My advice is don’t rely on traditional holidays such as Halloween or Christmas to spread appreciation and joy this year; instead, create your own celebration centered on your employees.

Appreciation is one of six core emotional concerns that, when triggered, can cause severe employee disengagement. When we don’t feel appreciated, we feel invisible, which creates despondency.

Not every company can dole out millions of dollars in bonuses, but finding ways to recognize workers can do wonders for retention, a consultant said.