Employment Law Lessons from Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5”

Posted by Amanda DeMatteis Joshua R. Goodbaum in Commentary, Law Basics, Uncategorized, Videos

Sep 5 2026

Josh Goodbaum: Hi Amanda!

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. We have a fun one today. Tell us, what is it?

Goodbaum: Well, it’s bittersweet because the world recently lost Dolly Parton. Everyone of good taste and good sense is in mourning.

 And we, as employment lawyers, are thinking about the connection between Dolly Parton and employment law and of course, it is her seminal film and song, “9 to 5.” It’s almost an employment law school class issue spotter.

So, tell us: What can employees in Connecticut and around the country learn from Dolly’s workplace anthem of female solidarity?

DeMatteis: Well, this came out in 1980, Josh, so we’ve had more than four decades of “9 to 5.” Dolly told us a lot in this song and in this movie that still rings true in 2026 about employment law and the issues employees face at work all the time.

So, let’s talk about what Dolly told us.

Dolly told us that not getting credit isn’t necessarily illegal. She told us that being denied a promotion might be.

Dolly told us that a horrible boss isn’t necessarily an illegal boss. She told us that sexual harassment doesn’t have to involve touching.

Dolly told us that pay secrecy isn’t as simple as employers sometimes make it sound.

She told us that retaliation can be more subtle than simply getting fired.

Dolly told us to document what is happening before we need an employment lawyer, and that very last tip may be the most important one to take away from all of the important things Dolly told us throughout her career.

Save the email. Take note of the comment. Keep the performance review. Document the timeline.

Understand your rights before the employment relationship completely falls apart.

And finally, get a good employment lawyer who knows the intricacies of what is happening and can fight for the rights Dolly has been telling us to look out for for more than 40 years.

Goodbaum: Thank you, Amanda. 

Thank you, Dolly. 

Thank you all for watching. 

We’ll see you next time. 

Take care.

 

Posted by Amanda DeMatteis Joshua R. Goodbaum in Commentary, Law Basics, Uncategorized, Videos

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About the Author

Amanda DeMatteis

Amanda DeMatteis represents employees in both state and federal courts in a wide variety of employment matters, including wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, defamation, retaliation, and hostile work environment. Learn More

Joshua R. Goodbaum

A graduate of Harvard and Yale, and a Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” for employment law, Josh Goodbaum represents employees and other civil rights plaintiffs in litigation and negotiation. Learn More

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