Right, I get that creating incentives like bonuses won't get hard workers to work harder, but my point is that a worker's "total motivation" is something that i

Right, I get that creating incentives like bonuses won't get hard workers to work harder, but my point is that a worker's "total motivation" is something that is within the employer's control, if you count work environment, schedules, type of work, etc. to be within the employer's control. So while it may not be necessary to create direct incentive programs, to me, not demotivating somebody is exactly the same as motivating them, but it is being treated as if it is a special case. Treating workers well is a way of motivating them. Not treating them well is a way of demotivating them. If you don't do one you do the other, so it isn't sufficient to say "you don't have to motivate people, just don't demotivate them."