Employees get money. If they don't, they leave. If they want to hang in there through some late paycheques, it's because either they believe in the founders and

Employees get money. If they don't, they leave. If they want to hang in there through some late paycheques, it's because either they believe in the founders and/or the work is rewarding enough. You don't have to coddle employees and protect them from bad feelings. They're adults and can make decisions for themselves. That being said, founders who keep morale high tend to keep loyal employees longer.