Updated September 2026: in 2018 I wrote about a delivery manager's appreciation mail for my weekend work that my manager did not acknowledge all day, until he replied at the end of the day and copied the business unit head. I have rewritten it into advice on handling recognition at work.
After working weekends on a proposal, the offshore delivery manager sent an appreciation note to my manager and his onsite counterpart, and the onsite delivery manager also acknowledged my work. My manager usually forwards such notes to the whole team, but for most of the day he said nothing. At the end of the day he replied to both managers with thanks, copied the business unit head and his own manager, and forwarded the mail to my whole team. Looping in the unit head happens rarely, and it surprised me.
Why might a manager be slow to respond to appreciation?
Often for ordinary reasons: a busy day, or wanting to reply properly rather than quickly. In my case the delay turned out to be the opposite of what I feared, because the reply went to more senior people than usual. Silence for a few hours is rarely a message.
What should you do when someone appreciates your work?
- Thank them directly: a short reply to the sender, copying your manager.
- Save the mail: keep a folder of appreciation notes for your appraisal.
- Mention it in your self-review: with the date and what the work was.
- Credit others: if colleagues helped, say so in your reply.
How much does senior visibility matter?
A great deal in large organisations, where ratings are often calibrated in meetings your manager attends. A unit head who has seen your name on a positive mail is more likely to recognise it later. That is why managers choose carefully when to copy senior people.
What if your work is never acknowledged?
Ask your manager, calmly, how your work on specific bids was seen. If recognition never comes, keep your own record of outcomes and use it at appraisal time. Visibility can be built, but it rarely happens by accident.
Is weekend work worth it for recognition?
Occasionally, for a real deadline. As a habit, it tends to become expected rather than appreciated, so protect your weekends where you can.
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