Shelters and animal care and control agencies employ people from many walks of life—individuals with different views, personalities, and work ethics. Although the alternative would probably seem pretty dull, sometimes all that diversity can be a recipe for conflict. But the road to a healthy work environment can start with a simple document that describes the ideal interactions among staff.

The Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in Lynnwood, Washington, created this workplace culture agreement that lays the ground rules for working at the shelter, guidelines that range from a ban on gossip to a focus on finding healthy stress relievers. In 2003, PAWS reaffirmed these principles, which are posted in the building and appear in the shelter’s employee and volunteer manuals.

 Read the full workplace culture agreement.