"Employee motivation should be a continual priority for businesses, but in a period of economic uncertainty, managers need to invest even more time and effort into maintaining team morale," says Max Messmer, chairman and author of "Motivating Employees for Dummies." "Companies that work diligently to keep their top performers engaged improve their chances to retain these key contributors."
The motivational tools don't have to revolve around money; financial incentives aren't the only options.
"There are many cost-free ways to improve the mood in the office, including offering public praise, adopting flexible schedules when appropriate and even soliciting employees for their business development and cost-savings ideas," says Messmer.
Messmer emphasizes that consistent communication is a key element in creating a better working environment.
"Professionals crave information about company's performance and their own job stability," he says. "When there is little or sporadic communication from the company, employees are more likely to fill in the blanks themselves, perhaps by jumping to negative conclusions."