the manager cares about the workers and he is highly thought of. 为什么是 is highly thought of.
译文是：“经理关心工人们,他受到高度赞扬”.
is highly thought of是“被高度赞扬”的意思.

very, quite,extremely,highly等等这类程度副词,表示“很,非常,极其”等等的词,应该放在被修饰词的前面.