Dolly Parton’s 1980 movie Working 9 to 5 is a glorious lesson in toxic workplaces and gender inequality (way before these were even a thing). Three women are stuck with a boss who is lazy, controlling and spectacularly good at taking credit for other people’s work. Sounds familiar?
The movie was inspired by a real organisation, “9to5” founded by Boston secretaries in the early 1970s to fight for better working conditions and an end to sexual harassment. We’ve come a long way baby, but we’re not there yet.
It’s a reminder that work has always been a strange social experiment, involving people you wouldn’t choose to spend time with, doing things you didn’t necessarily sign up for, for money. That’s why it’s called ‘work’. I wrote my third book, Badly Behaved People, to help you thrive whilst doing it.
What can we learn from Working 9 to 5?
- Make allies. The women in the movie succeed because they stopped competing and collaborated instead.
- Don’t become the boss you complain about. Your title doesn’t make you a leader, how you treat people does. You have more impact than you realise.
- Pay attention to who gets heard. The newest youngest person may have the best idea. Ask them what they think.
- Give credit generously.
- Don’t confuse busyness with value. 9 pm emails are no evidence of importance.
- Speak up when something is stupid, inefficient or unfair.
- A job is important but don’t let it become your entire identity. There are 168 hours in the week.
The biggest lesson from Dolly’s life is that you can be supremely successful and remain humble and generous, true to your values.