Cutbacks are a necessity, sometimes, but willy-nilly cuts can hurt morale, which, in turn, lowers productivity. Happy employees are more productive, because they feel like a part of the company and have a vested interest in its success. Here are some tried-and-true ways to cut that budget while keeping employees satisfied and productive.

Offer Training on Scheduling

Almost everyone can use some help prioritizing their time, both inside work and outside. There are a number of excellent time management training seminars and classes that can help employees learn how to balance work and home obligations, as well as teach them how to get more done during the workday. Investing in this training can pay huge dividends in productivity.

Outsource Non-Critical Tasks

Many jobs — like accounting, telephone answering services, and IT — can be outsourced, so that workers have more time to focus on the work of the business. Find ways to free your employees’ time doing busywork and answering the phone, so they have more time to focus on the work at hand.

Rethink the Necessity of Meetings

Meetings are one of the number one productivity killers in most workplaces. Hold meetings only when the task can’t be done via email or by ordinary collaboration between coworkers. Keep meetings on track, and make sure each meeting produces what it’s supposed to do. Avoid inviting unnecessary workers to meetings, so they can continue to work while the business of the meeting is carried out.

Some small restructuring of in-house processes can produce big-time gains in productivity, without hampering how employees feel about the company.