From Berta's (Conchata Ferrell) constant sarcastic remarks about Alan Haper (Jon Cryer) living in the beach house for free to some of the instances we see her take care of the people she really loves, she was one of the funniest and the best recurring characters in the American sitcom Two And A Half Men.
Other than the emotional attachment she has built with Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen) or Walden Schmidt (Ashton Kutcher), it is incomprehensible how she still continued to work in the beach house for years despite smoking weed and taking long naps when she was supposed to be working. Adding to it, below are ten things about Berta that would never fly today.
Advocated Charlie's Behavior
If there is one person – other than family – who often mentioned Charlie after his death, it is definitely Berta. As someone who worked for him for many years, she was used to his lifestyle. However, what comes as surprising is that she thinks that the way he treats women is actually right.
Not to mention, she even advised Walden not to fall in love quickly and be like Charlie. Given that she often mentioned the teenage pregnancy of her daughters and granddaughters, it is unlikely that she would approve such behavior.
Smoked Pot At Work
No matter what the profession is, there is an unsaid job code that one doesn't smoke pot at their workplace. That never stopped Berta. From smoking in the basement without Charlie's knowledge or just doing it in the house, she often got stoned when she was supposed to be working.
Adding to it, in one instance she even took Walden's stash of pot and used it without his permission. The fact that it had no impact on her job is something that would never pass in today's households.
Avoiding Work
If not for smoking or taking long naps in the master bedroom, Berta often made it clear when she did not want to do any of the household chores. In fact, one of her repetitive and iconic dialogues is "I ain't cleaning that up."
Knowing her, it does not come as a surprise for the audience that she got away with avoiding work. However, in reality it would never fly today especially because she took the job knowing she will have to clean.
Invaded Charlie's Personal Space
When Berta did her work, she just wanted to get done with it. This resulted in her disregarding Charlie's personal space. She walked on him when he was using the toilet. She picked his laundry when he was sleeping.
In addition, when she brings her sister to work, she and her sister go on to fight with each other on his bed when he was lying on it. Even though Charlie clearly showed his discomfort and did not anything about it, that kind of employer-employee relationship looks farfetched.
Her Intimidating Attitude
With Berta working for Charlie and Walden, the two of them are allowed to tell how they want the things in their home to be. However, that is not the case here. Be it the time she bought Charlie a new brand of detergent or conditioner, she did not like it when he brought it up to her.
In one scene Charlie even asked Alan not to tell her anything about the coffee filters that she has been using. Berta's intimidating attitude that makes Charlie afraid to make simple requests in his own home would come off as weird these days.
Flirting With Walden
Like the other female characters in the show, Berta was also quite attracted to Walden's looks when he moved into the beach house. This meant that she often flirted with him and it always made him uncomfortable. There were times she even suggested making out.
From any point of view, the above can be easily perceived as sexual harassment. The way he takes no action against it is something that the audience would find it hard to believe.
Family To Work
Be it for training her pregnant daughter to learn to work or taking care of her 16-year-old granddaughter, she occasionally brought her family members to work. It gave us a glimpse into her life apart from work.
As she is someone who knows the situation in Charlie's house, it is hard to believe that she would bring her family members with her. Besides, even if she had no other option it would make more sense if Berta would at least inform in advance which she never did.
Rude To Alan
Alan living with Charlie was definitely a situation that affected Berta a lot. She had more work to do than before. Since she did not respect the way he mooched off without paying rent, she often ended up giving negative remarks on his life and love life.
Besides, the way she often perceived Alan as a subordinate and did not see the way he was going through financial and family problems is something today's viewers may not appreciate.
Pot Business
In certain instances, Berta mentioned something about growing pot in her house. There was one time she even came up with the idea of growing it in Alan's room. With it being illegal, she could easily get in trouble for it.
This meaning that there is no way she would actually talk about it freely or explicitly. Therefore, these parts would come off as flawed to today's audience. She would definitely hide such information especially in the place where she works.
Not Fired
By now we all know that Berta is exactly not the employee of the year. With Charlie not wanting to lose a housekeeper like her, she continued to work there for long. Adding to it, she understood Charlie better. However, when Walden moved in he was all new and they did not have any connections. He could have easily looked for a new housekeeper.
Given the unemployment crisis, there are more deserving people who could have taken the job. Therefore, the whole trying to find the perfect maid and not finding comes off as made up.