Have you ever felt ignored at work — even over something small?

A missed thank-you. A forgotten birthday. A moment that made you wonder if anyone noticed your effort.

It may seem trivial, but new research from Wharton suggests these moments matter more than we think. The study shows that when employees feel slightly disrespected, they often respond in quiet ways — working less, taking more time off, or slowly losing motivation.

What looks like a tiny mistake can turn into a real cost for companies, not because people are angry, but because they feel unseen.

In the study, led by Wharton management professor Peter Cappelli, researchers examined employees at a large retail company in the US. The company had a simple rule: managers were expected to personally give workers a birthday card and a small gift. The goal was not money, but respect.

Most of the time, the system worked well. But when managers forgot — or were late — the results were surprising.

Employees who didn’t receive their birthday card on time were absent 50% more often than usual. On average, they worked more than two hours less per month. Some came in late, while others left early or took longer breaks.

The research team found no problems when cards and gifts were given within a five-day window of the employee’s birthday. Productivity losses only appeared when the gift came later, and absenteeism returned to normal once it was received.

The managers didn’t mean to hurt anyone. Many said they were busy with meetings or sales goals. But from the employee’s side, the message felt personal. "Insults are really about a lack of respect. And even small ones leave a mark," Cappelli explained.

The study shows that people don’t work only for a salary. They also want to feel noticed and valued.

As Cappelli puts it, "Good manners matter." And at work, they may matter more than anyone expects.