Connection in the workplace is the key to staff retention and wellbeing

Three-quarters (75 per cent) of office workers would be more likely to stay in a job if they’ve built connections with colleagues, according to new research by water dispenser brand BRITA VIVREAU.

Employers are facing a staffing crisis with poor mental health being the main cause of long-term sickness in the workforce. Working alongside a colleague has a positive impact on employees’ motivation and stress, this is particularly true for younger workers, with 46 per cent of Gen Z (18-24-year-olds) said working alongside somebody in the office improves their motivation, compared to 33 per cent of 55-65-year-olds.

The research, which surveyed 1,500 office workers between the ages of 18-65 in the UK in June 2023, also highlighted that having facilities in the office that encourage connections also has a significant impact. Nearly half (46 per cent) of office workers said that facilities to make hot and cold drinks with a water dispenser help to facilitate conversations in the office and half (50 per cent) expressed that their productivity improved after taking a tea or coffee break.

Gethin Nadin, MBPsS Psychologist and UK Mental Health Campaigner of the Year 2023, said: “Improving wellbeing in the workplace is far more about the micro things you can do as an employer than the big-ticket things that might take years and years to implement. It’s tweaks to your policies, running surveys more frequently and looking at office design.

“Employers can create an environment that’s more conducive to the wellbeing of their employees by considering what the office can offer that homeworking can’t. Having social spaces and facilities where people can congregate and share ideas promotes casual encounters which are integral to wellbeing.”

More than a third (36 per cent) said they would feel valued by their company if they had a water dispenser with cold, sparkling and still filtered water in the office. A much higher number than the quarter (25 per cent) of office workers who would feel valued by their company if they were given free after-work drinks on a Friday.

However, the majority of offices don’t have hot and cold water dispensers, with only 13 per cent of office workers reporting using a water dispenser with still, sparkling, and boiling water in the office.

Chris Dagenais, General Manager, BRITA VIVREAU UK, said: “It’s never been more important for businesses to maintain an engaged and loyal workforce. 

“It might sound simple, but something as straightforward as installing a water dispenser to keep employees hydrated not only boosts creativity and productivity, but can also help your staff spark conversations and build the relationships that maintain good mental health in the workplace.”