Last week Workforce Management published this list of 11 likely workplace trends for 2011.  Some of the items on ELI Inc. CEO Stephen Paskoff's list are at the top level of the Executive and Legislative branches of government – well out of the control area for most if not all small business owners.

But other items are under the purview of small business executives, and this is where a top small company workplace can make the difference between your company being associated with Paskoff's bad trends next year, or not.

What do I mean?  Specifically, citing our past articles, a great workplace culture of high employee engagement and strong team building can:

• Decrease the chance that any of your current or former employees will bring forth a lawsuit against your business. This extends to customers and suppliers as well.  (See #2-4 on Paskoff's list)
• Help keep sensitive data safely behind your computer network firewall.  (See #6)
• Keep tensions low among the three to four generations of your workers, which could otherwise rise due to the bad economy and fewer job opportunities.  (See #9)

What do you think of Paskoff's list of trends to watch in 2011?  What would you add to his list that you're seeing in your firm?