Social worker Norm finds that his unconventional methods get him into trouble.

Norm meets a girl at a bar and becomes involved her, only to discover she is one of Laurie's clients undergoing counseling for getting involved in relationships just to get the attention of her violent boyfriend.

Danny worries over the upcoming of his dad (played by the epic Jack Warden), a strained relationship because the highly masculine father can't relate to his faltering son. Norm befriends Danny's dad only to discover he's gay but in denial.

Norm gets drunk at a bar with a client and awakens to discover he has checked himself into rehab with the client who is a recovering alcoholic. Norm's supervisor is convinced Norm is an alcoholic and offers him freedom from work duties.

Denby arrives as the new supervisor in the office, taking the position Laurie hoped to get and make positive changes. When Norm gets tricked by Denby into helping him force Laurie to quit, Norm looks for ways to get Laurie to return.

Denby brings his son to the office to learn in a work environment before military school. The son tells Norm he wants to be a chef. Norm says to stand his ground. Denby makes Norm's life difficult unless he supports the military school.

Norm has a regretted fling with an evil office worker Laurie hates. Meanwhile, Laurie is forced to get her driver's license after Denby agrees to her proposed program Meals on Wheels, for which she has put herself down as a back-up driver.

Norm is the new "agony of defeat" on a sports show. He wants to save his image but is blocked from playing hockey because of his gambling. He thinks a grand gesture of social service will gain him a one game exception for a charity match.

To get back into shape for his one-time-only permitted allowance back into hockey, Norm realizes he needs help and enlists his old high school coach, Logan.