Off-Ramp

Calling All Office Managers: A Water Cooler Discussion & Solution

By John Rabe | Sept. 3, 2010 | 3 comments

One of the most pressing problems for office managers today is the water cooler.

Go take a look at the one at your workplace. The little basin that's designed to catch overflow from cups, or the small drips from the tap, is full, isn't it? Full of disgusting water, and maybe even a little coffee. It looks like Lake Erie, c. 1965.

Either people are idiots or magical thinkers ("I believe there's a magic work cleanup genie"), or they're just slobs. 

But there's good news. They're only slobs to a certain extent. They'll let that little basin fill with water and stagnate, but they won't pour water on the floor.

Here's the solution:

Yes, simply remove that little basin.

If people don't see a place for the water to go, they'll be careful.

How do I know this? Because I've removed the basin at the Marketplace studios and here at the Mohn Broadcast Center, and the problem of overflow has disappeared.

Try it at your workplace and report back in the comments section, please.

Office managers of the world, please send flowers or $20 bills (unmarked) to: John Rabe, KPCC, 474 South Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105.