Hybrid workers are 'coffee badging' to spend less time in the office and dodge RTO mandates
- Hybrid workers are dodging return-to-office mandates by "coffee badging."
- The workplace trend involves showing up at the office for a few hours before leaving.
Hybrid workers have a new way to dodge return-to-office mandates: "coffee badging."
The workplace trend involves showing up at the office, grabbing a coffee, and then leaving to complete the workday somewhere else. Employees collect a metaphorical "badge" for visiting the office, even if it's only for a few hours.
Stylist reported on the trend this week and interviewed Liz Villani, the founder of #BeYourselfAtWork and the #iAM global movement, who referred to "coffee badging" as "presenteeism in the most fleeting of methods."
People used the process as a way to swiftly get back to their default option of working from home, she said.
Forbes previously reported on the trend's use as a coping mechanism among workers.
"Coffee badging" has become more popular as more companies started to enforce return-to-office mandates. In a June Owl Labs survey of 2,000 people, 58% of hybrid employees said they were joining the trend. Owl Labs makes videoconferencing devices.
Another 8% of respondents said they hadn't tried "coffee badging" but would like to. The practice allows employees to catch up with colleagues, while saving time by skipping the rush-hour commute and money by avoiding pricey lunches.
The trend comes amid a wider rift between employees and bosses over remote work. The availability of remote jobs has been declining over the past year as businesses adjust to the post-COVID-crisis world.
While remote work is popular with employees, new studies have suggested that productivity may be taking a hit when a workforce is fully remote.
Big Tech companies, including Google and Meta, have been pushing return-to-office policies and mandating office days. Monitoring attendance using badge swipes has become more common among tech companies, too.
Have you tried "coffee badging" at work? Contact this reporter at bnolan@insider.com