How Dehydration Impacts Workplace Productivity

workplace productivity

At Premium Waters, we talk a lot about how our bodies need water. We all understand that drinking plenty of water throughout the day is crucial to refueling your body and living a life of vitality. Our goal as a company is to offer convenience, quality and variety to all of our customers. More ways to refresh. We offer premium bottled, packaged, distilled, caffeinated and flavored waters, plus state-of-the-art water coolers, water filtration systems and a full line of specialty coffee services.

While we hope that everyone at your workplace is staying properly hydrated, the truth is that many people don’t hydrate enough during the course of their day. On the surface, dehydration doesn’t look like a big problem for most businesses, because cases only become documented if they are so severe that they require medical attention. That’s only a tiny percentage of actual dehydration cases.

Below, we’ve outlined a few of the impacts dehydration can have on workplace productivity.

Even Mild Dehydration Causes a Drop in Workplace Productivity

Just one percent dehydration has been found to decrease worker productivity by 12 percent. The more dehydrated a worker becomes, the more severe their drop in productivity becomes: 3-4 percent dehydration can bring about a 25 percent decline in worker productivity. At just one percent dehydration, workers begin experiencing decreased cognitive abilities, reduced concentration and alertness, and slower reaction times.

Delayed Reaction Time

Three percent dehydration can slow a person’s reaction time to the same extent as .08 blood alcohol content. At .08 blood alcohol, you are five times more likely to be in a car accident, so a three percent dehydration level at work is not only going to slow workplace productivity, but makes it much more likely that a person would suffer a workplace accident.

Impaired Physical and Mental Performance

Dehydration can reduce mental as well as physical performance, and is therefore just as important for office workers as it is for manual workers. Increased work load, stress, long journeys to and from work and dry air, can all increase water loss. A common cause of dehydration in the workplace is air conditioning, which causes low water content in the atmosphere, leading to increased water loss from the lungs and through the skin. A lack of adequate hydration at work can cause symptoms such as tiredness, loss of concentration and headaches.

The Solution? DRINK WATER!

The main way to prevent dehydration in the workplace is to drink plenty of water. Begin your shift well hydrated and remember to drink water at regular intervals throughout the day. Thirst is a sign that moderate dehydration has already set in.

Dehydration

Common Warning Signs

How do you know if you’re dehydrated? The following symptoms may be a sign that you are at least moderately dehydrated:

  • Dry mouth
  • Sleepiness
  • Thirst
  • Dry skin
  • Headaches
  • Lightheadedness
  • Decreased urine output

Drinking plenty of water is essential to one’s overall health, well-being, and workplace productivity. Without convenient delivery services to your office, your employees and customers may not be properly hydrating or refueling their bodies for maximum energy and vitality.

At Premium Waters, we’re dedicated to providing the very best, highest-quality products to our customers. We offer the convenience of office delivery as well as a large variety of water product options to choose from.