Employee got anxious when a coworker asked for his number. When he got the text, he couldn't stop smiling

Workplace stress is a constant for many, especially in environments where expectations are high and appreciation is rare. Amid packed schedules and pressure to perform, most interactions tend to remain transactional. But every now and then, a simple gesture breaks through—and reminds people they’re seen for more than their output. A person shared a similar story on Reddit under the username u/VQQN, recounting a quiet but memorable exchange with a coworker that started with a phone number request.

The person wrote in their post, "My coworker asked my boss for my phone number (he wouldn't give it out without permission). I said sure; I was afraid he wanted to trade days off or something. I got this instead..." The individual then shared a screenshot of the message sent by the coworker. The message read, "Hey Randy, it’s Ben. Just wanted to say you do a great job. Thanks for all you do. When you hear, you make my job easier. God bless you. We should hang out sometime!" There was no ask. No conditions. Just a sincere message from one coworker to another, recognizing effort and offering a kind word. In a comment thread often filled with burnout stories and quiet frustrations, this one stood out for its simplicity.

It also echoed something researchers have long observed about the power of recognition at work. A Gallup study on employee engagement found that employees who feel regularly appreciated are significantly more likely to be engaged, less likely to experience burnout, and more connected to their company culture. The data showed they were nearly four times more likely to be actively engaged in their roles and more than five times as likely to feel aligned with their workplace values. Gallup also found that people who received consistent, genuine praise were 73 percent less likely to feel burned out and far less likely to be looking for a new job.

That kind of appreciation doesn't have to come from a manager. The study emphasized that informal, peer-to-peer moments can have the same emotional effect when they’re specific, timely, and sincere. Another story reflected a similar kind of support, even though it came from a moment of stress rather than appreciation. Jake Sutton shared how the stress of parenting a colicky newborn had deeply affected his home life. After a tense fight with his wife, Sutton showed up to work still carrying the weight of the argument. When a coworker noticed he seemed off, Sutton admitted he and his wife hadn’t spoken and said, "Whenever I get home today, I guess we’ll figure it out. If not, whatever."

The coworker asked, "Who told you that?" Sutton paused. The coworker continued, "Who told you that you were going to make it home? The biggest assumption that we take for granted is that we are going to be back home, make it back home, whenever we leave for work in the morning. You need to call your wife." Sutton broke down while retelling the moment in his car, saying, "What he told me really f--cked me up. And now I’m fixing to call my wife." In a follow-up, Sutton shared that he and his wife had found time to regroup and made changes to support their baby’s needs.