'My boss just decided water isn’t free anymore': Warehouse worker shares their frustration when their boss declares employees now need to buy water

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Nov 21, 2024 12:00 PM EST

Who hasn't watched the amenities of their workplace—the absolute basics that you might expect to have in the office break room—slowly eroding? 

First, it starts with the coffee. If you had a machine in the workplace, suddenly that's gone, leaving a French Press. Ok, fair enough, but before long, the actual coffee they were providing is replaced with the cheapest instant coffee available that doesn't even really taste like coffee. Now, they're no longer providing milk, so everyone has to buy their own or go without. Now, there are five bottles of milk in the fridge and people are constantly arguing over whose is whose and complaining about the fact that people are taking their milk.

This might sound like an oddly specific experience, but I bet a good many of you who are still reading and have been around for a while know exactly what I'm talking about. 

This worker vented their frustration on this online community when their boss declared that water would no longer be provided for free. Sure, they might specifically be referring to bottled water, but who knows what the extraneous issues are or whether their tap water is even potable? Besides, they work in a hot warehouse, where having easily portable water on hand is sure to be a necessity. 

See their account of events and the discussion that was sparked in their thread.

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10431641600
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    Image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Image is for illustration only and subjects are models.

  • 02
    my boss just decided water isn't free anymore I don't even know where to start with this. My job, which already pays peanuts, has just announced they're no longer providing free water to employees. Like, actual WATER.
    via radiantxflower
  • 03
    The most basic necessity for human survival. Apparently, the cost of supplying bottled water to the office was "unsustainable," so now they're expecting us to either bring our own or buy it from the vending machine they conveniently installed last month.
    via radiantxflower
  • 04
    Here's the kicker: I work in a warehouse. It's physically demanding, and it gets HOT in there. We're sweating through 8- 10 hour shifts, and now we're supposed to just figure out how to stay hydrated on our own dime?
    via radiantxflower
  • 05
    Oh, and let's not forget that the company posted record profits last quarter. They're not struggling. They're just choosing to squeeze a little more out of the workers because they can. Meanwhile, the higher-ups are probably sipping on company- paid sparkling water in their air- conditioned offices.
    via radiantxflower
  • 06
    It's so demoralizing. It's not about the cost of a bottle of water—it's about the principle. They're literally nickel-and-diming us on the most essential thing we need to do our jobs, while acting like we should be grateful to even have employment.
    via radiantxflower
  • 07
    I'm so sick of this system where every tiny cost gets dumped on the workers while the executives rake in bonuses for "cost-saving measures." How is this even legal? How is it not considered a human rights issue to deny people basic necessities while they work for you? Is anyone else out there dealing with this kind of nonsense? Because it's making me question why I'm even putting up with it anymore.
    via radiantxflower
  • 08
    Zealousideal-Ad... Do you not have access to potable tap water? They're not obliged to give you bottled water but there must be safe drinking water from at least a tap.
    via radiantxflower
  • 09
    Da_Peppercini Pretty sure thats illegal.
    via radiantxflower
  • 10
    Fleegle2212 I've never had an employer that provided free bottled water. Is there a sink you could use to fill up your own bottle?
    via radiantxflower
  • 11
    Kalanan If this is in the US, you can gently remind them it's an OSHA violation and they have to provide free water.
    via radiantxflower
  • 12
    Big_Yeash Why is the only water source bottled water? It's a requirement to have a potable water source in a workplace. A water line and a filter. They cost pennies (on the cost of operating a warehouse) to install, this is insane.
    via radiantxflower
  • 13
    Others have posted the actual OSHA regs but it is instinctively illegal for your employer to force you to bring or buy water from them.
    via radiantxflower
  • 14
    KidenStormsoarer Bottled water isn't required, but they absolutely need to provide drinking water. Fountains, kitchen sink, etc.
    via radiantxflower

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workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employee employment-discussion job work employees overworked-employees workplace Horrible Bosses employment in the workplace
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