Amid the layoffs and belt-tightening, the December holidays still can be a time for your organization to show its appreciation to employees. Your organization doesn’t have to cancel holiday festivities because of the weak economy. Here are five ways to add some holiday sparkle during financially dark times.

There’s nothing funny about layoffs and pay cuts, but they’re no reason to lose your sense of humor at work, especially during a season that’s supposed to be fun and festive. Managers can do their staffs a huge favor during these tough economic times by lightening up the workplace. How? Talk about the positives—and do it publicly.

Glatfelter Insurance Group employees spend their breaks soaking in the company sauna and enjoying quickie neck-and-shoulder massages. As part of its wellness program, the York, Pa., organization gives employees free access to a personal trainer and on-site tennis, volleyball and basketball courts.

When an R&R Partners employee was diagnosed with cancer last year and took short-term disability leave, her co-workers allowed the Las Vegas ad agency to deduct money from their paychecks to make up the 40% of her pay she didn’t receive while she was out. Camaraderie is part of the organization’s culture.

On-site scuba lessons, desks on wheels, employee shopping sprees and unlimited time off are just a few of the ways innovative employers recruit, reward, retain and refresh workers. See if any of these best practices—some simple, some extravagant—inspire you to take a fresh look at your company’s perks.

At Dynamic Edge in Ann Arbor, Mich., everyone takes part in the company’s wellness program. To keep participation high, the tech support firm lets its 35 employees earn a point for every 15 minutes they spend exercising. An employee who earns 150 points receives a $100 check toward a gym membership ...

At Florida-based Baptist Hospital, the CEO declared an all-out war on turnovers, pulling out all the stops to tear down typical corporate walls and retain his best workers. That CEO is one of the corporate leaders who “gets it,” according to Greg Smith, author of the book, 401 Proven Ways to Retain Your Best Employees. Here are 10 more real-world examples of efforts by organizations in recent years to keep their workers satisfied and in their seats ...