In a very small company, rewarding just one employee can make a huge difference. Take it from Sari Gabay-Rafiy and Anne Marie Bowler, two lawyers who left a large firm to start their own Manhattan practice two years ago.

When Myrna Greenfield, their 60-something, part-time legal assistant, was feeling a bit blue, the partners decided a makeover was in order. So, they booked an appointment at the Sparkle Beauty Studio, a trendy salon on Charles Street in Manhattan’s West Village.

Myrna left with a chic razor haircut and a smile on her face. After the salon visit, they continued their “girls’ day out” with cocktails and dinner. "We can’t give our staff thousands of dollars in bonus checks, but we can do little things for them," said Gabay-Rafiy.