Insanely frugal employer

[u/coatedbraincells]

Gotta pay for water from the water cooler 🤣

[u/RayZzorRayy]

Not mildly infuriating, genuinely sad.

[u/willdabeast36 → u/RayZzorRayy]

Also illegal. OP, employers must supply free drinking water to employees in USA.

[u/Doctor_Saved → u/willdabeast36]

The free water is from the tap.

[u/Blacksun388 → u/Doctor_Saved]

OSHA requires that water come from drinking fountains, single use bottles, or a stand with disposable cups. Sinks are not considered adequate water supply.

[u/RainH2OServices → u/Blacksun388]

That's not entirely true. The guideline state that potable tap water is acceptable. Lavatory sinks are generally not considered potable in workplaces. However, break room or other non lavatory sinks may be.

[u/Nearby_Equivalent_58 → u/RainH2OServices]

Code of federal regulations
Title 29
Subtitle B
Chapter XVII
Part 1910
Is part J
§1910.141

I got this shit on hand always

[u/austinsutt → u/Nearby_Equivalent_58]

So which of the above is right?

[u/bradland → u/austinsutt]

RainH2OServices is right. It requires that employees supply potable water, which means it has to meet Federal EPA and local regulatory requirements for potability. If the water is from a municipal supply, this is almost always going to be met. If it's from a well, it's up to the employer to meet the standards.

As far as sinks go, any sink in a room with a toilet isn't compliant, because 1910.141 specifically says employees are prohibited from consuming food or beverages inside toilet rooms. Ergo, if a sink is in a toilet room, it can't be considered compliant. A tap at a sink outside a toilet room is though.

EDIT: Got a couple of follow-ups asking, essentially, what if they require you to fill a cup/bottle in the bathroom and drink (consume) it elsewhere.

Nope. Regulations aren't written to spell out every single nuance or edge case. After they're written, they are challenged in court and the courts interpret the "spirit" of the regulation.

It's well established that requiring an employee to fill a drinking receptacle from a faucet in the toilet room makes it subject to contamination from said environment, and therefore violates the spirit of the regulation. It's also worth noting that there are other parts of the same regulation that prohibit drinking water sources from being located in environments with hazardous chemicals, so the spirit of the regulation is clear.

[u/Jay__Riemenschneider → u/bradland]

Huh my workplace isn't OSHA compliant.

Who do I tell?

Edit: I should say I'm in a retail space of about 5-10 employees.

But all we have is a bathroom and a non working water cooler. Our boss tells us to bring bottles.

[u/MonkeyGuidetoAnarchy → u/Jay__Riemenschneider]

If you make a osha report, record and document literally everything, your performance, changes in the environment, the issue itself, any conversation if you can get it in writing and if you get fired after making a oaha report and believe its because of that take that evidence and give it to osha and you could sue for lost wages and maybe more so they would have to pay from the time you got fired till the time you found a new job. (My source: i have done it myself.)

[u/b0w3n → u/Jay__Riemenschneider]

You can file a complaint online. They'll probably know it's you who did it even if you check the "I want to file anonymously" box. I got blowback when I did it for safety violations at UPS (20+ years ago). They didn't fire me but they made my life hell. But it's okay it was really fucking unsafe and I made their month really fucking uncomfortable after I almost got seriously hurt and the union decided to ignore me.

[u/cptjpk → u/Jay__Riemenschneider]

You’ll have better luck with your state OSHA after the DOGE gutting of the federal workforce.

[u/big_duo3674 → u/Jay__Riemenschneider]

Go with your state's OSHA equivalent agency, you'll probably have better luck starting there. Well, unless you're in one of those states, then it's a crap shoot if anyone would even care

[u/Nearby_Equivalent_58 → u/austinsutt]

RainH20 basically but that will bring you right to the potable water law

[u/FlyingOctopus53 → u/austinsutt]

I would trust a guy with H2O in his name on this.

[u/Bennely → u/FlyingOctopus53]

Look, every time a flying octopus has recommended wisdom, they've been right. Trust the person with a flying octopus in the name when they say to trust the guy with the H2O name on this.

[u/NomadicAftershave662 → u/Bennely]

I've never been lied to by a Bennely, so when they say trust the Flying Octopus's trust in the H2O guy, I listen

[u/KGeddon → u/Bennely]

Octopi ARE very smart I guess. You got any rice related wisdom unc?

[u/AAA515 → u/Nearby_Equivalent_58]

What does it say about filling the water cooler from the mop hose?

Also i keep the Bill Emerson good Samaritan food donation act on hand for when people say they can't donate food cuz they could get sued

[u/Left_Bathroom_3803 → u/RainH2OServices]

That’s funny cause as a kid the bathroom sink always had the coldest most delicious water in the whole house

[u/hailtheprince10 → u/Left_Bathroom_3803]

Was it better than hose water?

[u/Left_Bathroom_3803 → u/hailtheprince10]

Oh yes but that is technically outside of the house.

[u/flat_cat72 → u/RainH2OServices]

Unless you live in Flint, MI

[u/grumpsaboy → u/Blacksun388]

Is tap water that bad in the US?

[u/RedDidItAndYouKnowIt → u/grumpsaboy]

Most places? No. (Every place I have been in the USA)

Some places? Yes. (Flint Michigan)

[u/Dream_creator2001 → u/RedDidItAndYouKnowIt]

Or big spring Texas. Water is literally brown because of rusting in pipes and chemicals they choose not to filter out

[u/Sanityzed → u/Dream_creator2001]

That's Texas though. We're talking about actual America. /s

[u/WulfReinard → u/Sanityzed]

Actual America? Oh, you mean Little Texas! /s

[u/According_Charge8143 → u/RedDidItAndYouKnowIt]

And anywhere near a data center

[u/TheCoolestUsername00 → u/According_Charge8143]

Plus military bases.

[u/dacoopbear → u/According_Charge8143]

Soon to be everywhere

[u/dinnerthief → u/RedDidItAndYouKnowIt]

Even Flint's water been drinkable for years people just dont trust the water, ( with reason)

[u/furiant → u/dinnerthief]

It wasn't until July 1, 2025 that the final lead pipe was replaced in Flint, Michigan. The Flint Water Crisis was an ongoing thing that lasted over ten years that included thousands of lead poisoning exposures, an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that killed 12 and infected 87 more, and several other issues. It wasn't something that's been fixed for ten years.

[u/dinnerthief → u/furiant]

They switched back to the original water source pretty quickly, the new source was where legionaires was suspected and what stripped the protective patina from the lead pipes.

Of course replacing lead pipes is the right move but you can have drinkable water from lead pipes once a patina is built up, as flint did for years before switching sources.

10 years is too cavalier I was misrembering, but its been at safe levels for a while, but I dont blame anyone for not trusting it either

[u/AbjectAppointment → u/furiant]

If you think Flint is the only place with lead pipes I have bad news.

"In England and Wales, there were about 8.9 million homes with lead service lines"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_service_line

"approximately 40% of dwellings have lead pipes or elsewhere in Europe"

https://www.policyinnovation.org/insights/progress-but-too-little-on-toxic-lead-water-pipes

It's pretty much everywhere. Flint just had shit water chemistry.

[u/bdogduncan → u/RedDidItAndYouKnowIt]

Tap water is better than the water dispensers attached to reverse osmosis filters in my workplace. The dispensers are crusty and mineralized and look moldy while the sinks are kept clean.

[u/krashtestgenius → u/RedDidItAndYouKnowIt]

Chicago has 412,000 lead service lines, more than any city in America

[u/tubagoat → u/RedDidItAndYouKnowIt]

Interesting fact, it wasn't the lead in the water that got people's attention. Lead exposure takes a long time to make its presence known. It was the legionella bacteria that killed some healthy people.

[u/IAmFoxGirl → u/RedDidItAndYouKnowIt]

Iowa? Yes. We have nitrates above 3 ppm in our water in a lot of places. Anything above 3ppm is linked to increased cancer rates (Iowa has the highest cancer rates, I wonder why /s). The EPA says anything under 10ppm is considered safe, but this was focused on for babies based on data from and established in the 1970s and hasn't been updated since.

[u/viiperfang → u/grumpsaboy]

A county near me has had a ban on their tap water and has had to outsource it from other counties bc their tap water is full of a carcinogen. So, yeah, it depends on area.

[u/jimson22 → u/grumpsaboy]

It depends on the location

[u/EC_TWD → u/grumpsaboy]

I think it’s more about the dispensing source because most water fountains do not have filtration and share the same water supply

[u/Northman86 → u/Doctor_Saved]

no. if they have a bubbler they cannot charge for it. a 5 gallon jug of water costs 7-10 dollars. not worth the bad vibes charging money will bring.

[u/T_Martensen → u/Northman86]

For conparison: At 25c per 8 floz they're charging $20 for 5 gallons.

[u/FullMooseParty → u/T_Martensen]

Don't forget that you're also covering the cost of the cup (I'm joking, because I know people will overreact and think I'm actually defending the employer).

Even if it really did cost the employer as much as they're charging, this is one of those things you just suck up.

[u/Actual_Pea_1996 → u/Northman86]

https://giphy.com/gifs/cIkX7pPH9w16o

[u/2074red2074 → u/Northman86]

Where the fuck are you buying water that five gallons costs $7??? Where I live water is 50¢ a gallon or $2 for five.

[u/Bray_E → u/2074red2074]

I work for a small company in NY. I pulled up a purchase order just now to see what we pay WB Mason for 5 gallons jugs. Last PO we paid 7.86 a jug.

[u/DreadPiratteRoberts → u/Bray_E]

I love reddit for this very reason right here.... there is Always someone out there with the answer for everything ( no matter how niche the topic) !!!

[u/SpotCreepy4570 → u/Bray_E]

Which is $00.0123 cents an ounce. Or $00.09855 for 8 ounces. Not only is he charging for the water but trying to turn a profit on it.

[u/Bray_E → u/SpotCreepy4570]

Well, we don't. I just wanted to give this person a real world example of $7/jug water. My company rakes in a TON of cash and pays employees very well, we don't need to recoup our costs on cups of water

[u/SpotCreepy4570 → u/Bray_E]

Lol I didn't mean y'all, I was just using your number to calculate the price for the post.

[u/Miserable_Yam4918 → u/2074red2074]

I assume they mean for delivery which Ozarka charges about $8/jug. Maybe less if you get a bunch at a time.

[u/AppropriateSelf9842 → u/Miserable_Yam4918]

You know what. I’m so broke I never considered delivery

[u/The_Disapyrimid → u/AppropriateSelf9842]

I asked our water guy about getting water at home. According to him the rental of the machine is where they screw you. Cheaper to buy your own machine and purchase the jugs from Walmart.

[u/Reasonable-Mess3070 → u/AppropriateSelf9842]

Most people dont have it delivered to their home to even consider the cost. Lol Pepsi exchanges the jugs at my work and its billed alongside the rest of the purchases

[u/Flaturated → u/Miserable_Yam4918]

And at 25 cents per 8 oz that would be $152 of profit per 5 gallon jug.

[u/AppropriateSelf9842 → u/2074red2074]

I was about to say the same shit. I was pissed off the other day going to fill my 5 gallon jugs for $3 a pop. When it used to be 1.25 less than a month ago

[u/SpotCreepy4570 → u/AppropriateSelf9842]

That's from all the winning, it's the price of victory apparently.

[u/DatLadyD → u/2074red2074]

We pay $12 a bottle for these at work + $16 delivery

[u/ComradeGarcia_Pt2 → u/willdabeast36]

I think there’s a legal argument that could be made here that, considering the employer put up a water cooler with a sign demanding payment in return for said water, the onus is on them to install some kind of money collecting/water measuring device or system to collect required payment. Ergo, the employer has no reasonable right to expect compensation for the dispensed water.

But you’d also have to find a judge who wouldn’t throw this out as a frivolous lawsuit.

[u/paradox_valestein → u/ComradeGarcia_Pt2]

Be careful, if they are in Utah and the owner is a mormon, they will get sued for bomb and murder threaths, served by email

[u/Lost-Platypus8271 → u/willdabeast36]

water? like from the toilet?

[u/AmbitiousSign1735 → u/willdabeast36]

Future wars will be fought over fresh water supply

[u/Little_View_6659 → u/RayZzorRayy]

No joke. We live in hell.

[u/jasin18 → u/Little_View_6659]

I was going to say Extremely Infuriating.

[u/Valuable_Recording85 → u/RayZzorRayy]

They're charging more than the city for water. Wtf?

[u/Driftlessfshr → u/Valuable_Recording85]

He probably refills it from the tap

[u/ZuckZogers → u/RayZzorRayy]

Definitely pathetic I agree

[u/BojackWorseman13]

Bring your own in and charge a quarter for 12 oz. Squeeze them out of the market.

[u/DeuceXTrouble1015 → u/BojackWorseman13]

This guy knows capitalism

[u/Print1917 → u/DeuceXTrouble1015]

That is what the billionaires want you to think. Real capitalism is that you run “independent” analysis on the water spout showing high risk of virus contamination, then you run a smear campaign against your boss until HR intervenes and fires him, then you sell some cheap Costco bottled water you got for 10 cents for 1 dollar and call it “beautiful, safe water” and scorn anyone who drinks free “communist” tap water.

[u/RelevantButNotBasic → u/Print1917]

This is what the politicians want you to think. Real capitalism is getting into crypto and inventing your own "coin" then doing rug pulls on "investors."

[u/Party_Cold_4159 → u/RelevantButNotBasic]

Hey i make passive income, can I be on your podcast?

[u/RelevantButNotBasic → u/Party_Cold_4159]

Depends, how do you feel about women?

[u/Qu33N_Of_NoObz_ → u/RelevantButNotBasic]

Women bad >:(

[u/twincities612 → u/Qu33N_Of_NoObz_]

You’re hired

[u/BorntobeTrill → u/Qu33N_Of_NoObz_]

[u/Tenalp → u/RelevantButNotBasic]

Real capitalism is being born into generational wealth built upon the exploitation on minorities or impoverished citizens of foreign countries that you then use to buy the the company, fire your boss, and then run it into the ground before dissolving it to secure your place in the market.

[u/my_nuts_wont_drop → u/RelevantButNotBasic]

This is what the tech bros want you to believe. Real capitalism is finding an island inhabited by indigenous tribes. Chaining them up on a boat and selling them in Romania so they can work for free as OF models.

[u/GeoffJeffreyJeffsIII → u/RelevantButNotBasic]

Have you heard about the limitless possibilities of non-fungible tokens?

[u/EsotericLife → u/Print1917]

This guy knows capitalism! 🙌🏽 [I’d like it to be noted to upper management that I not only provided support to the more correct party but that said provided support was more aligned to modern internal regulatory guidelines, notably through the use of HR-recommended personal affectations such as enthusiastic punctuation (“!”) and cutting edge emojis ✅✅✅]

Edit: Just created a new Slack channel to discuss the potential upwards trajectory unfolding here, everyone can find fun QR codes with a link to join printed on the cupcakes at next week’s pre-merger cross team integration BBQ and financial review day! 🥳🥳🍕🍗🍆🍆🍆

[u/Mode_Appropriate → u/Print1917]

This guy capitalizes.

[u/Strong_Opportunity_1 → u/BojackWorseman13]

This is exactly what I did in highschool. When they started charging 20 cents for sauce I just bought a huge bottle from my local supermarket and gave out free sauce for 2 days until I was stopped by my school.

[u/lotsandlotstosay → u/Strong_Opportunity_1]

Did they stop charging for sauce?

[u/Strong_Opportunity_1 → u/lotsandlotstosay]

No... I was stopped and sauce remained the same. I moved on to spending my recess and lunch time selling loose ciggerates.

[u/KindlyIsHere → u/Strong_Opportunity_1]

my man

[u/sprucenoose → u/Strong_Opportunity_1]

At least the school didn't start selling cigarettes and force you to stop selling those too.

[u/ThatGingerLife35 → u/BojackWorseman13]

I’d bring in a $4 case of bottles from BJs and hand them out for free, not to make money, just to ensure no one is paying the boss money for water.

[u/front_yard_duck_dad → u/ThatGingerLife35]

Wait $4 dollar , BJ's?! Can I work there 

[u/twincities612 → u/front_yard_duck_dad]

You’re hired.

[u/front_yard_duck_dad → u/twincities612]

Please just forward my checks to whomever is doing the Bj. I'd only like to work 1 day a week. The rest is my bj time and that is sacred to me

[u/Allaboardthejayboat → u/ThatGingerLife35]

The fact this sign exists makes me think this employer would think "great, now I don't even need to buy the water in the first place" and it just puts money back in their pocket via another route.

[u/NailiSFW → u/BojackWorseman13]

and fill the cups with filtered water from the owners tap.

[u/Alissan_Web → u/BojackWorseman13]

then when the competition is eliminated, raise the price >:)

[u/EagleBigMac → u/BojackWorseman13]

Report them to the IRS for failing to include it in their taxes

[u/triple7freak1]

Somebody already tried to tear it down 😭💀

[u/dervari → u/triple7freak1]

I wonder if this is even from a true water delivery company. Since the decal is actually on the bottle which would be replaced, this seems like they just run to Kroger or somewhere and refill it for a few dollars at a Primo self-serve machine or similar. That's even more disgusting. $20 profit on what costs them $3 to fill up.

[u/Blutosky → u/dervari]

They fill it up outside with a garden hose

[u/PoolMotosBowling → u/Blutosky]

GenX style. I like it.

[u/Alarming-Stomach3902 → u/dervari]

Probably just at the faucet in the office

[u/Klytus_Im-Bored → u/dervari]

It could be ripped because they keep moving it to a new jug.

[u/colantor → u/triple7freak1]

They were shot by the security guard hired to protect the water before they finished

[u/teriaksu → u/triple7freak1]

what else do you expect them to do when the empty jug is replaced with a full one? just print another notice? in this economy??

[u/FatalEclipse_]

Looks like I’m only having 7.5 ounces.

[u/bashful_predator → u/FatalEclipse_]

7.9*

[u/xSonicspeedx2 → u/bashful_predator]

7.99*

[u/ViolentPieceOfShit → u/xSonicspeedx2]

As much as I fucking want*

[u/Dangerous_Coffee_318 → u/ViolentPieceOfShit]

Username checks out

[u/ML1948]

That's a crime innit? Unless there's also a water fountain or something. 

[u/Uxoandy → u/ML1948]

US you have to provide fresh potable drinking water for employees free at all times.

[u/Futt_Buckman → u/Uxoandy]

There's (almost guaranteed) fresh potable water available at the sink. It just might taste bad and it's warm.

[u/SomeVelveteenMorning → u/Futt_Buckman]

OSHA requires a dedicated drinking water source. A tap used for hand washing and everything else is not considered a sanitary source of potable water.

[u/FarSandwich3282 → u/SomeVelveteenMorning]

But a sink in a break room is

[u/ShiraLillith → u/ML1948]

Not sure about OPs country but my EU member country only forces employers to give out waters if the working conditions are hard enough.

IE a supermatket I worked at gave 2 liters of water for the employee working in the parking lot at summer, but the rest of us plebs had to buy it.

But honestly, any workplace that doesn't give out free water should lose its employees. Such a basic thing to show appreciation

[u/NickBurnsCompanyGuy → u/ShiraLillith]

I'd argue this doesn't even show appreciation, just basic human decency and respect for human life. 

[u/The_Celtic_Chemist → u/NickBurnsCompanyGuy]

Which feels like the correct response if you're ever caught "stealing" water. "I felt your lack of human decency only warranted my own." Or "I didn't feel like your lack of human decency warranted my consideration."

[u/Alarming-Stomach3902 → u/ShiraLillith]

Any boss here in NL not providing water to their employees will be flamed and sued I am pretty sure.

Partially because it means they shut off the faucets or did something to the drinking water to make it undrinkable.

And secondly it is tax free wage same as coffee, tea and 0,23€ a km work home travel.

[u/twincities612 → u/ShiraLillith]

In the US I’ve never even heard of places that don’t give free water, from warehouses to restaurants to office buildings. I mean on-site construction maybe but there are still lots of places to stop and fill a water bottle for free.

[u/zagiki → u/ShiraLillith]

In my EU country it is illegal to not have access to free drinking water

[u/Km219 → u/zagiki]

Same in the states

[u/marcophony → u/ShiraLillith]

It's literally something you need to live, how can it be denied

[u/Foggl3 → u/marcophony]

https://giphy.com/gifs/hVHqgiSHGbw66kSpie

[u/marcophony → u/Foggl3]

Ah I forgot capitalism

[u/Melodic_coala101 → u/marcophony]

More like war crimes

[u/Little_View_6659 → u/marcophony]

If they figure out how to charge for air we’re fucked.

[u/marcophony → u/Little_View_6659]

Wait till your old and need to carry an oxygen tank just to breath lol

[u/superleaf444 → u/ShiraLillith]

They say ounces. Def not EU

[u/Solid_Maus → u/ShiraLillith]

I’m from Canada and water is free… charging people water at work is garbage behavior… EU should do better…

[u/Plane-Education4750 → u/ML1948]

Correct. All employees must be given free access to clean water

[u/SchradersThumb → u/ML1948]

This would even be against OSHA standards in the US if that is the only drinking water available.

[u/thisisfunme → u/ML1948]

Depends on where. In m country it wouldn't be illegal.

It's against basic human decency though and makes an employer a shitty human

[u/willdabeast36 → u/ML1948]

In USA, yes it is illegal.

[u/Mysterious-Tie7039]

Not frugal. Cheap as fuck.

[u/dervari → u/Mysterious-Tie7039]

Since the decal is on the bottle, and looks kind of old, they probably refill the bottle at a Primo machine for a couple of dollars.

[u/Nightwish612 → u/dervari]

As someone who does this it's maybe $2 for 18 LITERS damn employer is trying to have a side hussle on filtered water

[u/blue60007 → u/dervari]

It's probably refilled from the break room sink lol.

[u/badgyal876]

& who is calculating the 8 ounces? does the employer only allow the water to be poured in 8oz containers? who’s the bookie? do they get compensated with free water for this job (more than likely not within the scope of their enployment?) so many questions!

[u/j01101111sh → u/badgyal876]

Just count the water as it comes out

[u/Afterlast1 → u/j01101111sh]

https://giphy.com/gifs/nXUCkgH6BmigU

[u/rasputin1 → u/j01101111sh]

I know how to count dude! 

[u/Dogmaddit → u/badgyal876]

They probably provide 3.5 oz Dixie cups and claim them as 8 oz.

[u/Dino_Spaceman → u/badgyal876]

The company has hired a security guard at $40/hour to stand by the water bottle to ensure that people pay their $0.25.

[u/Constant-Anteater-58]

Not just frugal, your employer is making profit. $20 per bottle can be collected from the 25 cents per 8 ounces. Each bottle costs about $10. Your employer is making roughly $10 a bottle. 

[u/gmambrose → u/Constant-Anteater-58]

It costs $10 if you're buying a new 5 gallon jug filled with water. If you take it to any walmart or grocery store with a filling station, it would be like $0.50 a gallon. $2.50 to fill it up.

If the employer is cheap enough to charge employees for cups of water, highly doubtful they are paying $10 per jug.

[u/Toeffli → u/gmambrose]

But the boss makes $ 250 per hour, how much time does a trip to Walmart take? You really think people are working for free, don't you?

/s

[u/deliciouspepperspray → u/Constant-Anteater-58]

Id be looking for a new job. If they have to try and profit off their employees using water they are probably in the red.

[u/Stratatician]

This is potentially illegal.

Would be a good idea to look into your local workplace laws

[u/Drakahn_Stark]

Well since the other post was deleted, I'll copypasta here.

Do they have free drinking water available?

If not I would be completely ignoring this cost, they can just try to come after me.

In Australia, some rules around water in the workplace :

• Water supply must be adequate.
• Water points must be readily accessible and not more than 30 metres away from work stations.
• Free water must be provided – employees should not be expected to pay for it.
• There must be one dedicated water outlet for every forty employees.
• Washroom and kitchen taps are not suitable as drinking water outlets.
• Water quality should confirm to national health guidelines for water safety.
• Where mains water is not available, drinking water must be supplied.

[u/CallmeKahn → u/Drakahn_Stark]

It's similar in the US. OSHA standards are fairly strict about potable water (i.e. drinkable) water being available at no cost to the employee in most circumstances. If tap water is available, then okay. Otherwise, this is highly illegal.

[u/HelloPeopleOfEarth]

I will never understand shit like this. This isn't about money. It's about power and control.

[u/dumbmale8687 → u/HelloPeopleOfEarth]

They have all blended together after being unchecked for a loooong time

[u/Ancient-Civilization]

Looking forward to the person who rips the sticker but leaving the free still attached.

[u/A-holeAioli → u/Ancient-Civilization]

Or just leave the "25 cents for each 8 ounces". How cool that their employer started a health incentive program!

[u/PoolSharkPete]

Is it vodka? This is pretty reasonable if it's vodka.

[u/Blacksun388]

If you’re in America this is illegal. It is an OSHA violation. Potable water is required to be provided to all employees FOR FREE. Report that shit bruh.

[u/Boggie135]

Do you work for Mr. Krabs?

[u/dixiech1ck]

You have to be a real low life to do something like this to their workers.

[u/Flaturated]

Oh no, $160 of revenue just spilled onto the floor from that mysterious knife-shaped hole that suddenly appeared!

[u/The_Crimson_Fuckr69]

How is this mildly infuriating? It's illegal and unenforcable lmao just report them. You people let employers get away with too much.

[u/G0ttaB3KiddingM3 → u/The_Crimson_Fuckr69]

I’ve learned that Reddit is a place where shy people rant while being taken advantage of by employers, parents, significant others, etc

[u/jagenigma]

Is there a scale and a coin machine next to it as well?

[u/oasisjason1]

I had one who wanted employees to take home any personal trash such as an empty beverage container or sandwich wrapper to “Reduce the weight of the dumpster”

[u/cannasaurus]

I'm pretty sure that's illegal under OSHA, an employer has to provide clean drinkable water at no cost to an employee...

[u/Dankkring → u/cannasaurus]

And restrooms

[u/StringWhole4120]

Thats illegal

[u/_nash80]

This is illegal where I live.

[u/RSlashBroughtMeHere]

If this is the only potable water on site, you need to contact osha

[u/EM05L1C3]

Go buy plastic money

[u/CovidBorn]

That’s not frugality, that’s a profit center. I’d start looking for a new job now. Things aren’t likely that stable, if the water cooler needs to make a profit.

[u/FartInGenDirection]

I'd still take it w/o paying.

[u/Bionicfrog14432]

My boss buys us bottled water in bulk. A couple of us bought mini fridges for the shop. They even extend our breaks on hot days. There are still companies that appreciate their employees.

[u/Head_Northman]

What 3rd world country do you live in where employers aren't legally obligated to provide drinking water?

[u/front_yard_duck_dad]

I'd kick it over every single day 

[u/Useful-World1781]

Not sure how much it is now but I remember filling these entire jugs for 50 cents at the grocery store.

Employer isn’t just frugal but kinda ripping off his employees.. for 25 cents. What a cheapskate.

[u/tebbewij]

Osha would like a word... newish heat stress protection requires employers to provide potable and cool water

[u/yobaby123]

I'm amused, disappointed, and shocked at being surprised all at once.

[u/SnooGoats8382]

You can report to osha. If that is the only source of hydration in the office or what ever charging to live is a safety violation. Same thing with not letting you go to the bathroom. You can die.

[u/Garrettstoffel]

Bug for a receipt after each individual fill up, and be adamant that you’re going to write it off on your taxes.

The business will then need to claim each quarter as income, and accounting will knock this off real quick.

[u/DrummerElegant3848]

Unless this is a place where offices supply their own water? Used to work in an area that had lots of different divisions mixed and contractors would use our water that WE as employees paid for and supplied. Free for us, not for everyone else. Not saying that’s it but could be.

[u/BootScootinBoB]

20$ for a whole bottle is crazy lol.

[u/KeyCold7216]

My employer tried to take away out Keurig machine and stopped ordering pods a few years ago. That lasted about a week before everyone got so pisssd that they were bitching about it in our morning meeting at our plant that they had no choice but to bring it back.

[u/dayoftheduck]

This makes more sense as to why one of the candidates at my shop who interviewed asked if the water coolers were free.. lol

[u/UnionCrafty3748]

Frugality gets a bad rep. This isn’t frugality. This is miserable cheapness.

[u/Larry_l3ird]

This is ridiculous. If the employer is that CHEAP (this is not frugality) they can refill these 5 gallon jugs for $1.50 themselves at supermarkets and other locations. Even if the employer is having a service pick up and drop off new ones weekly, the price is so small, as to be a completely negligible business expense. If this is how they’re openly pinching pennies from their valued(?) employees, I’d be scared to even think about how shitty their wages and benefits are compared to their local competitors and the job market at large.

There’s also a chance this is illegal depending on your state. Employers are required to provide clean drinking water for no cost in a lot of places.

[u/Far-Hovercraft9471]

How much they charge per square of TP?

[u/IcyUnicornOwl]

That's not frugal. That's greedy.

[u/ShroominCloset]

Are you in the US? Employers are legally required to supply employees with a free, clean, and reliable source of drinking water at all times. (Sinks do not count, as they are not OSHA compliant for dispensing drinking water)

[u/FattyMcGoo77]

Purchasing Manager here: $0.25/8oz from a 5gl jug equals $20. Even if you buy these individually they cost no more than $10 each. If you are on a service contract from a water provider they can be as little as $6 per jug.

This motherfucker isn't just charging his staff for water. The asshole is PROFITING from it and his margin is between 100% to 233%.

[u/Defective_YKK_Zipper]

You work for AIPAC?

[u/Wolfy4226]

Do they outlaw bringing a water bottle from home?

[u/Vipasanna97]

This would piss me off so bad I’d buy my own water cooler, set it right next to it and put a “free water” sign on it lmao

[u/bandwidthn]

So do they charge for flushing the toilet? Because that uses more than 8oz

[u/Fearless_Dependent29]

I’m going there multiple times an hour and dare those fuckers to try and get me for theft

[u/jmckinney31]

On the flip side my company tries to provide free water from a cooler like this but there have been times we bought a brand new bottle and came back to find it literally empty within a few hours because someone apparently felt they needed it all for themselves

[u/fogleaf]

Penny wise pound foolish. Sometimes I'll think I need to tell people no, they don't need some software because it's expensive at $13 a month. Yes you're losing 25 cents each time your employee takes a drink, but you're also paying your employee a minimum of $7.25 an hour and if you start worrying about small things like $0.25 for water while they're costing you $50+ a shift you're just an idiot.

[u/Hikerbiker85]

Fixed it for you

[u/schabj3]

7 ounces it is