A few weeks ago, I heard a story on NPR that has since stuck with me. In these tough economic times when many companies are instituting pay cuts, furloughs, layoffs or pay freezes, some companies are taking a creative approach and retaining workers.

UltraSource, a ceramic microchip manufacturer based in New Hampshire, had to lay off 30 workers and cut pay for the workers who stayed. However, he did this with an end goal in mind. A profit goal was set, and the company promised to rescind pay cuts if that profit level was reached; it was reached in less than a month.