One of the things that was just glanced by in the talk, is that the employer needs to take that paycheck off the table. Once those jaded employees no longer have to worry about their paycheck, you can actually get them to become more creative in their work setting. Beyond that, it's a bit difficult to answer your question when there are no specifics as to what kind of work these guys are doing. I also think there are just certain people in life that no matter what you do, are not going to be excited about what they're doing. Some people prefer misery, and it can be really disruptive in the workplace. Unfortunately, negativity breeds negativity and it's a very attractive force. If someone is not able to be a positive force in your work environment, and you've exhausted all efforts...I suggest getting rid of them.