The Cloud 9 stores celebrate an “Employee Appreciation Day” in order for corporate to win their employees over. Amy and Jonah are on opposite sides when it comes to forming a union; Amy says she is trying to save all their jobs from a store closure while Jonah accuses her of only looking out for her own high-paying job. Later on, corporate finds out about Mateo’s undocumented status and sends U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the store. Despite the workers' best efforts to keep him safe, Mateo ultimately gives up and is taken away in front of all the employees. Amy then agrees with Jonah that they should fight corporate and unionize.
This episode provides examples of:
- All for Nothing: After four seasons of Mateo trying to keep his undocumented status a secret (including dumping his boyfriend and turning down thousands of dollars to avoid the incriminating paperwork), the truth comes out in this episode, making his (and everyone else's) efforts for naught.
- Description Cut: Amy remarks, "Corporate is not the enemy!" right before the scene cuts to the Cloud 9 corporate office discussing ways to take down the union, including extreme measures like bringing in ICE.
- Distracted by the Sexy: Cheyenne suggests taking off her top to distract the ICE guards, but Mateo tells her not to do it.
- Downer Ending: Despite everyone's best efforts, Mateo ends up being detained by ICE.
- Instantly Proven Wrong: After the ICE agents learn that there's an undocumented employee at the store, Amy, Garrett and Jonah all deny they know anyone named "Mateo Liwanag" — only for one of the agents to point out the picture of Mateo that he put up on the wall seven episodes ago with his name on it. This also reveals to them what he looks like, leading to the failure of their efforts to smuggle him out of the store unnoticed.
- Metaphorgotten: Amy counters Jonah's ice cream metaphor with a metaphor of her own that's much less consistent.Jonah: Have you tried the Cloud 9 Corporate sundae? What it is, is they give you a very, very tiny bit of ice cream with nothing on top and then you just have to take it.
Amy: No, actually, I tried the Union Surprise. It's every flavor you could ever want and every topping you could ever dream of, but then they shut down the store and fire you, and you get nothing.
Jonah: It's... probably not a popular flavor. - O.O.C. Is Serious Business: The usually highly organized and confident Dina ends up confused and flustered when trying to direct Mateo away from the ICE guards, and ends up apologizing because she doesn't know what to do.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: The ICE agent checking the records for possible "illegals". When Amy denies they have any working there, he replies that you can never tell as they look "just like you and me"... then smirks at Amy and adds, "Well, like you."
- Villains Out Shopping: Several of the ICE agents, since they're in a store, take the time to grab some supplies, a few even get some ice cream.
