Workplace culture encapsulates everything about your work environment: the set up, the atmosphere, how it makes you feel, the interactions you have, the work you do there – everything. A good workplace culture can make a business thrive - a bad one, well, get used to negative watercooler gossip, frustrated employees, presenteeism, lower productivity and all round unhappiness. Here are ten tips for a better workplace culture:

1) Trust. An employee who feels trusted to do their job, to work well and do a good job, is an employee who is will feel respected and happy in their workplace. Trust acknowledges that an employee is valuable to the workplace.

2) Be kind. A little bit of this in the workplace goes a long way. It’s infectious and likely the spread quickly. Give it a go, your employees will certainly gain from it.

3) Share information. An open and transparent line of communication between employees and employers, without breaching anyone’s privacy, creates trust, better working relationships and more successful return to work when there is an injury.

4) Allow control. Employees who feel they have control in their job are more likely to enjoy what they’re doing. Control might include the option to adjust hours, revise the role, undertake new projects, or control might simply mean that an individual feels their work and workload are manageable.

5) Be flexible. Flexible working hours, childcare arrangements, make work-life balance options/policies available.

6) Foster innovation. Encourage the sharing of ideas and creative thinking in the workplace.

7) Have fun. Social events and promoting social meeting areas in the workplace are an important part of a healthy workplace culture.

8) Keep regular contact. Communication is vital, not just in the workplace, but equally when a person’s off work.

9) Have clear goals. Greater energy results from a clear and common purpose. Employees should have room to breathe in the role, but exactly what this role is needs to be clear to both the employee and employer.

10) Check in. So they don't check out. Are staff happy in their roles, with their workloads, ergonomically; are they stressed, out of their depth, or under-worked, bored? If they’ve returned to work after an illness or injury, how are they doing?