10 Questionable Workplace Choices In Mad Men | ScreenRant
Mad Men earned praise for a lot of different reasons, and one of the biggest reasons was its authentic '60s atmosphere. The show was a richly detailed and extremely realistic glimpse into upper class office life of the 1960s. And while that made for a lot of great nostalgia and cool suits, the show also wasn't afraid of exploring some of the more depraved and questionable aspects of midcentury America.
The show isn't exactly favorable to its main characters. If anything, it's critical of their professional and personal lives, serving largely as an indictment of their behavior and backwards ways of thinking.
10 Rampant Sexism
Of course, one of the biggest themes found throughout Mad Men is the negative treatment of women in the workplace. Very few, if any, female employees are genuinely respected, and each is seen as inferior to the male employees - even the ones with inferior positions in the company.
And while things are quite bad throughout the majority of Mad Men, things are at their worst at the beginning of season one, when Peggy and Joan are constantly subjected to blatantly sexist remarks and ogling male employees.
9 Moving Dawn
Mad Men spans the entire 1960s, and that includes the civil rights movement. Midway through the show's run, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce hires its first black employee - a secretary named Dawn. Unfortunately, things go about as well as one would expect.
Perhaps the worst moment comes when Cooper finds Dawn at the front desk. He gives her a polite smile before running to Joan and ordering her to move Dawn, lest people "see her from the elevator". It's a horrible moment for both Cooper and SCDP as a whole.
8 Drinking At Work
Mad Men instantly became known for its "cool" look, and that included the suits, the slicked hair, and yes, the drinking at work. And while it certainly looks cool, the show is quick to deconstruct the audience's preconceived notions. The drinking isn't seen as cool.
Rather, the show portrays the male employees as horrible alcoholics who can barely get through a meeting without a glass of whiskey. Things get bad for Don around season four, as he spirals into a deep pit of alcoholism, lost time, frustrated employees, and neglected work.
7 Stealing Funds
Perhaps the dumbest idea in Mad Men history belongs to Lane Pryce. Facing some significant financial problems, Lane decides to embezzle funds from the company to pay his taxes. Don eventually finds out and orders his resignation.
Unfortunately, this silly decision would lead to Lane's quick and tragic downfall. He spirals into alcoholism and hides the truth from his wife. After a failed suicide attempt in his car, Lane travels to SCDP and hangs himself in his office.
6 Throwing Money At Peggy
Don and Peggy's working relationship is endlessly fascinating, and it largely serves as the emotional core of the story. Unfortunately, Don often treats her like utter garbage.
Season five's "The Other Woman" is one of the show's most important episodes regarding Peggy's character development, and that largely stems from the moment in which Don literally throws money in her face. It was this stupid decision and action that led Peggy to quitting SCDP and joining CGC. And while Don and Peggy would eventually make up, their relationship was never the same.
5 Taking Drugs
Season six contains one of the most divisive episodes of Mad Men. Titled "The Crash", this one sees the employees of SCDP receiving drugs from a sketchy doctor. While the true nature of the "energy serum" is never revealed, it's mostly implied to be speed.
The employees take this to up their creative game, but it only results in a mess of bad ideas, sloppy pitches, incoherent speeches, lots of running around, and tap dancing.
4 Using Joan
Perhaps the worst thing that the male bosses of SCDP did was take advantage of Joan for the purpose of business. In "The Other Woman", Jaguar representative Herb implies that SCDP will get his business if he is allowed to sleep with Joan.
While it's initially treated like the ridiculous and offensive offer that it is, the male employees eventually agree to go through with it. Joan is effectively sold to Jaguar, and it effectively ruins the relationship she had with Don.
3 Opening Up At The Hershey Pitch
Throughout much of Mad Men, Don Draper is a closed book. He never opens up to anyone, he rarely makes his true feelings known, and he never shares his personal life with his employees. Things begin to change in season six, and Don eventually opens up about his tragic childhood during a Hershey pitch.
And while the sentiment was noble, Don picked a horrible and inappropriate time to open up. It makes everyone uncomfortable, and it helps lead to Don's termination in season seven.
2 Bringing A Lawnmower To Work
Mad Men produced many classic episodes throughout its run, but "Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency" may the best of them all. It also contains one of the dumbest things the characters ever did, and that was bringing a functional riding lawnmower into the office.
The drinks start flowing, and a slightly inebriated Lois takes the lawnmower for a spin. Unfortunately, she rides right over Guy's foot, shredding it to pieces and spraying blood all over the office.
1 Buying A Computer
By season seven, the 1960s were drawing to a close, and technology was revolutionizing the workplace. Jim and Harry are adamant about buying a computer for the office, and it is subsequently installed in the creative lounge.
The decision proves enormously expensive for the company, and it also disrupts the creative department. However, it also triggers Ginsberg's paranoia and mental illness. Needless to say, he was subsequently taken in for professional help.