Drinking water off at work

pebble65

The drinking water went off at work today due to overhaul of water main. we didnt get told for two hours not to use the taps and then it took three hours for my employer to provide us with 1 2 litre bottle of water per 6 people. Should they have sent us home or bought more water? We did buy some ourselves but its the employers responsibility to provide drinking water isnt it?
Not sure if this is right board -just like to know where we stand on Monday if its still off

Alikay

Agreed, your employer should've got some drinking water sorted out earlier than 3 hours. But are you serious about being sent home? Surely one of you could have suggested to the boss popping out to a local shop or garage for some bottled water! And since you obviously suspect it may be off again on Monday, why don't you take the initiative and fill a bottle with water from home for your drinks...or aren't you paid to use initiative??!!!

alwaysonthego_2

I agree with the above that sometimes things can breakdown and it is nobodys fault. Aslong as your boss sorts it out pronto there should be no reason why you can't help the situation. You are lucky to have a job!

Zazen999

Would you really go home or stop work for this?

alyth

Since when was it an employer's responsibility to provide drinking water - my employer certainly doesn't! I think in the current climate you should be very grateful you have a job, a lack of drinking water is the least of many people's problems at work at the moment! Don't you bring in your own water/pepsi/whatever? Most employers I know are cutting back on anything non-essential, I'd certainly consider a water machine at work to be non-essential!

Unbelievable what some people will complain about!

alwaysonthego_2

alyth wrote: »

Since when was it an employer's responsibility to provide drinking water - my employer certainly doesn't! I think in the current climate you should be very grateful you have a job, a lack of drinking water is the least of many people's problems at work at the moment! Don't you bring in your own water/pepsi/whatever? Most employers I know are cutting back on anything non-essential, I'd certainly consider a water machine at work to be non-essential!

Unbelievable what some people will complain about!

Actually it is statutory for an employer to provide drinking water under Health and Safety. It does not have to be a water machine though!

http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/water.htm

geri1965_2

alyth wrote: »

Since when was it an employer's responsibility to provide drinking water - my employer certainly doesn't!

Maybe you should tell your employer they are breaking the law.

Do you have toilets?

alyth

of course we have toilets, I assume the OP meant that the water at work or whatever the machines are called wasn't working - i didn't realise that she/he meant tap water - apologies, my misunderstanding!

jamsandwhich

For god's sake - talk about namby pambying to employee's!! Some people are being asked to take paycuts to keep their job - why not take the initiative and impress your employer by buying some cheap bottles of water from the local supermarket over the weekend and taking it in on Monday? (tesco table water is 32p for a big bottle) Yes it is an inconvenience but surely not the end of the world!!!

If this had been a situation I found myself in I would have jumped in the car and got some water from the local shop, and no I wouldn't have asked for petrol money or reimbursment. But, I love my employers and they regularly buy me bacon sarnies!!!

alyth

jams, you have perhaps said what I was trying to say diplomatically - as my law firm has put me on a 4 day week with the corresponding pay cut indefinately, the fact that there is no drinking water is the least of our problems in the office!

alwaysonthego_2

alyth wrote: »

jams, you have perhaps said what I was trying to say diplomatically - as my law firm has put me on a 4 day week with the corresponding pay cut indefinately, the fact that there is no drinking water is the least of our problems in the office!

I completely agree with what you say, though it does need to be clear that it is a basic right under H&S that employees are provided with drinking water.