From the Water Cooler to Custom Hydration Stations: Exploring the Evolution of Water Services in the Workplace
Water has always been essential in the workplace. Keeping employees hydrated is essential to get their best performance day after day.
How office water delivery is managed has changed dramatically over the years. The traditional office water cooler was once a standard, and it still has a place today. Modern solutions have gradually taken over, however, and workers now have more options than ever before.
If you’d like to upgrade the water services in your building, connect with InReach right away. We can help you understand the many options available and will design a water service plan that is customized to suit your needs.
A Quick History
It was during the middle of the 20th century that the water cooler became a staple in offices across the country. The primary function of this office water dispenser, of course, was to deliver fresh, clean, cool water to workers.
The impact of the water cooler went far beyond hydration. Meeting people at the water cooler became part of the work culture. Countless conversations started, and relationships formed, because the water cooler created a location in the building where people would naturally gather. The expression “water cooler talk” emerged from this new office tradition and is still used to this day, even in buildings where the last water cooler was moved out long ago.
As time passed, the disposable plastic water bottle started to gradually replace the coolers. This was a movement largely of the 1990s. At first, people scoffed at the idea of paying for water in a disposable plastic bottle. Then, suddenly, these bottles were everywhere.
The portability of water dispensed in a bottle was appealing. Those little paper cups attached to the side of the office cooler weren’t good for much more than taking a quick sip before they were tossed out. With a bottle, employees could take water back to their desks and keep on working. And, since the water was just as cold and clean as what came from the cooler, these bottles held a lot of promise.
Of course, in retrospect, it’s easy to see the problem with single-use bottles on a large scale. The environmental impact of creating that much waste to drink water was not sustainable. Bottled water still has an important place in the market when portability and convenience are required, but there are better ways to serve an entire office of thirsty employees.
Embracing Advanced Technology
That brings us to the modern options for water services in office buildings. Today, you can still add a traditional water cooler to your building, and you can still stock it with water bottles. However, modern hydration stations are proving to be a better choice for many reasons.
A hydration station gives users an incredible level of control over the water they consume. Standard cold, still water is a primary offering, of course, but that’s just the beginning. With something like the Bevi machine, it’s possible to enjoy options such as sparkling water, flavored water, and more. Users can even control the temperature of the water they are served with just the push of a button.
This new technology takes drinking water from something that is done purely to stay hydrated and turns it into an enjoyable experience. Overall employee satisfaction can be elevated through the presence of a Bevi machine that makes water more enticing than ever before.
Supporting a Focus on Wellness
More and more employees are thinking about their health and how they can manage it during a workday. Staying hydrated is certainly part of that plan. When you give them attractive, convenient water options to enjoy, you’ll be playing a small part in their health journey.
Today’s workers are often looking for more than plain water. Specifically, electrolyte drinks have been gaining rapidly in popularity. Younger workers tend to see hydration not only about drinking water, but also about replenishing everything that their bodies need.
You might also be promoting health and wellness in your office through a variety of initiatives. If you have some type of goal encouraging people to pick up healthier habits, you’ll be “walking the walk” when you make great water available. It’s far easier for employees to replace sugary drinks with water when you make that water appealing and easy to access.
Minimizing Environmental Impact
We already mentioned the impact that single-use plastic bottles can have on the environment. Shifting away from such bottles as the primary source of hydration in your office can be a big win for the world around you. If your company is working toward sustainability goals as part of a vision for the future, being aware of how water service plays into that vision is smart.
It’s not just the consumption of single-use plastics that has to be considered for sustainability. Transporting large trucks full of bottled water also has a meaningful carbon footprint. By switching over to water delivery services that feature a machine that is delivered once, connected to the water supply, and can operate for years, you’ll be reducing shipping needs and taking another step in an eco-friendly direction.
Gain a Partner and Lose a Headache
We understand that managing your water services in-house is a task that might not have a place on your calendar. Even if you understand just how important it is to have quality water services available for your people, there are only so many hours in the day.
InReach is proud to have helped many businesses like yours upgrade their water services in a manageable fashion. You will have as much input as you would like to have in the planning process, but our team is fully capable of taking the lead on this initiative. We build custom solutions that are tailored to each unique situation and require almost none of your time or attention on a daily basis.
Great Water Is InReach
Drinking water in an office building doesn’t have to be limited to pure practicality. Water can be enjoyed and seen as a true office perk when it is done right. The addition of something like a Bevi machine with the help of InReach will give your employees yet another reason to look forward to coming to work each day.
Proudly part of Sodexo, InReach offers global reach, customized attention, and a large, growing buying network that keeps food costs low and quality high. Contact us today to learn more.