During a recession, times are tough on everyone and, unfortunately, the financial pinch is trickled down to the employees where it is felt the most.  Bonuses are cut from the budget, raises are no longer discussed, promotions are not encouraged and employees are thankful for jobs but are stuck financially.  Thus, how do you improve the employee and employer dynamic during rough times?  There are a few things small businesses are able to do improving the overall satisfaction of its workforce.

Express Gratitude

It is difficult to show appreciation in your small business without offering bonuses.  However, employees are still happy to hear it.  Thus, tell your employees thank you.   For when financial rewards are not distributed, then many employees may feel under appreciated.  Thus, you are eliminating any resentment from forming solely by saying thank you.

Allow Flex Schedules

Flexible schedules are growing in the corporate world.  More small businesses are adapting it as the norm.  The reason being is if salaries are lower due to cutbacks, then the employer must be flexible allowing employees to have time to earn supplemental income.  Furthermore, some employees are no longer able to afford daycare for the kids or a babysitter after school.  Thus, it provides your employees time to spend with their families, which, in return, will make them happier employees.

Keep Communication Lines Open

Try to implement an environment where employees are able to provide feedback.  This helps for if you run a small business where the employee sees a better way to run things or handle a specific order, it improves your quality of service provided in the end.  Thus, your business benefits, and the contributing employee benefits making him/her feel productive on a larger scale than initial tasks.