This was a big bank. I worked in a partner role, with different management. I worked with branches for sales training, but I wasn’t a branch employee.
The regional manager “Carol” made the call that water was the employees responsibility. Carol was a micromanging pain in the ass.
One of my branches had a Costco 12 pack of bottled water in the fridge marked “Customer Water. Not for staff”.
Some branches had a water cooler, but the employees pitched in for it. In one of these, the manager asked for a donation on the one day a week I was there. A few had Britta filters on the break room taps.
I had a corporate card, and a budget to buy lunches, awards, and anything to motivate the branch for sales. (I see now roles like that are part of a bigger problem.)
I was in 5-10 branches a week, and I brought a pallet of Fiji with me every time I came to visit each one. It was a joke with some branches. If they had a Britta, I brought them filters.
My boss Joe asked me “What’s up with all the water?” He was more amused than anything. My branches performed well, so my budget was generous and at my discretion. I could do whatever I wanted with it. Joe was very hands off. I explained the issue.
He was livid. Big managers talk with other big managers at big manager meetings. Joe cornered Carol in front of their peers
“I heard you don’t provide water for your staff, but you do for your customers… That’s crazy Carol. How much are you really saving? That’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.”
Carol was embarrassed. Carol got an earful from her manager.
My branches all got water coolers installed the next month. This was a win, and okay with me.
Next time I talked to Joe, I mentioned “You know Carol won’t let them buy Post-It Notes…”
Joe’s advice? “Go to Staples, and go nuts.”
I totally did. There were plenty of things I didn’t like about that job. I didn’t have much control or influence, but I had a generous budget. I left that job a long time ago, but I won that battle.