In the end, I guess that it all depends on who your superiors are. Before this episode I worked with other people, and my extra effort was rewarded - nothing spectacular, but I both got a monetary compensation, and the possibility to pursue a project of my own proposal.

With my current manager it took me some time to understand that his promises were written on water. Add to that a daughter, a mortgage and the crisis, and he probably felt it safe enough to screw me. I hope to prove him wrong soon enough ;)