The watercooler has reportedly emerged as a key way for companies to track office occupancy levels amid the ongoing office-to-office push.
Water quantity data from Internet-linked models sold by Bevy has advanced in tandem with office attendance levels at businesses across the country. blowOmberg reported Last week, citing data from the Boston-based company.
Some hedge funds and investors have shown interest in examining watercooler data to gain some insight into office occupancy rates, Bevy CEO Sean Grundy told Bloomberg.
“The amount of water people drink turns out to be a good predictor of how much time they spend in the office,” Grundy said. “For us, it is positive that this trend is increasing.”
The average amount of water dispensed by bevy machines in 2021 was 28.1% of its pre-pandemic level in 2019, the outlet reported. That same year, office occupancy rates in 10 major US cities reached 30%, according to data compiled by Castell Systems.
Watercooler usage increases to 43.8% in 2022, close to the 41.6% occupancy rate reported by Castel. So far this year, the average monthly water allocation is above 50.5%, slightly higher than the 45.6% office withdrawal rate.
Bevy has provided watercoolers to more than 5,000 US businesses, according to the report.
The Post has contacted Bevy for further comment.
A growing number of CEOs are aiming to have more conversations around the office watercooler while pushing employees to spend more time on site.
Amazon and Disney are among the companies that have recently increased their office attendance requirements.
Disney CEO Bob Iger ordered corporate staff to return at least four days a week starting this month, citing “the importance of being together with the people you work with.”
Some workers have pushed back against efforts to track attendance through badge swipes or other enforcement methods.
At Amazon, staff recently asked CEO Andy Jesse to “immediately rescind” his return-to-the-office plan.
Across the U.S., office occupancy rates are hovering between 40% and 60% of their pre-pandemic levels, the Wall Street Journal reports — figures that are far below the numbers returning to the office in Europe and Asia. .
