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News » ‘Coffee badging’ emerges in hybrid work era, challenges office norms

‘Coffee badging’ emerges in hybrid work era, challenges office norms

Photo from Prathanchorruangsak | Istock | Getty Images

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — In the post-pandemic work culture, a new phenomenon called “coffee badging” is gaining traction among employees required to return to the office

This practice involves workers briefly showing up at the workplace, often just long enough for a coffee or meeting, to fulfill in-office mandates before returning home to continue their work remotely.

The rise of the ‘coffee badging’ trend

This practice has been termed by videoconferencing company Owl Labs, which highlighted in a 2023 survey that 58% of hybrid workers admit to coffee badging, with an additional 8% expressing interest in trying it. A recent LinkedIn poll found that 19% of users were still engaging in this practice.

Amanda, a project manager in Chicago, illustrates the typical coffee badger who complies with her company’s hybrid policy while preferring full remote work. 

Her workplace monitors badge swipes to track office attendance, subtly influencing employees like Amanda to maintain visible office presence to avoid potential performance-related discussions. 

“I don’t want to be here. I can do this from home,” Amanda told Huffpost. She stays at the office for at least four hours to avoid potential performance issues but leaves as soon as possible, finding in-office days “draining” and “a waste of time.”

Challenges for employers: Productivity metrics and surveillance

While coffee badging allows employees to maintain some control over their work environment, it presents challenges for employers. 

Hilke Schellmann, author of “The Algorithm,” warns that some companies are using badge swipe data to make promotion and layoff decisions, a practice she criticizes as flawed and potentially harmful.

“Using badge swipes to determine productivity could harm people who are on medical leave, or people who have caregiving obligations who we know have literally fewer chances to be at their desk than others,” Schellmann explained.

Moreover, Gleb Tsipursky, CEO of hybrid work consultancy Disaster Avoidance Experts, warned that excessive surveillance undermines remote work benefits.

“Employers must learn from and trust the data showing that respect for employees’ autonomy and privacy will get them a lot farther than constant cyber-surveillance,” he said.

Strategies for adapting to office mandates

Experts suggest a pragmatic approach to coffee badging, viewing it as an opportunity rather than a chore. 

Archana Bharathan, an executive coach at Columbia Business School, encourages leveraging office time for meaningful interactions and integrating personal errands into commute days. 

“Try to reframe the coffee badging so that you feel that you’re making the most of this situation. Schedule meetings on in-person days,” Bharathan added.

Bonnie Dilber, a recruiting manager at Zapier, recommends, “Consider whether the expectation is actually going to lead to impact. If the answer is yes, help your people recognize that so they’ll spend more time in the office, and if the answer is no, I’d revisit the requirement.”

Coffee badging reflects a broader challenge in modern workplace culture: balancing corporate expectations with employee autonomy and well-being. As workplaces evolve, the effectiveness and fairness of such practices will likely continue to be debated.

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