To short-term worker, cry of appreciation for carving (5,4)
I believe the answer is:
totem pole
'carving' is the definition.
(I know that totem pole is a type of woodcarving)
'to short-term worker cry of appreciation' is the wordplay.
'short-term worker' becomes 'temp' (I've seen this in another clue).
'cry of appreciation' becomes 'ole' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'to'+'temp'+'ole'='TOTEM-POLE'
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for totem pole that I've seen before include "Native American tribal symbol" , "Symbolic construction" , "Brave staff perhaps" , "clan emblem" , "Symbolic structure of some American Indians" .)