Employee of the Month Route by Naomi

This route for Employee of the Month collects 75 coins, skipping the Huge Volley quest in Tadpole HQ. I crafted the route with help of Ebisun. There are a couple of notes for this route:

To gain Employee of the Month status, you need only 75 of the 76 coins. This discovery was made by Kasito. This route skips the Huge Volley coin in Tadpole HQ (Each ball takes ~20 seconds).
This route saves more time in Bathhouse due to a reroute with multiple visits instead. This route was made by Naomi and refined by Naomi. Theoretically, sub hour should be possible.

Other notes when going for this run:

Do not forget to collect any of the bugs for the Blessley Quests!
Cicada bugs in Pool are tight and explicitely routed. They only appear on walls and fences in this level - and be careful to not scare them to collect them, as they will fly away, losing you time

Links relevant for the speedrun

Reference run:

How to do all volleys as fast as possible:

Without further ado, here is the route.

Home

Collect the lunchbox and bring it to High Frog. Collect the coin and exit (use soda can to get back to giraffe).

Hairball City 1

Collect the first tape on the way to Big Volley.
Complete Big Volley but do not collect the coin yet. Collect the Palm Tree cassette and two butterflies first, then collect the coin.
Collect the tunnel cassette and butterflies along the way (should be at minimum 6 butterflies, at best 8 butterflies).
Complete Gabby as follows:

Complete the first puzzle and collect the butterflies (2x yellow seeds).
Complete the second puzzle and collect butterflies (1x red, 1x yellow seeds).
Collect the bottle to set-up for bottle drop.
Collect the red umbrella tape, use bottle drop to reset dive.
Return to main island and collect a butterfly near the two wooden planks leading to Gabby if possible.
Complete final Gabby puzzle (1x red seed).
Collect Gabby Coin, line up for soda can near first puzzle.

Take the soda can and try to collect the butterflies near Brooklyn Frog and the Hopscotch area (9 total).
Go to Gunther using the soda can and blue umbrella.
Talk to Gunther and collect the coin. Leave the skyscraper after collecting butterflies.
Go to the little island and break boxes to collect another tape. Check butterflies, you must have, at minimum, 26 butterflies before heading to the lighthouse. If not, collect butterflies now to compensate.
Before leaving to lighthouse, collect tape under wooden ramp near you.
Go to the lighthouse area and collect the final butterflies, you should have 30 butterflies to complete Blessley’s quest on your return trip.
Collect cassette tape under Dustan and then go up to Dustan to collect the next coin.
Jump of the lighthouse to collect another tape on the lighthouse (on top of the Lighthouse Door).
Go to Fischer and complete the quest to get the coin.
Leave for the train and go to Turbine Town.

Turbine Town 1

When entering, go to the right island and collect the tape moving across the water.
Collect butterflies as you go to the first two red Tori Gates.
Enter the first two Tori gates, then move to the right of the white Tori gate to avoid it. Collect butterflies in this area, then go back to complete all the red tori gates and talk to the Dragon. Be sure to complete the conversation to set up for the Pelly coin.
Exit the dragon area and head for the tape in the water on a stone platform. Collect this tape.
Head to Air Volley and complete it. Collect the coin.
Head to Gabby and complete the quest as follows:

Complete the first puzzle (1x yellow, 1x red seed) and collect butterflies if possible.
Jump off the container heading to the tape in the water on a set of stone pillars and collect the tape.
Return to the second puzzle and complete it (2x yellow seeds). Collect butterflies throughout.
Complete final puzzle (1x yellow, 1x red seeds) and collect butterflies. Head to Gabby to complete the quest and get a coin.

Collect the bush tape near the Turbine.
Head to the Turbine and perform Windmill Skip. Collect butterflies on your way.
Collect Dustan Coin and jump off to the right side of the Turbine.
Head to the red container submerged in water. Collect the bottle floating above the red container next to the tree. This can be tricky. Be sure to collect butterflies as you go.
Collect the tape inside of the submerged container.
Head to Fischer and complete his quest. Collect butterflies on the containers where you can.
After collecting the Fischer coin, head to the vents near Fischer and collect the tape.
Head to the soda can near the containers with the fish in it and launch yourself.
You should land near Pelly. Talk to Pelly and collect your coin.
Collect the tape in the vent puzzle with a blowing fan pushing you out.
Collect final butterflies and collect Blessley Coin.
Collect tape behind Blessley.
Collect the container tape that uses switch blocks (they switch whether the button is pink or blue). This can be found near Pepper.
Exit the level to Salmon Creek Forest.

Salmon Creek Forest 1

Collect the phone sheet.
Collect the key in the lake.
Enter the Waterfall. Go to the left as you enter and collect the tape inside the boxes.
Collect the tape in the chasm.
Collect the coin and void out.
Exit Salmon Creek Forest and head to Hairball City.

Hairball City 2

Use the soda can on the left as you spawn in to launch yourself to Nina.
Collect a spray can and go inside the Dogbone Arcade. Keep the spray can until Nina is completed.
Complete the Dogbone Arcade and collect the coin.
Collect Nina’s Coin.
Head to the Lighthouse and talk to Mai. Collect her coin.
Head to Mitch and trade in tapes to collect a coin.
Head to Blessley, collect her coin with the butterflies you collected in the previous visit.
Head to Hamster Ball and use the route from the reference run (starts at 16:09).
Collect your coin for completing Hamster Ball and head to Mitch.
Leave for Salmon Creek Forest.

Salmon Creek Forest 2

Collect the tape behind the train on a rock in the water.
Head back to the mainland by going just past the backend of the train. Then follow the path to Stijn. Collect dragonflies along the way – you really need them here since they are scarce throughout the rest of the forest.
Talk to Stijn to activate their quest, then go to complete the first Gabby puzzle (1x yellow, 1x blue).
Collect the tape near the first Gabby puzzle on a rock in the water.
Climb up the tree and collect the tape on top of the Louist and Serschel treehouse.
Collect the tape on the wooden platform near the Louist and Serschel treehouse.
Complete Nina’s quest and collect the coin. Try to collect any dragonflies in the area as they are scarce for the rest of the forest.
Climb the mountain and complete the Gabby puzzle (1x yellow, 1x blue).
Talk to Melissa and take them with you to the Sakura trees. This completes Stijn’s quest. Talk to Stijn and collect your coin.
Return to a vent to get on top of a stone pillar and complete the Gabby puzzle (2x blue).
Collect the tape on the wooden walkway.
After travelling the single plank of the wooden walkway, go left over the mountain and collect the tape near the yellow tents.
Collect the tape on the rocks near the end of the previous wooden walkway.
Perform Handsome Frog Skip and collect Mai’s coin.
Exit Mai’s cave, climb the rocks near Handsome Frog and collect the tape.
Talk to Mitch and collect his coin.
Complete Hamster Ball. Route I use in reference video starts at 21:30.
After collecting the Hamster Ball coin, complete the Gabby puzzle near Hamster Ball (2x blue).
Collect Dustan Coin. Jump off the mountain towards a Gabby puzzle and complete it (1x yellow, 1x blue).
Complete the Fischer Quest near the Gabby Puzzle.
Head to Obstacle Volley. Collect the key near Trixie first. Complete volley and collect the coin.
Head to the slanted tree and collect the tape on top of the tree.
Collect any dragonflies in this area near the two soda cans before heading to the Dogbone Arcade behind the Talking Tree.
Complete the Dogbone Arcade and collect your coin.
Talk to the Talking Tree and complete his quest. Collect its coin.
Collect any remaining dragonflies.
If you have too little to complete Blessley, collect any near the yellow tents and near the last Gabby puzzle. Complete the Gabby puzzle (2x blue) and then complete Blessley.
If you do have enough dragonflies, complete Blessley, then complete the Gabby puzzle.
Head to Gabby near the train and collect her coin.
Talk to the giraffe and head for Public Pool.

At this point, you should have enough coins to instantly skip Public Pool 1. Complete the train cutscene, talk to the giraffe and move on to Bathhouse 1.

Bathhouse 1

Collect the tape near Golden Frog.
Collect the tape under the waterfall near the Secret Meeting Room.
Open the Secret Meeting Room and collect the tape.
Collect the key under the floor boards of the building Poppy is located in.
Complete Louist's quest and collect his coin.
Collect Dustan's coin.
Head down and open Poppy's area. Talk to Poppy to start her quest.
Head down and collect the tape on top of the Stone Monument. This monument is the one a seed for Hamster Ball will be under.
Now do Hamster Ball. The route I use is found in the video at 30:30.
Head towards the island. Collect the key on top of the Red Torii gate.
Collect the fireflies along the way.
Collect the tape on a wooden post behind the button on the island.
Talk to Paul to progress Poppy's Quest. Head for the soda can. Collect fireflies on the island where you can.
Use the Soda Can to reach Gamer Kid. Collect fireflies where you can.
Talk to Gamer Kid to start his quest.
Exit to Tadpole HQ.

Tadpole HQ 1

Talk to King Frog twice to collect his coin.
Collect the tape on top of the Golden Frog statue behind King Frog.
Collect the tape behind the phone numbers.
Collect the phone number sheet.
Leave HQ for Hairball City. It is now time for the final revisits and completing the game!

Hairball City 3

Head to Gamer Kid in the Tunnel and activate his quest. Leave the tunnel the way you came in, and climb up to where Hamster Ball is. From here, go to Louist.
Talk to Louist and complete his quest. Collect his coin.
Go up the skyscraper and complete Gamer Kid’s challenge.
Complete the Coin Arcade near the Gabby puzzles.
Head to Gamer Kid and collect your coin.
Head to the remote island when exiting the Gamer Kid tunnel on your left with the stone frog statue. Collect the tape on top of the stone frog.
Unlock the keybox and launch yourself up. Collect the tape on the nets.
Head for the train and exit for Turbine Town.

Turbine Town 2

Complete the Dogbone Arcade for a coin.
Head towards Louist and use Elder Shuffle to reach the tape on top of the container.
Complete Louist's quest and collect a coin.
Head towards the coin arcade and collect the coin.
Head towards Mai. Use Rave Skip to head towards Mitch during her dance.
Collect Mitch's Coin, use Rave Skip to head towards the train.
Exit to Salmon Creek Forest.

Salmon Creek Forest 3

Activate and complete Gamer Kid’s challenge. Do not head back to collect the coin yet.
Head to the Coin Arcade near the slanted tree with a tape on it previously. It is on the way to the Handsome Frog area. Complete the Coin Arcade.
Now head back to Gamer Kid and collect his coin.
Head to the waterfall in the river near Gamer Kid and enter. Talk to Louist and take him with you. Do not jump or dive yet. Void out with Louist. When launched in the water, aim for the treehouse where you need to deliver him and dive. Then, walk and climb the treehouse to finish Louist. Collect the coin and exit the level to Public Pool.

Public Pool 2

This level is very tight on Cicadas. I will highlight where to get them optimally. The best way to collect is to dive into the wall. Do not get too close to other cicadas so they won’t fly away.

Collect the cicada on the left fence near the giraffe.
Then, collect the cicada on the right fence behind the whiteboard.
Enter the pool area and head to the Dogbone Arcade. Take a diversion to the right to collect a cicada on the right fence, then head to the Dogbone Arcade once more. Collect the cicada on the wall next to it. Enter the Dogbone Arcade now, complete it and collect the coin.
Complete Pool Volley, collect the tape in the kiddy pool near Trixie and collect the coin.
Collect the tape in the boxes, then talk to the Detective to active his quest.
Collect the tape on the palm tree. Then, collect the cicada on the wall on the side of the kiddy pool with a giant frog statue in the middle.
Collect the cicadas on the back side of the big frog statue.
Collect the cicadas on the wall next to the frog statue.
Collect the tape surrounded by the pool floaties.
Collect the tape on top of the frog statue.
Complete all the Gabby puzzles:

Complete the first puzzle (1x yellow, 1x blue).
Collect the cicadas near Gabby and the bench.
Complete the next Gabby puzzle (1x red, 2x blue).
Collect the cicada on the fence near a tall wooden pillar near the second puzzle area.
Head to the third puzzle area, collect the cicadas on the wall behind the seeds and on the pump near the yellow seed.
Complete the third puzzle. Do not collect Gabby’s coin just yet.

Collect the cicadas on the fence near the third puzzle area. Then, head for the 2D area.
Collect the coin at the end of the 2D area and exit.
Activate the next step in the Detective quest by walking through the crime scene.
Collect the cicada on the fence near the crime scene.
Collect Mitch’s coin, and then collect the cicadas behind Mitch.
Complete the Coin Arcade, collect the cicada on the wall above the pump near Mai.
Collect the deep pool tape, then climb up the diving board to start the Fischer Quest.
Collect the middle diving board tape and the floating tape during Fischer’s Quest, then complete the Fischer Quest and collect the coin.
Talk to Mai and collect her coin.
Talk to Gabby and collect her coin.
Talk to the Detective and collect his coin.
Collect any missing cicadas on a fence and on the tree behind Blessley. Then, collect the hidden tape in the bushes and the tape on the pool floaties behind Blessley. Return to Blessley and collect your coin.
Head for the train and exit the level to Bathhouse. You’re now on the final stretch of the run!

Bathhouse 2

Complete Gamer Kid's challenge and head towards the house he is in.
Complete the coin arcade and collect a coin.
Collect Gamer Kid's coin.
Collect tape on top of wooden plank.
Collect the bottle near Gamer Kid.
Return Skippy back to Paul by talking to the Giant Skull in the water.
Head towards Mai. Collect fireflies along the way.
Collect the cassette on top of the stone frog statue.
Collect Mai's coin.
Collect the cassette in the tree with the vents.
Collect Mitch's coin.
Go to the arcade in the Secret Meeting Room and collect the coin.
Collect Nina's coin.
Collect the key hidden in the breakable block in the building near Fisher's quest.
Collect Fischer's coin.
Collect the tape under the building submerged in water.
Head towards the island and collect Poppy's coin by talking to Paul.
Complete Gabby's Quest. Collect fireflies. You must have 27 or more by this point.
Use the soda can to reach Long Volley. Complete Long Volley.
Collect Long Volley coin, collect final fireflies and head towards Blessley.
Collect Blessley's Coin.
Exit to Tadpole HQ.

Tadpole HQ 2

Hit the Soda Can near Louist for the tape in the tree.
Collect the tape on the rocks near a stream of water, behind the Fischer area.
Head for Fischer and complete his quest. Collect bugs near Fischer.
Collect the tape in a walljump section of the Pepper Skyscraper, near the breakable boxes
Collect the tape in the breakable boxes
Head towards the big umbrella near Blessley to collect a tape. Collect butterflies along the way.
Complete the coin arcade in the Game Development Area.
Go to the Gabby Skyscrapers and collect the tape in the water crossing at the bottom of the Skyscrapers.
Then, walljump up the skyscrapers and collect the tape on your way up.
Complete the Gabby puzzles (be sure to collect the fireflies nearby for the bug quest):

Complete the first puzzle (1x pot, 1x yellow, 1x blue)
Complete the second puzzle (1x pot, 1x yellow, 1x red, 2x blue)
Complete the third puzzle (1x yellow, 1x red, 2x blue)
Complete the final puzzle (1x pot, 1x yellow, 1x blue)
Collect the coin from Gabby

You should have enough bugs to collect Blessley's coin. If not, collect more and get this coin.
Talk to Mitch and collect his coin.
Talk to Mai and collect her coin.
Head towards Louist. Complete his quest and collect his coin.
Head towards the Dogbone Arcade. Collect the coin.

You have now collected enough coins for Employee of the Month status!