Results: The Online Water Cooler

In 1911, an American named Luther Haws patented the first drinking water faucet after seeing children in a schoolyard sharing water out of one tin cup. Haws' father died from typhoid fever after drinking contaminated water, so after patenting that first water faucet, Haws set out to find a solution to this problem, and the answer was water coolers. As the dispenser chilled the water, it would eliminate micro-organisms that could cause disease such as typhoid fever. Soon, offices were equipped with these water coolers, which not only provided clean, safe water, but also a place for employees to gather during their breaks, and talk about everything from work to their personal lives. Of course, this led to the association of water coolers with gossip (think every retro TV show). Have you ever took part in the water cooler gossip session?

Lots of research documents the importance of the informal conversations that take place around the office photocopier, coffee machine or water cooler. These spaces play an important role in building community between colleagues, which fosters commitment to a company. These spaces also play an important role in the sharing of work-related information – sometimes referred to as "water-cooler learning". Spaces like the coffee area are knowingly created by companies, because people share knowledge, stories of their experiences and talk about the problems they are facing in these spaces. So, not all water cooler conversation is destructive, like gossip (because face it, gossip never seems to be constructive). Have you found water cooler conversations have been beneficial to you in your life or work?

With many companies working remotely, especially in the last three years, virtual water coolers, in the forms of Zoom sidebars, apps and websites have popped up, recreating the water cooler atmospheres of years gone by. And with that, of course, is the likelihood that the gossip mill will also spread online. Have you ever took part in virtual online gossip (that is gossip that involves people you may not have met in person since you work remotely) or virtual meetups (again meeting people socially you have not met in person to discuss books, movies, etc online)?