When it comes to employee wellbeing, filtered water in the workplace is more than a nice-to-have, it’s a strategic investment. Many offices still rely on diet drinks or sugar-free squash as alternatives to water, assuming they're a healthier option compared to sugary sodas. But while these drinks cut out sugar, they don't eliminate the risk of declining dental health for those consuming them.
Increased dental issues lead to more staff sick days and higher healthcare costs for your business.
In fact, the high acidity of many sugar-free drinks makes them a leading cause of dental erosion, which over time can lead to costly health issues, absenteeism, and decreased productivity.
By contrast, access to filtered water in the workplace supports hydration, oral health, and long-term wellbeing, all while aligning with your sustainability goals.
This erosion isn’t visible right away, but over time it leads to sensitivity, decay, and increased dental issues. And when these issues happen regularly across your workforce, they don’t just affect smiles, they lead to more staff sick days, lower productivity, and higher healthcare costs for your business.
Almost 30% of UK adults have missed work due to tooth pain
The power of filtered water in the workplace.
Borg & Overström filtered water dispensers make it easy for teams to stay hydrated and avoid the long-term health risks associated with sugary or acidic drinks.
Whether you’re installing a floor-standing or countertop dispenser, or an all-in-one integrated tap in your office breakout areas, our products provide hot, chilled, ambient, and sparkling filtered water in an instant.
With no waiting for the office sink tap to reach the right temperature or for the kettle to boil, employees are more likely to choose the great-tasting filtered water option, supporting their health, productivity, and hydration habits throughout the day.
1 in 10 employees need a full week off to recover from dental issues.
DeepSparkle® sparkling water: a smart swap for fizzy drink fans.
For employees who enjoy the fizz of diet sodas, filtered sparkling water in the workplace offers a healthier, tooth-friendly alternative.
With no sugar, no additives, and far less acidity than traditional soft drinks, sparkling filtered water from a Borg & Overström dispenser or tap system delivers the same satisfying effervescence without the hidden health risks.
Not all water is equal: why filtration matters.
Employees won’t choose water if it doesn’t taste good. Our advanced filtration systems remove impurities, improve taste, and ensure every glass is clean, safe, and refreshing
The hidden costs of poor hydration at work.
Offering acidic or sugary drinks instead of filtered water can lead to several hidden but significant business costs:
1. Dental-related sick leave.
Tooth pain, sensitivity and dental appointments are a common cause of absence. Over time, encouraging poor drink choices at work can lead to more time off and more disruption. According to a 2023 Denplan survey, nearly 30% of UK workers took at least one day off due to dental pain. *
2. Reduced productivity.
Even mild dehydration reduces concentration, energy, and mental focus. Diet drinks don’t hydrate effectively, and caffeine can worsen the problem.
3. Higher healthcare costs.
If your workplace offers dental or private healthcare plans, increased oral health issues can lead to a rise in claims, and higher premiums. In fact, UK dental insurance claims rose by 35% in 2024, with some providers reporting premium increases of up to 40% as a result.
4. Poor perception of workplace wellbeing.
Employees are becoming increasingly aware of the link between hydration and health. A workplace that relies on sugary drinks and diet sodas over clean, filtered water can send the wrong message and encourage unhealthy habits.
5. Increased waste and operational hassle
Single-use plastic bottles and cans create more waste, take up storage space, and require regular restocking. All of which increase costs and admin time. By installing a single Borg & Overström water dispenser or tap system, your workplace can eliminate up to 35,000 single-use plastic bottles over the dispenser’s lifetime.
A smarter, more sustainable alternative.
Installing a Borg & Overström filtered water dispenser or integrated tap system into your breakout areas is a one-time investment that pays for itself, in reduced absenteeism, improved productivity, lower environmental impact, and better employee satisfaction.
Our design-led water dispensers offer instantly filtered chilled, ambient, hot and sparkling water in a single tap or countertop unit, with options for completely touchless dispense, all designed and built in the UK.
