In a perfect world, we’d all be looking forward to the holiday season without anxiety. Unfortunately, for most employees, that isn’t even close to being the case. Times have been tough, and for several years, workers have been stretched thin as they try to do more with less. As an employer, you might want to reward your people for their hard work with a raise or holiday bonus—if only you had the funds. Although you can’t distribute money you don’t have, you can make your employees feel happier and more appreciated.

People will never admit it, but money is not the thing they desire most from their work. Instead, showing appreciation, respect, and, yes, even love are the three most important ways to make your people feel great about their work. Starting this Thanksgiving, if you really begin to live out the holiday’s spirit, you’ll also find that happy, engaged employees are the single best way to improve your company’s bottom line.

I speak from experience here. For nearly two decades, I was instrumental in leading my family’s business, Autopart International, until it was bought in 2005. During that time, I made it my No. 1 priority to always put my employees and their happiness first.

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