I go to work with a smile on my face most days as well. But that’s nothing to do with respect or otherwise from my employer. I’m treated no better or worse than at my previous employer. I know they see me as a necessary cost of doing business.
But im well paid and I live less than an hour from my crew room (that’s crew room not airport car park). That for me is priceless. I do my job, my employer pays me on time every month. That’s all either of us need from each other.
On the flip side my employer can do the buggy fluffy stuff if I need them to (I haven’t needed it yet, but I know from colleagues that have experienced it that they will).