NBC’s “Law & Order”—which begins its 20th season tonight—has peaked many viewers’ interest in…well, law and order. But aside from ripping stories from the headlines and showing us how investigations work, there are some workplace lessons that can be learned by watching the show.
1. If you must go to work drunk, be sure to pick up some Altoids before you talk to your employees. Dr. Edward Auster is a brilliant physician and a hopeless drunk. When he kills a patient in the emergency room, his whole staff can attest to the fact that he regularly shows up drunk to work. Although Auster denies it during his trial, he makes the mistake of showing up drunk to court on the day he is testifying and removes any reasonable doubt. (Episode: Prescription for Death, Season 1)
2. Literacy is important in any profession. When drug dealer Michael Ingrams is stiffed by a real estate agent in a deal, he needs to get revenge for the fraud. Obviously, it only makes good business sense to hire a contractor to do this dirty work for him, but little does he know his teenage hit man is illiterate. As a result, the hired killer goes to work at the wrong house. (Episode: Mushrooms, Season 1)
3. Keep your partner away from your partner. Broadway producer Joshua Foster seemed to have it all before he was killed—a new show about to get off the ground, a new business partner, and a beautiful actress fiancé. But when his life partner cheats on him with his business partner, Joshua threatens to shut down the show—which results in both partners conspiring together to kill him. (Episode: His Hour Upon the Stage, Season 2)
4. Leave your machismo at the office door. Executive Assistant District Attorney Ben Stone is highly competitive—so much so that he breaks his wrist playing tennis with his Assistant District Attorney. But when he goes against his defense attorney rival Arthur Gold, Stone risks losing a case and setting a group of murderers free. (Episode: Severance, Season 2)
Part Two: 8 arresting workplace lessons from 'Law & Order' (continued)
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