Why keeping employees hydrated improves productivity

When it comes to helping staff perform at their best, hydration is one of the most overlooked factors – yet one of the easiest to tackle. By simply providing access to a water cooler or dispenser, like those from Aquacool, it can make a real difference to how your team feels and functions throughout the day.

The human body is approximately 60% water, and water makes up around 70-75% of the brain’s weight – reducing that is bound to have a negative impact on employees’ focus and physical well-being, and ultimately, your business.

Below, we take a look at why hydration is key to worker productivity.

Mental Acuity

The human brain requires adequate fluid if an individual is to address complex problems and arrive at solutions.

There has been plenty of research proving that even a small drop in the body’s water levels can negatively impact focus, reaction times, memory and recall. For employees who require sharp problem-solving skills and high concentration, this can potentially reduce their ability to perform their roles effectively and safely.

Regular water top-ups will help to support the intellectual capacities of workers.

Physical

It’s not just mental acuity that can suffer when dehydration kicks in.

A lack of water can also result in workers feeling lethargic, which can really affect the productivity of those workers in manual and physical roles.

Employees suffering from dehydration may also experience reduced stamina and coordination, and can see a downturn in physical performance – which can in turn lead to lower engagement and job satisfaction.

This means physical jobs become more difficult and give rise to an increased number of mistakes and sometimes workplace accidents.

Stress Levels

Hydration can also have an influence on a worker’s stress levels, as even mild dehydration may cause the stress hormone cortisol to rise.

Elevated levels of cortisol are associated with a range of variables that can influence a worker’s mood, attitude and productivity levels.

Increased cortisol levels are linked to:

• Irritability
• Tension
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Poor concentration
• Absenteeism

Poor hydration has been linked to issues such as fatigue, headaches, and poor immunity.

These factors can increase the likelihood of sickness absence, especially in physically demanding or hot environments.

Of course, having absent employees is never convenient, and often results in reduced efficiencies and increased cost – so keeping workers’ water levels topped up is key if you don’t want to see absenteeism rise.

Water Coolers

The good news is that nowadays it’s not difficult to keep workers’ liquid levels topped up so that they can maintain their productivity levels.

There are options available to suit all manner of spaces – both bottle-fed and mains-fed stations are available, and for extra convenience, countertop versions can also be positioned to keep workers well watered.

Conclusion

Encouraging good hydration habits is important in any workplace.

In fact, keeping worker water levels topped up might be the secret to driving those marginal gains in productivity that all organisations are seeking.

Research suggests that even a small one per cent rise in dehydration can result in a worker’s productivity dipping by approximately 12%.