Tips for business wwners: How to survive the holidays and not have your employees resent you

To business owners struggling to stay afloat amid the economic tumult, it may seem good for the bottom line, but eliminating the company holiday party is a big mistake. Same goes for the summer baseball game and other company traditions, according to Gary Crisp, president of C2 Reprographics in Costa Mesa.

“A business is like a family, and even if you’re a family of meager means, you still celebrate the holiday,” said Crisp. He and his wife, Julie, run a 105-employee printing firm with a large client base of architectural, engineering and construction firms. C2 has managed not to have any significant personnel layoffs since last April, even though belt-tightening has been necessary. The holiday party budget was cut in half, and the executive team bonus and credit card point programs and rebates are being used to pay for the event.

“The fact that we’re an independent business serves us well,” Crisp notes. “Our company is not driven by Wall Street. We can make our own decisions. Our employees are like family to us, and we are pleased to be able to celebrate a pretty solid year in a very difficult economy.”

Recent cost-cutting measures at C2 included scaling back to seven-hour workdays and reducing salaried employees’ pay by 5% to 15%, based on their pay rate. (Gary and Julie gave themselves the largest cut of 15% through the end of the year.)

C2 recently celebrated Thanksgiving with turkey sandwiches provided by the company, and the staff brought the rest of the feast.

“People really enjoy these traditions. Taking the time for the niceties shows you care, and that you’re not in crisis mode,” added Crisp.

“Communicating with our employees honestly about what’s happening and how it’s affecting our industry has engendered confidence rather than fear,” Crisp noted. “There’s the feeling that we’re all in this together, so as a result, at the moment, we have high productivity and a fairly upbeat outlook among employees.”

Crisp’s recession tips for keeping up employee spirits during the holidays:

* If you always had a holiday party, don’t cancel festivities outright, “or you risk sending the message that all is lost.” Even if it’s a potluck or a low-budget catered lunch, make sure you mark the season, for morale’s sake.

* Don’t hide in your office or rumors will fly. Communicate openly and honestly with employees.

* “Love your employees and they will love your customers,” Crisp offered.

* Stay as positive as possible. Crisp shared his mantra of late: “Everything is temporary; this, too, shall pass.”