'Coffee badging' emerges as post-pandemic employee protest against office mandates
PTC News Desk: In a post-pandemic era where companies are advocating for a return to in-person work, a subtle resistance movement known as 'coffee badging' is gaining momentum, causing concern among business leaders. This unconventional tactic involves employees making a brief appearance at the office, clocking in, grabbing a coffee, and then swiftly retreating back home to continue working remotely. The global adoption of this trend is reshaping work culture dynamics, leading companies to grapple with the potential repercussions, including the possibility of employee terminations.
As organisations call their employees back to physical offices, a growing number are finding ways to express their reluctance through acts of defiance, such as participating in the 'coffee badging' phenomenon. Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs based in Boston, highlighted this trend and its impact on the evolving work landscape in an interview with FOX Business.
Weishaupt explained that 'coffee badging' involves employees making a brief appearance at the office, just enough to have a cup of coffee, show their face, and swipe their access card for the sake of official attendance. After this minimal interaction, these employees retreat to the comfort of their homes to complete the remainder of their work remotely.
Owl Labs, a company specialising in video conferencing devices, conducted an in-depth analysis of this trend's data. According to their 2023 State of Hybrid Work report, a mere 22 per cent of workers express a desire for full-time in-office work, while 37 per cent prefer hybrid work options, and 41 per cent opt for a fully remote work setup.
The study sheds light on a growing rebellion against mandatory office returns, with 58 per cent of hybrid workers admitting to engaging in 'coffee badging.' This involves clocking in for a morning coffee break at the office, thereby officially registering their presence, however briefly, before heading back home to carry out their tasks remotely.
The 'coffee badging' trend appears to be more than a passing fad, as an additional 8 per cent of workers express interest in the concept of the "imaginary badge," hinting at a potential surge in corporate coffee breaks and challenging employers who seek to enforce strict office attendance policies. As this unconventional form of protest gains traction, it poses a significant challenge for companies navigating the delicate balance between employee preferences and the traditional expectations of in-person work.
- With inputs from agencies
