NBC's The Office's Michael Scott and Jan Levinson were all sorts of wrong for each other. They had nothing in common besides working for the same company, they didn't share the same kind of sense of humor, and they were, quite frankly, embarrassed by their relationship.
Seeing how bad Michael and Jan are from the start, it's sad to know that Jan was his longest and most serious relationship. It just proves how toxic it really was — they both couldn't escape it. And while Michael and Jan can view their relationship as a learning experience, it was anything but healthy. Let's take a look at 10 things about their relationship that wouldn't work today in 2020.
How Their Relationship Started
Jan and Michael's relationship was inappropriate from the getgo. Although Dunder Mifflin recognized relationships in the workplace, the way Jan and Michael went about it was all kinds of wrong. With Jan as Michael's superior, she should have never made a move on him in "The Client." After the brief kiss, Michael's imagination went wild and things got worse for the pair. If word ever got out about a superior kissing a subordinate after one too many drinks at a business meeting, it's safe to say some kind of suspension would be put in place.
Combining Their Relationship With Work
One of the many problems with Jan and Michael is that Michael couldn't separate his private life from his work life. He didn't see Jan as his boos, he saw her as his crush, his lover, and later his girlfriend. Whenever work was involved, Michael brought up their relationship.
This is shown wonderfully in "The Negotiation" when Michael asks for a raise. Not only does Jan give Michael a raise on the spot but she tells him she can give him a 12% raise — a higher percentage than he was asking for. Using her privilege as a means to get her boyfriend money is a big no-no.
She Drove Him Broke
It's always astounding that Jan had no idea that Michael was in debt or experiencing money problems. Before Jan lost her job at Dunder Mifflin, she knew exactly how much he was getting because she's the one who negotiated the deal! She knew how much she was spending and had to subconsciously know that Michael's salary wasn't enough to support both of them.
If this was filmed in 2020, Jan would have known exactly how much debt Michael was collecting because she would have gotten credit reports via email or messaging.
Physical & Mental Abuse
There's no doubt about it, Jan and Michael were in an abusive relationship. In case it was presented clearly enough in their everyday interactions, it was clearly shown in "Dinner Party." Remember when Michael and Jan show everyone their bedroom and there was a video camera next to their bed?
And then in "Women's Appreciation," Michael told the ladies that Jan films them making love, shows it to her therapist, and then they critique his form. That was not healthy behavior and is something that shouldn't be swept under the rug. It continues in "Cocktails," when Jan shoves Michael and practically forces him to sleep with her in the bathroom, even though he doesn't want to. It never ends with these two.
Why Did They Get Back Together?
After "Dinner Party," it was obvious that Jan and Michael broke up. She threw his Dundie at the TV and got into a screaming match over dinner. What's crazy is that Michael didn't seem that sad about it! He knew he would be a happier person alone than being with her. But in a shocking twist, Jan came back to Scranton with implants and Michael's former fears faded away. The two were back together. After having such a dramatic and abusive relationship, there's no way Michael—or the office—would allow these two to continue on.
Michael Would Have Found Out About Jan's Pregnancy Earlier
After Jan and Michael broke up for good, Michael was never happier. But things changed when he saw her at the grocery store with a big, pregnant belly. Michael was, of course, stunned because he thought he was the father. But as we all know, she went to a sperm bank while she was dating Michael. However, something like this would never happen today. Thanks to social media and common friends and colleagues, Michael would have found out Jan was pregnant early on.
Jan Really Should Have Been Transferred To Scranton
It's surprising corporate fired Jan from Dunder Mifflin when they did. She should have been fired months beforehand. She was in Scranton weekly visiting Michael, often during the workday! She also appeared to hate her job and the people she worked with, so there was no passion behind her work ethic. As a person with power working at a business with extreme financial problems, corporate would have fired her early on. She wasn't essential to the functionality of the company and spent too much money sending her to each branch to babysit.
Michael Should Have Known That Jan & Hunter Were Having An Affair
Either Michael was blinded by his emotions or he was too naive to the situation, but it was very obvious that Jan was having an affair with her assistant Hunter. He was much younger than Jan and very musically inclined. Jan's feelings for Hunter were very obvious when she played a song written and performed by him at their dinner party. The lyrics were clearly pointed at an inappropriate relationship and a woman making a boy a man. How was Michael so blind and why didn't anyone point this out to him?
Michael's "Joke" Would Have Gotten Him Fired Today
In the episode "Valentine's Day," Michael messed up big time. He drove to New York City for a meeting with the other branch managers and the new CFO, David Wallace. While Michael was waiting for the meeting to start, he let it slip to the other managers that Jan was his girlfriend (even though she wasn't) and that he was sleeping with her.
Later in the episode, one manager (Craig) gets in trouble for being ill-prepared and says something along the lines of if he "slept with his boss, maybe he'd get a free pass, too." Both Jan and David Wallace were shocked, which led to an uncomfortable meeting with Michael. Michael said it was all a joke and that he would never do it again. Somehow, David let it slide but that would have been cause for firing in 2020.
The Entire Baby Shower
It's obvious the Scranton branch's atmosphere is different from every other office in the sitcom world. But in 2020, it's doubtful an office would drop what they were doing to throw a baby shower for a woman they detested, didn't respect, and had no connection to the office anymore. Not to mention they spent hundreds of dollars on a stroller for her! Celebrating Jan and her child made no sense for the office to do. If Michael cared that much, he should have gotten her a gift and called it a day.