A Guide to Fostering a Positive Workplace Culture: Our Top 5 Tips

It's no secret that workplace culture is changing after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the world. An increase in flexible working means we are no longer tied to our commutes or in the office 5 days a week, and therefore less in touch with the culture and values of where we work. Whether employees are solely in the office or using a mix of office and work-from-home environments, a positive workplace culture can increase job satisfaction, employee retention, motivation and productivity across the company. 

If you’re looking to improve workplace culture, we’ve got the guide for you. Read on for 5 tips for creating a positive workplace culture: 

Allow and encourage employees to take frequent breaks to recharge and avoid burnout 

Although it is tempting to power through and push on with deadlines looming, taking a different approach can improve your company culture. Encouraging your employees to take frequent breaks will make them more productive in the long run and ward off burnout. 57% of people have their concentration negatively impacted when they feel stressed, so frequent coffee breaks are important to reduce stress levels in the workplace¹. Breaks also allow employees to stay focused and work more efficiently, therefore finishing their work faster². The greater sense of motivation and productivity reportedly increases job satisfaction, making a more positive workplace culture and a happier place to be. 

Improve workplace culture by bringing people together with coffee

An increased sense of community helps employees feel more engaged and motivated at work, leading to higher productivity and workplace retention. The Coffee breaks are the perfect opportunity for employees to sit down together in a relaxed setting and strengthen their relationships. Bonding during a break or walking to grab a coffee at lunchtime increases trust and understanding among co-workers and is the preferred way for many people to interact with their colleagues. When people feel like they are part of a community, they tend to stick around longer.  

So, it’s important that workplaces are able to provide the space and time for their employees to unwind and connect. This could be reminders on taking a break, and providing a coffee machine with a range of coffee flavours for everyone. Coffee culture is an important part of employee satisfaction and retention, and therefore can improve workplace culture³. 

Promoting collaboration in the workplace improves company culture  

Breaking away from traditional siloed work structures and encouraging collaboration across teams will improve the culture at your company. A way you can do this is by using events and cross-functional meetings to bring departments together and build stronger working relationships. Encouraging employees to interact with more of their colleagues helps build a sense of community and boosts morale at work⁴. And, this could even spark new, innovative ideas that wouldn’t have been possible prior to building cross-department relationships. 

Employee recognition improves motivation and creates a positive workplace culture 

Rewarding employees for their hard work makes them feel appreciated and leads to continued quality job performance and a happier place to work. This could include: 

• Verbal praise 
• Sharing good work 
• Bonuses 
• Rewards, like gift vouchers 

Changing workplace culture by giving employees recognition for their work improves morale. And, when employees feel that their work is recognised and they are appreciated, they are more motivated, engaged and loyal to the company. In fact, employee survey results show that 37% of employees said that more personal recognition would encourage and motivate them in the workplace⁴. 

Changing workplace culture for the better by encouraging good work-fun balance 

48% of employees report feeling burnt-out in 2023. Burn out leads to decreased work performance and lower employee satisfaction and retention. Increase morale and improve your workplace culture by scheduling fun breaks away from the computer. These ‘fun breaks’ can be social activities like a trivia quiz, running club or a coffee morning away from the office. This work-fun balance can improve employee relationships, boost creativity and collaboration, as well as decrease stress levels within the workplace⁵. 

A positive workplace culture is one which cultivates collaboration, productivity and satisfaction among its employees⁶. There are many ways to create this positivity in the workplace; making it a priority will increase your company’s morale, productivity and employee retention. As we mentioned, this involves scheduling breaks to relax and socialise away from desks and, fostering coffee culture in the workplace. It also includes rewarding employees for outstanding work, bringing different teams together to collaborate’ and promoting fun, non-work activities during non-work hours. The end result will be a happier, more positive and more productive workplace. 

Next, see how you can improve your workplace culture further by fostering a diverse workplace with our guide. 

1. Making Mental Health Top of the Agenda, SilverCloud by Amwell  
2. How to Recognise Burnout Systems, Verywell Mind
3. Why You Should Embrace Coffee Culture in the Workplace, Entrepreneur
4. Six Steps to Improve Your Corporate Culture, Forbes 
5. Creating a Culture of Recognition, Great Place To Work 
6. Positive Company Culture: Benefits and 11 Ways To Build One, Indeed

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