The importance of hydration in the workplace
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Sugar, phosphoric acid, caramel color and artificial dyes — oh my!
These are only a few common ingredients that are found within a short walking distance of your employee’s desks (cough: the workplace vending machine). When vending machines are filled with enticing flavors of soda, sports and energy drinks, and sweetened waters and teas, it can be difficult for your employees to make the healthy choice.
Thanks to readily available options like these, nearly 75 percent of Americans are suffering from chronic dehydration — including employees within your workplace (maybe even you!).
Getting employees to drink water throughout the day is no easy task, but it has a whole host of benefits. When employees drink more water, they can see improvements in their heart health, weight management, better digestive and gut health, brain power, energy, fewer headaches and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
How dehydration can affect your workplace
As your company’s HR or benefit administrator, you have a natural knack for keeping your employees' health and well-being in mind and in line with your company objectives. Did you know even being slightly dehydrated can have negative implications for both your employees and their work productivity throughout the day?
- 1 percent dehydration has been found to decrease cognitive skills and reduce concentration.
- 3–4 percent dehydration contributes to a 25 percent decline in productivity.
Encouraging employee hydration
If you’re looking for more ways to encourage water intake in the workplace, there are several simple things you can do. Try adding additional water stations throughout the office and encouraging employees to take breaks and get a drink as needed. Or, educate your employees on the dos and don’ts of staying hydrated with this article from BlueSM so they can incorporate these best practices into their work and personal habits.