now we know they'll go as high as 50K.

I also liked Garrett trying to talk Marcus into getting into the box crusher. But I cringed every time he tried to slice off his thumb again. It was bad enough the first time! 

[theatremouse]

I thought it incredibly unlikely they have security footage over 2 weeks old...

I also physically blocked the screen during the attempted thumb slicing, literally shouting LALALALALA until it was over. Not funny. Not pleasant.

[VartanFan]

Quote

Glad he got some money out of the giant monster corporation, though.

Except he didn't, right?  Given that Jeff can't submit the paperwork now, I would assume he'd have to return the money.  

I also looked away at Marcus trying to cut off his thumb again.  

[fishcakes]

I had been liking Kelly up until now but when she tried to weasel out of any responsibility at all for Mateo's accident and did that cutesy little "well, but what if St. Patrick hadn't driven the snakes out of Ireland?" I realized she's that person who always gets her way and gets away with everything. (She's basically the anti-Justine.) Those people are the worst, so this forces me to ship Amy and Jonah, or at least Jonah and not-Kelly. I should have known Kelly was no good when she dared bring up Ellen in the same breath as Oprah. And I loved Amy's "hot tip, Kelly," to Kelly telling everyone about how grilled cheese is good.

 

4 hours ago, iMonrey said:

I'm just glad Mateo finally admitted the truth to Mateo. But - the ironic thing here is we see footage from the tornado in this episode, and that's also the episode where Mateo called Jeff and told him he loved him. Yet there's never been any acknowledgment of that. Did the writers just forget that happened?

It was mentioned once. Mateo said that he didn't know if Jeff got his voicemail telling him he loved him and I don't think they never answered that question definitively, but it seems like he must not have since Jeff seemed fairly hostile to him even after the tornado.

[ally862]

14 hours ago, GussieK said:

Even without everify companies are required to view citizenship/green card/ work authorization and keep a copy on file for the I9. Not just copy the SS number. I know this because I employ people myself as a small business. There's no way a large company would skirt that requirement. That said, I was unaware that Mateo did not know he was undocumented, as I had not watched the show consistently from the beginning. 

Oh they'd absolutely have to do all that, you're right.  I just think that if someone had fake copies of everything you wouldn't know just by looking.  I definitely wouldn't. 

[neuromom]

Mr “know it all” Jonah with his one year of business school is getting on my last nerve. I think he’s my least fave character now, so Amy can have him - since she’s my second least fave character. 

I sure hope Mateo isn’t using a fake/stolen social security card. When my son was admitted to the ER about 10 years ago, we found out someone had been using his social security number for some type of billing purposes for that particular hospital. My son was 3. 

I like that Dina can make Amy suffer. And although I miss Cheyenne, it appears they are using Sandra a bit more instead.

[Suzysite]

I'm having a lot of trouble feeling bad for Mateo and his illegal status.  Make it right, dude.   If the rest of the season is about him skirting the law and using fake IDs or Social Security #s I'm going to be really upset with the writers.  It's not cute and it's not funny.    

[Corgi-ears]

Quote

 

I'm having a lot of trouble feeling bad for Mateo and his illegal status.  Make it right, dude.

 

But what should Mateo do to "make it right"? The show has established that Mateo didn't know he is illegal, so his status is probably due to his parents (either bringing him in illegally, or giving birth to him while they are themselves illegal). Assuming that the show takes place in our reality, the US now has a president who doesn't seem open to having such people, who are in a sense "inadvertently illegal," to retroactively apply for work permits and protection from deportation. If Mateo owns up to his illegal status, even just as a way to fix it, he will likely be deported (or if someone turns him in, your friendly US Immigration and Customs Enforcement apparently does not have the phrase "mitigating circumstances" in their vocabulary).  

But it's certainly true that the situation is "not cute and not funny" for the 1.8 million DREAMers in the US.

[ari333]

I just recently found this show. DOnt know how I missed it for so long. I love all the characters. Very funny and quirky.

Undocumented workers can and do pay taxes. They show their ID at their country's consulate in the US. They pay into the tax system. It is taken out of their checks.  They do not need fake ID or fake SS numbers to do that.

[ItCouldBeWorse]

On 3/10/2018 at 12:58 AM, neuromom said:

Mr “know it all” Jonah with his one year of business school is getting on my last nerve

I assume he was going for his MBA and has a college degree? If so, he seems extremely non-ambitious making minimum wage with no health insurance. I realize that those in management, like Dina and Glenn, might also have college degrees, but Jonah does not exert himself like someone who plans to move up. Until recently, Amy (who was earning her degree at night; whatever happened to that?) was ambitious.

So no one trained Kelley how to properly hang things?  That could be Amy's fault if she was in charge, but it's certainly someone's failure besides Kelly's.

On 3/9/2018 at 1:21 AM, Irlandesa said:

It was a little contrived that Dina had video footage from random moments, though.

Yup. Surprised they didn't show Sandra failing to help Justine during the tornado while they were at it (although Justine wasn't there this week, so it would have been less impactful).

Edited March 11, 2018 by ItCouldBeWorse

[janie jones]

15 hours ago, Corgi-ears said:

But what should Mateo do to "make it right"? The show has established that Mateo didn't know he is illegal, so his status is probably due to his parents (either bringing him in illegally, or giving birth to him while they are themselves illegal). Assuming that the show takes place in our reality, the US now has a president who doesn't seem open to having such people, who are in a sense "inadvertently illegal," to retroactively apply for work permits and protection from deportation. If Mateo owns up to his illegal status, even just as a way to fix it, he will likely be deported (or if someone turns him in, your friendly US Immigration and Customs Enforcement apparently does not have the phrase "mitigating circumstances" in their vocabulary).  

But it's certainly true that the situation is "not cute and not funny" for the 1.8 million DREAMers in the US.

Even if his parents were here illegally, if Mateo were born here, he'd be a citizen.  The only way he's here illegally is if his parents brought him here illegally.  I agree, though, he probably has no idea how to "make it right" without being deported, even if such a way exists at this point.

[Corgi-ears]

9 hours ago, janie jones said:

Even if his parents were here illegally, if Mateo were born here, he'd be a citizen.

Oh yeah, of course you're right. That parenthetical clause got away from me. The 14th amendment would be in effect, and that amendment exists...for now. 

[Arynm]

He can marry Jeff! Then can be in the country legally and all the green card marriage hijinks can ensue. I am pulling for those crazy kids

[Corgi-ears]

3 hours ago, Arynm said:

He can marry Jeff! Then can be in the country legally and all the green card marriage hijinks can ensue. I am pulling for those crazy kids

Yaass! I can get behind that, and suspect that's the direction the writers might in fact go in. Though I don't know if their relationship can come back from the severe burn that is "your outfit makes you look like the assistant debate coach of an Ohio middle school."

Or perhaps Mateo will marry Dina, as she carries Glen's baby. She's doing it all.

Edited March 13, 2018 by Corgi-ears

[ShelleySue]

On March 11, 2018 at 11:09 PM, janie jones said:

Even if his parents were here illegally, if Mateo were born here, he'd be a citizen.  The only way he's here illegally is if his parents brought him here illegally.  I agree, though, he probably has no idea how to "make it right" without being deported, even if such a way exists at this point.

 

Wasn't there an episode in which Mateo told about coming here from the Philippines? He was on a boat and his brother drowned.  

Edited March 14, 2018 by ShelleySue

[topanga]

2 hours ago, ShelleySue said:

 

Wasn't there an episode in which Mateo told about coming here from the Philippines? He was on a boat and his brother drowned.  

Yes. In the 'Election' episode, Mateo asked Jonah why Filipinos couldn't vote, then he told Jonah a story from his childhood about his grandmother taking him to the "green card store." It didn't take long for them to both realize that he's undocumented and has counterfeit immigration papers. He was born in the Philippines, not the US.

Mateo must have had to show a social security card when he was hired in Season 1 (even though it was phony). Maybe he's worried about increased immigration scrutiny, given the new Administration. That's why he didn't want to transfer stores. Jeff asked to see his social security card again. 

 

On 3/9/2018 at 2:44 PM, iMonrey said:

We don't see every character every week. Some of them seem to be recurring, like Marcus and Myrtle. I'm sure it's an issue of $$.

But Cheyenne is as popular a character as Mateo or Garrett, IMO. I don't know where she is on the call sheet, though. Maybe she's contracted for fewer episodes than they are. 

[Big Mother]

i'm really happy that Mateo finally told the truth to jeff. But I wanted to see closure to that storyline. I guess it's a setup for a bigger arc. I wonder what's gonna happen now!

 

I think Dina put that tape in on purpose....