»Workin’ 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin’ | Barely getting’ by, it’s all takin’ and no givin’ | They just use your mind | And you never get the credit | It’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it.« Dolly Parton’s anthem from the 80s cult comedy of the same name encapsulates the frustrations of female office workers. In an open-plan office in Los Angeles, awkward housewife Judy (Jane Fonda) is forced to take a job as a secretary after her divorce and assigned to the sharp-tongued Violet (Lily Tomlin), who runs the office efficiently but unenthusiastically. Both work for the bigoted, egotistical vice-president Mr Hart, who has been trained by Violet and consistently beats her for promotions despite his complete lack of skills.
Hypocritical Hart spreads rumours that he’s having an affair with his secretary Doralee (played by Dolly Parton in her first film role), who is treated badly by her co-workers as a result. But the three cool ladies end up getting drunk together one afternoon, and bonding over a shared joint, they fantasise about how they would get their revenge on their duplicitous boss. His apparent murder the following day turns out to be a mishap which can only be rectified by a spectacular kidnapping. This gives the three women time to introduce some changes in the office, making it a more welcoming and woman-friendly place.