What Are the Best Office Water Solutions?

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Bottled water and water filtration has become a must-have in modern life and can be found nearly everywhere. With a widespread preference for fresh, filtered water, employees justifiably expect quality drinking water.

Drinking enough water is essential for good health and is correlated with boosting the immune system, focus, productivity, and warding off energy-depleting dehydration.

Studies have shown that drinking water can increase productivity by 14 percent.

Encouraging employee water consumption with purified water can help keep an office healthy and working efficiently.

Office Water Solutions

Water solutions for the workplace can be categorized into bottled water, either individual or jugs/coolers and filtered solutions.

Individual Bottles of Water

The ease of grabbing a bottle of water from an office refrigerator is appealing to many employees and visitors. This office water solution is typically best in limited situations, such as in conference rooms, lunches, or events, rather than being used as an office’s primary drinking water solution.

Supplying individual bottles of water can quickly add up in costs and eat up valuable storage space. For this reason, individual bottles are not recommended as an office’s primary water source; however, are good solutions for meeting and conference rooms.

Jug/Bottled Water Dispensers

Bottled water coolers provide on-demand access to clean water for employees with a mounted jug dispenser. Although jug/bottled dispensers quickly and easily dispense drinking water, it is not the recommended office water solution because:

• Stacked water jugs are not aesthetically pleasing and can detract from the appearance of a breakroom.
• Changing out heavy jugs can put employees at risk for injury.
• Tracking water orders and deliveries put another task on an office manager’s plate.
• Storing bottled water takes up space and may be a cost consideration for offices renting by the square foot.

Under-Sink Filtration Systems

These office water solutions work by purifying the municipal water from your sink with an under-the-sink filter. Water is dispensed through fixtures attached to the sink. Compared to bottled water, this point-of-use filtration approach saves space and has minimal maintenance requirements, limited mainly to changing filters. Under-sink filtration systems may not be right for certain groups, considering:

• The systems have a small reservoir capacity, making it less than ideal for larger groups
• Water is only dispersed at room temperature water, unlike other options that supply hot and cold water
• Having a water dispenser at the sink can create traffic bottlenecks as people wait to use the sink for different purposes
• An at-sink dispenser may also be less sanitary

Filtered Water Dispensers: Top Recommendation for the Best Office Water Solution

Filtered water dispensers use a direct water line hookup. Water is pumped into the unit where filtration and UV sanitation systems reduce contaminants, microorganisms, bacteria, and unwanted smells and tastes. The purified water is stored in a tank, UV sanitized and dispensed as needed. This modern office amenity can meet employee expectations for high quality filtered water and is easy to manage. This is the recommended water solution for the average office because:

• The direct water line connection allows for an unlimited supply of fresh-tasting water.
• Both the countertop and freestanding unit models are visually-pleasing and take up less space, ensuring a good fit with your breakroom space.
• As a bottleless option, there is no delivery to manage or heavy-lifting required of employees.
• Dispenser models range from simple dispensers to water plus ice dispensers, to units with multiple temperature options, and even sparkling water.
• Water dispensers can be placed anywhere in a room with a waterline connection to control traffic flow through the breakroom
• The antimicrobial dispensing surfaces minimize the growth and spread of microbes, and machine sanitation maintenance.
• Regular unit service with filter changes and hygiene maintenance by technicians ensures your unit continually supplies the highest quality water.

Free Coffee, Snacks, and Lunch

Considering the average employee spends more than $20 a week on coffee, quality in-office coffee helps employees’ paychecks go further and gives them reason to stay in the office and stay productive. Free office coffee is becoming much more common, and many employers also offer free snacks, specialty coffee choices, and other options to increase productivity, show appreciation to employees, and boost retention. Some of the most popular treats and amenities among millennials include specialty coffee, cold brew coffee, sparkling water machines, fresh fruit, and healthy snacks.

When working with an office breakroom solutions company, you will be provided with state-of-the-art equipment, boasting sleek and attractive machines with modern digital displays and other innovative technology. This high-tech equipment enables employers to provide employees a breakroom or kitchen that mimics a coffee shop or market. Bringing in modern equipment with impressive and innovative capabilities goes even further in helping employees feel appreciated, empowered, and productive. This is a great way to build a positive, attractive, and modern work space without investing a lot of money in a new office space or large-scale renovations.

Learn about 7 easy ways to start using office refreshments to boost recruiting and retention.

Vacation and Paid Time Off (PTO)

The 2015 EBRI study found that 12 percent of millennials value PTO over all other benefits (compared to only 6 percent of Baby Boomers). Millennials’ enthusiasm for PTO is reflective of their priority on work-life balance and desire for more control over their time.

Employers are devising creative ways to give employees more paid time off, like granting additional time off during the holidays. Holidays are a slow time of the year for many industries, making this a meaningful employee benefit with minimal business impact. Another PTO-related perk is paid leave for a birthday. Paid time off for a birthday is a personal gesture that makes team members feel valued and appreciated. Unlimited PTO has also become popular following implementation by big-name Silicon Valley companies. Unlimited PTO gives workers complete flexibility in taking time off and shows a high degree of trust in how employees manage their workloads. This trust in turn encourages higher levels of diligence and higher job satisfaction.

Performance Bonus

With many millennials placing increased value on travel, healthier lifestyles, and an overall increased level of self care, extra cash by way of performance rewards can be an extremely attractive benefit. End-of-the-year bonuses or awards that coincide with an employee’s annual review are traditional approaches to performance bonuses. However, some companies are bonusing with rewards other than cash, like tickets to events, certificates for travel, or paid expeditions. The latter approach is usually cheaper and is a more personalized way of incentivizing hard work and showing appreciation. This also makes it a good option for companies who may not be able to afford large bonuses for employees.

Flexible Schedule

A 2016 Flexjobs report found that 82 percent of millennials said they would be more loyal to an employer that offered flexible work options. Employers are accommodating this preference by allowing employees to clock in remotely or work flexible shifts. A Deloitte Millennial Survey in 2017 showed that 84 percent of millennials say their companies offer flexibility by way of hours, roles, or work locations.

Flexible schedules are an office perk that allows employees to take time off during the day for appointments, family events, and other personal reasons, which instills trust and empowers them to take care of themselves and their families.

Employee Development Programs & Tuition Reimbursement

Millennials seek faster career advancement than previous generations and prefer not to take on more student loan debt than they already have. This makes millennials eager to work for companies that offer employee development programs or tuition reimbursement. Employees appreciate when employers help them reach their educational and career goals, and employers benefit from the skills and ideas learned in the classroom. Because of the immense benefit on both sides, educational support is found on many lists of the best office perks.

Consolidating Breakroom Services

Below are some simple office perks that can be implemented more immediately and can be adjusted to fit within your company’s available resources:

Office water dispensers can be combined with other Aramark services - such as  office snacks, vending services, and office coffee - to streamline office refreshment services. With breakroom service consolidation, companies save money and managers have one contract, one monthly invoice and one point of contact for their office beverage and food requirements. 

Like what you see? Contact an Aramark expert today  to explore water filtration and break room amenity options for your office. 

Sources: Gallup News, Glassdoor, Glassdoor, Employee Benefit Research Institute, Merril Edge, Flex Jobs, Deloitte

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