Coffee badging: Understanding this workplace trend
The most recent in a long line of new terms to appear in the workplace lately is coffee badging. Although it may seem new, coffee badging is just a contemporary take on the traditional "clock in and clock out" process of the past, with a modern twist that alludes to the growth of flexibility and autonomy in the modern workplace.
Here's how it works
As employees arrive at work, they greet each other, perhaps over a cup of coffee, engaging in conversations before eventually leaving after an hour or two. That's when they're theoretically awarded a badge for their attendance. Afterward, they head back home to complete their work. This concept gained traction as companies began summoning employees back to the office in the post-COVID era.
Some statistics to put the concept into perspective
Owl Labs, a company that develops 360-degree video conferencing technologies, noted in its 2023 State of Hybrid Work report that about 58% of almost 2,000 employees on a hybrid work paradigm acknowledged coffee badging. The concept is employed by the people as a protest to the rising return-to-office (RTO) requirements from companies rather than cultivating a flexible workplace.
Why do people coffee badge?
Employees feel that if they would only be sitting on the same video conversations they would be conducting in the comfort of their own homes, they need not make frequent visits to the office. For some, doing certain tasks or activities seems less productive when they do it from the office. They would rather do it in their comfort.
Impact on work culture
This practice may potentially have negative consequences. Workers would believe that going to work is a chore. Colleague resentment could arise if they see one another abusing the rules governing hybrid work. This could be problematic for people who work in the office all day. Coffee badging can also shorten team meetings and undermine efforts to foster a positive work environment.
