When Susan Jennings walked into the break room last Friday, she expected a simple acknowledgment for her four decades at Centennial Manufacturing. Instead, she was met with a small, discount-brand coffee mug emblazoned with “40 Years: Still Brewing” and a hastily penned card. The gesture has ignited a firestorm online, with critics calling the gift “tone-deaf,” “insulting,” and a heartbreaking example of corporate ingratitude.
“They spent $2 on a mug and called it a day,” says co-worker Tony Ramirez, voice shaking with disbelief. “Susan has dedicated her entire adult life to this factory—came in day after day, even during layoffs and recessions. We thought management would at least get a plaque, a party—something meaningful.”
40 years of loyalty, and all they got was a discount mug? Shame on Centennial Manufacturing. https://twitter.com/EmployeesFirst/status/1823501234567890123— Employees First (@EmployeesFirst) July 21, 2025
Susan, now 62, started on the assembly line straight out of high school. Over her tenure, she witnessed the plant weather economic downturns, ownership changes, and several modernization initiatives. “I’ve seen machines come and go, bosses replaced, contracts renegotiated,” she says quietly. “I stayed because I believed in this place. I thought they cared about us.”
The mug, purchased from a clearance bin at a local discount retailer, bore no Centennials logos, no engraving, not even Susan’s name. Instead, company executives gathered around a small conference table, handed her the mug, took a quick photo, and moved on to their next agenda item—unwittingly in full view of a group of cleaning staff and floor supervisors whom management had summoned to witness the brief ceremony.
“I felt my chest tighten,” Susan recalls. “I wanted to say, ‘Is this a joke?’ But I was too stunned. I smiled, took the mug, and returned to my station as if nothing happened.” Colleagues report that Susan left the break room with tears in her eyes, holding the flimsy card that read: “Congratulations on 40 years—Here’s to many more cups of coffee!”
“Many more cups of coffee”—seriously? They could have at least chips in her retirement fund. https://twitter.com/WorkplaceRealities/status/1823512345678901234— Workplace Realities (@WorkplaceRealities) July 21, 2025
Social media erupted once photos of the incident circulated. Under #CoffeeMugControversy, users shared personal stories of undervalued service. One tweet read: “After 30 years, I received a keychain from my old boss. Looks like they’re in good company,” while another lamented, “Loyalty means nothing if it’s not rewarded respectfully.” Both tweets have amassed hundreds of retweets and likes.
After 30 years, I got a keychain. Centennial takes the cake with their mug stunt. https://twitter.com/VeteranWorker/status/1823523456789012345— Veteran Worker (@VeteranWorker) July 21, 2025
Company spokesperson Mark Winslow defended the gift in a statement to Reuters, saying the mug “was intended to be a light-hearted token of appreciation, reflecting Susan’s energetic spirit and love of coffee.” He added that “budget constraints limited the scope of our celebration.”
But employees say the company’s financial standing couldn’t justify such a cheap offering. Financial filings show Centennial Manufacturing posted a net profit of $18 million in the last fiscal year, up 12% from the prior year, with revenue reaching $320 million SEC filing. Labor union representatives argue that a fraction of those profits could have funded a meaningful award ceremony or a cash bonus commensurate with Susan’s tenure.
“They spend millions on executive bonuses, fancy receptions, and marketing campaigns,” says Claudia Rivera, shop steward for United Workers Local 410. “But when it comes to the backbone of the company—workers like Susan—they nickel-and-dime us. It’s exploitation disguised as celebration.”
Mhmm, profits up 12% but employees get a mug? No more loyalty from me. https://twitter.com/LaborVoices/status/1823534567890123456— Labor Voices (@LaborVoices) July 21, 2025
Industry experts note that employee recognition programs are proven to boost morale, reduce turnover and enhance productivity. A 2024 report by the Society for Human Resource Management found that organizations investing at least 1% of payroll into recognition initiatives saw a 31% decrease in turnover rates. “A $50 gift card or a modest bonus would have been both practical and inspiring,” says Dr. Rebecca Sinclair, a workplace psychologist at University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. “Instead, they chose embarrassment. That has psychological costs.”
For Susan, the gift was a bitter reminder of how much she gave and how little the company valued that commitment. “My husband joked that I’d be handing out mugs like Miss America at the retirement party,” she says with a forced laugh. “I wanted to disappear that day.” She returned the mug, and last Monday submitted her notice—effective at the end of August. “It’s clear they don’t care, so why should I?”
The ripple effects are already being felt. In the plant’s cafeteria, chatter about resignations and unionizing efforts has intensified. “If they treated Susan like that, they’d do it to any of us someday,” says machine operator Carlos Mendoza. “I’m updating my resume tonight.”
After Susan quits, I’m next. #UnionizeCentennial https://twitter.com/PlantWorkersUnited/status/1823545678901234567— Plant Workers United (@PlantWorkersUnited) July 22, 2025
Local politicians have also weighed in. State Senator Linda Graves called on the company to “do right by its long-time employees,” proposing a bill requiring publicly traded companies to allocate a minimum recognition budget for employees reaching significant tenure milestones. “This isn’t about a mug,” Senator Graves told CNN. “It’s about human dignity and respect.”
Meanwhile, a Change.org petition demanding an apology and a proper award for Susan has garnered over 85,000 signatures. Comments on the page are filled with personal anecdotes: “I stayed at that plant for 25 years—never got a handshake, let alone recognition,” writes ex-employee Danice Crawford. “We deserve more than a tchotchke.”
85k signatures and counting—time to show some respect. https://twitter.com/ChangeOrg/status/1823556789012345678— Change.org (@ChangeOrg) July 22, 2025
Centennial Manufacturing’s Board of Directors is scheduled to meet next Thursday to address the backlash. Sources insider the meeting suggest they may issue a formal apology and propose a revised recognition program. But many employees remain skeptical. “Talk is cheap,” insists Claudia Rivera. “We need action.”
For Susan Jennings, the ordeal is bittersweet. In her small one-bedroom apartment, she packs photos, awards, and scrapbooks chronicling her factory years. “I love my work family,” she says, clutching a framed group photo from the 2000 company picnic. “But I’ve learned that loyalty only goes one way. I hope my story reminds others to know their worth.”
As the mug controversy evolves into a cautionary tale of corporate neglect, one thing is certain: when it comes to honoring decades of service, the value of respect can never be measured by price tags alone.
