Employee refuses to accept award at work because a coworker nominated them instead of a client: 'I don’t feel that it means the same coming from coworkers as from clients.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Feb 20, 2026 12:00 PM EST

She can't turn down the award without looking like the most ungrateful coworker in the world.

Have you ever won an award you don't deserve? I know I sure have! This past summer, I won MVP on my dodgeball team despite being the 2nd-worst player. I was pretty shocked when my name was announced, and I know I looked confused when I went up to accept the award. Even though I don't think I technically deserved it, it's not like I should've stood before the league and said, "I do not accept this award because I am objectively not the most valuable player on my team." The player community voted on the award, and it was about more than just being the best. It was about having a good attitude and being the kind of person that people were happy to play with every week. It's not as if this were some big official award that others were desperate to win. It was just for fun! 

Some people feel incredibly uncomfortable with publicly receiving any kind of accolades, and I understand where they're coming from. It can be embarrassing and stressful to stand on stage in front of a big group of people, especially when the other people onstage are talking about you, even when they're saying all good things. They could be singing your praises to high heaven, and that still wouldn't make it any less stressful for shy people. It's very common to feel uncomfortable with getting publicly praised in front of your colleagues. 

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  • A woman in a pink blazer sits at her desk next to an award
    via Skytech Aviation

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The employee in this story is considering turning down an award because her coworker nominated her for it instead of a client. In her opinion, the client's opinion of her work matters more than her coworkers' opinion of her as a coworker. 

  • Would I be the bad guy for not accepting an award at work?

    Where I work at we have a service award that clients can give to us for really going above & beyond for them.
    via u/Imme_notu
  • I have been nominated for one...by my coworkers. I don't feel that it means the same coming from coworkers as from clients.
    via u/Imme_notu
  • HR says that they have been asked several times about me being allowed to receive the award prior to this.
    via u/Imme_notu
  • They forwarded me the applications that people have filled out to give me the award over the years for similar reasons to the person who most recently nominated me.
    via u/Imme_notu
  • I've read through all of them. None of them are about outstanding service, or being good in my field.
    via u/Imme_notu
  • Instead they're all about times when I've done things, a lot of them very small, to help my coworkers out when I saw that they were having a hard day.
    via u/Imme_notu
  • Mostly it was just basic respectful behavior. I don't feel like anything mentioned in any of the applications, singly or altogether, that actually rises to the level of being deserving of recognition.
    via u/Imme_notu
  • Business people sitting together on couch and clapping for their colleague
    via Curated Lifestyle (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The thing is HR told me that the most recent coworker to recommend me wants to present me the award @ a special meeting.
    via u/Imme_notu
  • I'm not comfortable in receiving an award that I don't really deserve. I'm not comfortable receiving a special presentation of said award.
    via u/Imme_notu
  • People standing on stage while giving and receiving an award at an awards ceremony
    via Wan San Yip

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Is there a way to refuse the award without being a j but also to let my coworkers that I appreciate them thinking about me?
    via u/Imme_notu
  • SelinaRochell22 YWBTA. Just accept it and say thanks. If multiple people have nominated you then it is obvious what may seem like "basic respectful behavior" to you is going above and beyond the norm. It's okay to let people celebrate you.
    via u/SelinaRochell22
  • Imme_notu Original Poster's Reply That's the thing: I've read through some of them & they're all for things like when I walked to another department to show them the correct place to bring those specific files. They had been. verbally instructed 3 times & kept getting lost. So I showed them. Or walking a newer coworker through how to complete a computer request that the client & another coworker both swore hadn't been done. The newer coworker didn't know that they hadn't properly submitted it be
    via u/Imme_notu
  • divorceevil You don't think you do anything special but they see how most people are r de and impatient. You think you are just being courteous as we should be but according to those that take notice, this IS above and beyond, because according to them, it's not the norm. Don't hurt them and let them set you above as am example to others the rewards of being great just because that's who you are
    via u/divorceevil
  • Imme_notu Original Poster's Reply Thank you. I hadn't thought of it that way.
    via u/Imme_notu
  • Hot_Lab4411 YWBTA - You may not want the award but you should accept it. These "small" things you have done obviously meant a lot to your co-workers. Have you read all of the other posts about people feeling overlooked or not respected at work? Be glad the people you work with wants to do this for you.
    via u/Hot_Lab4411
  • TararaBoomDA Would it make a difference to you to think of your coworkers as "in- house clients"? And that they clearly think you have gone above & beyond in ensuring that they themselves are enabled to help your employer's external clients?
    via u/TararaBoomDA
  • pottersquash YTA. I don't think there's a way to refuse it without being seen as a self-important j ..
    via u/pottersquash
  • sootfire Clearly the things you're doing aren't typical respectful behavior, or you wouldn't be nominated for the award! I do think YWBTA, sorry. The fact that your colleagues like and respect you and feel you've been a kind person over the years is not to be dismissed! Even if you don't think you've earned it, they're clearly seeing something you don't.
    via u/sootfire
  • wesmorgan1 You have multiple coworkers who, over multiple years, have thought you worthy of recognition multiple times. Take the compliment in the spirit with which it was offered. YWBTA for refusing.
    via u/wesmorgan1
  • Just_Coffee3718 YTA go do some read-up on Dolly Parton initially refusing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honor because she didn't feel she fit the criteria. After the nomination process was explained to her and why she was being honored, she gracefully accepted. So should you
    via u/Just_Coffee3718
  • Regular_Boot_3540 I think you need to think more about this. Yes, it's hurtful to those who appreciate you to reject their appreciation. But why don't you recognize that supporting your coworkers in large and small ways is worthy of recognition? Why are you being so rigid?
    via u/Regular_Boot_3540
  • lellyla Sounds like there should be an "outstanding colleague award" at your job which is what people recognize you for. You might not feel that you do anything exceptional but sounds like people really appreciate it and for them it is unusual and something they wanna encourage. I think either accept the award or suggest to HR to make a new award category so you feel more comfortable. The special meeting sounds a little elaborate to me too so I would decline that. NAH.
    via u/lellyla

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respect Awards nominated coworkers helpful client rejection winner workplace accepted
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