I work as a host at a large sports bar. We used to stash our bags/jackets/etc in an empty cabinet behind the host stand, but they wanted us to stop using it to store personal items, sure, no problem. Never mind that there’s usually 70+ people working at any given time and maybe 25 lockers in the break room and there’s literally no use for that cabinet otherwise, but whatever. Bags go in the back, jackets and water bottles go under the host stand for easy access, cabinet sits empty.
Fast forward to today, when they told us we’re not allowed to have drinks of any kind, including water bottles, at the host stand. We’re on our feet 6+ hours a day, constantly yelling over loud music, getting over 10k+ steps per shift due to the sheer size of the place, standing directly in front of a wall of TV and stereo controls that are constantly radiating heat. I personally bring a 1500 mL water bottle to work every day and I usually end up refilling it once or twice. But apparently now we’re supposed to take the 5 minute round trip to the break room every time we need a sip of water.
I’m sure there’s no legal reason why they can’t enforce this but it just feels like such an asshole move. Not that it matters to me though. They way I see it, they can’t stop me from drinking water. If I need a sip every 20 minutes, I’m going to go to the break room and take a sip every 20 minutes. I almost hope a manager says something about it so I can throw it back in their face lol.