9 to 5

Judy Bernly, freshly arrived at the workforce, begins her journey at Consolidated Industries after her husband leaves her for his secretary. She meets Violet Newstead, a long-time supervisor, who takes her under her wing to help her navigate the complexities of their workplace.

Judy quickly encounters Franklin Hart, Jr., the department executive, whose arrogant demeanor and sexist behavior create tension in the office. Violet confides in Judy about her frustrations regarding the promotions she has been denied due to Hart's bias.

Judy meets several colleagues, including Eddie, the mailroom clerk, and the alcoholic secretary Margaret Foster. She also encounters Roz Keith, Hart's executive assistant, who has a tendency to eavesdrop on private discussions, creating an atmosphere of distrust.

Doralee Rhodes, Hart's personal secretary, suffers under his inappropriate advances while trying to maintain her marriage to Dwayne, a supportive construction worker. The hostile environment fueled by Hart's lewd comments leads to office gossip and animosity, which makes Judy wary of befriending Doralee.

Violet confronts Hart about the rampant sexism and his theft of her ideas. Hart dismisses her concerns, citing that the company favors male leadership, which angers Violet even more, especially with rumors regarding his affair with Doralee circulating.

After Hart ferociously fires a dedicated employee, Maria, due to Roz's interference, a fed-up Doralee confronts Hart threateningly with a gun. This event catalyzes the three women to unite in their frustration against Hart's oppressive behavior.

The trio goes to a bar to commiserate and they accidentally find a marijuana cigarette in Violet's purse. This leads them to fantasize wildly about possible revenge against Hart, imagining various absurd scenarios involving his demise.

In a comical turn of events, Violet accidentally poisons Hart's coffee, leading to a series of misunderstandings. The women scramble to cover their blunder as they mistakenly think Hart is dead, prompting a chaotic chain of events.

Deciding to take matters into their own hands, the women confine Hart at his home. During this time, they uncover evidence of his embezzlement, revealing the extent of his corruption within the company.

With the evidence against Hart in hand, the women work to implement productive changes within the workplace such as job-sharing programs and flexible hours. These initiatives lead to overwhelming support from their coworkers.

Missy, Hart's oblivious wife, makes an unexpected return to the office, complicating the women's plans. As chaos erupts, the changes initiated by the women come under scrutiny, escalating the tension.

Just when Hart believes he will maintain his power, Russell Tinsworthy, the Chair of the Board, arrives and sees the positive changes the women have made. Instead of defending Hart, Tinsworthy demotes him, sending him off to work on a special project in Brazil.

With Hart's fate sealed, the office comes alive with celebrations as the employees express their gratitude for the positive changes. Roz returns to find the atmosphere different, buzzing with excitement and a newfound camaraderie.

The three women find success in their new roles, with Violet stepping up as vice president and Doralee pursuing her dreams of being a country music star. Meanwhile, Judy finds love and decides to leave the company, marking new chapters in their lives.

As the movie concludes, Hart's future remains shrouded in mystery as he is sent off to the Amazon. The women's fight for equality and respect in the workplace has changed their lives and the dynamics at Consolidated Industries forever.