Employees may not need a pay raise as much as they would need a personal thanks from their manager for a job well done. I would show my workers that I support them, and encourage better performance by motivating them in the following ways:  

Give an examples or two reasons for each bullet point.

• Have more hands on in the business owner & help employees

• Have team meetings with a strategic plan and how to continue to work during the recession

• Listen to employees ideas & use great ideas

• Create incentives for employees such as family discounts

• Gift cards

• Involve employee in decision making

• Let employee go home early one day out the week & still be paid for the full day

• Give them positive feedback, let them know how much they’re appreciated & that the business is successful because of the work they do

• Be considerate to the employees needs

• Allow employees to take 2 breaks, one in the morning & in the afternoon 

• Create a contract with employees agreeing to give increase one the recession is over with

• At the end of the day, thank employees and let them know they are appreciated