reprehensible

reprehensible behavior is very bad and deserves criticism

I find their behavior morally reprehensible

Firefighters put their lives on the line every time they go out to make sure people and property are safe, which make it all the more reprehensible that there are very a few who, to ensure their jobs are secure, start fires themselves when things slow down.

toil/work/labour in obscurity

work without being well-known

After years of working in obscurity, his paintings are now hanging in museums.

And those that toil in obscurity have a thankless job even in the animal world.