What was the name of the episode where Lucy and Ethel work in a chocolate factory?

The episode where Lucy and Ethel work in a chocolate factory is titled “Job Switching.” It is the first episode of I Love Lucy’s second season and the show’s 36th episode overall, originally broadcast on September 15, 1952.

The story begins when Lucy and Ricky, along with Ethel and Fred, argue about whether household work is easier than earning money. The couples agree to exchange roles for a week. Lucy and Ethel find jobs at a candy factory, while Ricky and Fred attempt to manage the house.

The episode’s famous sequence shows Lucy and Ethel struggling to keep up with a rapidly moving conveyor belt of chocolates. They initially hide the candies in their mouths, clothing, and hats, creating one of the sitcom’s most recognizable comedy scenes. The factory was fictional, although Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance visited See’s Candies to study candy-making before filming.

The title refers to the broader exchange of domestic and paid work, not merely the factory assignment. That is why “The Chocolate Factory” is a popular description but not the official episode title.