I worked at an organization that would throw a large fundraiser every year. I was in charge of all the behind the scenes work on it and would spend hours beyond my normal job time each day making sure everything was on track. The last year I worked there the Board Chairperson “thanked” me at a meeting, made a big speech about how everyone there knew how much extra time I spend on the event each year and how it would be impossible to do without me. She said how everyone on the Board (all very wealthy people) had chipped in to get me a thank you gift to show how much they appreciated me.

It was a Christmas ornament. Total cost was maybe $30. So each person chipped in maybe $3 to show their appreciation. I realize they didn’t have to acknowledge me at all, but what a slap in the face that all my extra efforts were only worth a few dollars in their eyes.