I'm a believer in voicing appreciation for your team, and when I was a manager I made sure I did so regularly. However, now that I'm older and just a peon, I find that I don't really need much praise from leadership. As long as I'm not getting bad feedback, I'm good, lol.
When I first started at Target I established myself as a hard worker and was often recognized for it, which I did appreciate and felt proud. Now I just want to go in, get what I can get done, and go home. I guess that can be blamed on the pandemic. We haven't really bounced back to the way things were, and as long as we have to wear masks and try to keep our distance and be mindful of things, it's just a weird vibe all around. I'm used to it though, and I'm all for social distancing, always have been.
Still, getting a "good job!" or a thank you from one's boss is always gratifying. I find that my leadership is pretty good about that. I understand why the TM in question feels unappreciated, but I think with things the way they are now, a lot of leadership is just trying to get through the day. I see both sides, basically.