How to ... Keep employees (and morale) during rough patches

People remember how they are treated in both the good and the bad times, according to Ryan Toth, Beck Construction's regional director of Florida. The 67-employee company has been through both.

The Tampa office of Beck Construction was hit hard by the economic downturn — the company went from 110 employees to 35. “People responded to us being honest with them,” Toth says. “We don't have secrets.”

When they knew times were going to be tough, they let employees know in advance. For example, when leaders sensed the business was going to take a dip, they warned people that they might be receiving their last bonus.