Employee thought he got a 'toy car' for 40 years of service — until boss asked him to check the gift again

A dedicated WCCO employee thought he received a toy car in a display case as a token of appreciation for 4 decades of loyal service to the company. As he looked at the gift, his boss urged him to look closer. At WCCO Belting’s holiday party in Wahpeton, North Dakota, with over 200 employees watching, the man realized that he had, in fact, been gifted a real car.

The man's story went viral on social media when a person (@simplyougrow) shared a video of the same on Instagram. It featured the employee, Mike Boock, the shipping and receiving manager, opening a small box given by President Thomas Shorma. Boock smiled as he examined the toy car when Shorma asked him to check again. Much to his surprise, he found a key. Confused, Boock heard an engine roar behind the back door, and soon enough a restored 1972 Corvette drove in, as reported by Scoop Upworthy. The car was picked to match the year Boock began working at the company.

Commenting on their plans, Shorma said, "If someone is willing to dedicate forty years of his or her life to our family business, this is the least we can do." Meanwhile, Boock said, "I am on top of the world. Never expected anything like this. This is beautiful." On YouTube, netizens were equally happy for Boock. A person, @brookswade5774, commented, “Most companies try to find a way to get rid of 40-year employees because a new employee is cheaper. This act speaks volumes about the owners, and it's rare.”

Another netizen, @mc1dash1b, echoed, “Being a leader is not the same as being a manager or being 'in charge.’ Mike is a leader and a good team member. His employer understands that nobody wants to feel unappreciated and everyone wants to be on a winning team. They appear to place great emphasis on communication, which is vital in describing and maintaining a shared vision and goal to work toward. I would like to work for an organization with such accurate insight.” In a similar, @camarokidd75 praised, “This, you just don't see anymore. 1) an awesome gift from your own company, and 2) somebody being at the job for 40 years. Kudos to WCCO. Other companies need to take note here.”

Boock’s co-workers also appreciated his loyalty and dedication towards the company. They spoke of him as the kind of person who was steady, humble, and always ready to help. A coworker revealed that if a truck arrived late or a shipment needed to leave early, Boock was always ready to help just because it was the right thing to do. He added that Boock was always working hard in the background.