Coffee badging explained: Why businesses are cracking down

What is coffee badging?

Coffee badging, a term coined by Owl Labs in 2023, refers to employees making an appearance at the office just long enough to grab a coffee and show their face. Owl Labs' "State of Hybrid Work 2023" report revealed that 58% of hybrid workers admitted to engaging in coffee badging -- going into the office to get credit for an in-office day, but returning home to complete the majority of their work.

Reasons behind coffee badging

Much like quiet quitting, coffee badging is often a response to deficiencies in a company's work culture. Many employees engage in coffee badging because they can get their work done at home, and they do not benefit by going into the office.

There is a divide in opinion over remote work vs. return to office (RTO). While Owl Labs' report stated that 65% of workers think they are more productive when they work from home, many disagree. On Sept. 5, 2024, PwC announced that it will require U.K. employees to go into the office three days a week starting in January 2025, stating that face-to-face working is important to people businesses.

Even video conferencing company Zoom -- a major player in the remote work boom during the pandemic -- began to call its employees back into the office in 2023.

The shift to remote-only work in 2020 demonstrated that many job positions can be carried out from home. For many employees, remote work offers a positive boost to their work-life balance. Remote work saves employees the time and expense of commuting, giving them more time outside work hours to spend with hobbies, loved ones and other responsibilities.

The gradual shift demanding that employees return to the office -- with little to no incentive offered -- has resulted in low morale and coffee badging. Employees don't want to sit in traffic for hours, commuting to an office where they participate in virtual meetings -- something they could have easily done at home.

How are businesses cracking down on the practice?

PwC and Zoom are just two of the many companies that are cracking down on coffee badgers and enforcing RTO mandates. Many companies have begun tracking their employees' office attendance through key or badge swipes, or tracking locations during working hours.

On Sept. 16, 2024, Amazon employees were told in a message from CEO Andy Jassy that they would be returning to in-office work five days a week starting in January 2025. The reasoning given for this mandate was to strengthen company culture and improve collaboration. Dell also recently announced a five-days-a-week RTO policy.

Pitfalls of cracking down on coffee badging

While there are benefits to working in the office, cracking down on coffee badging could have detrimental effects for companies. Many hybrid employees have adapted to a schedule that allows for consistent work-from-home days. A sudden shift to five days in the office can be very disruptive to their lives. This can lead to reductions in morale, job satisfaction and productivity. Attendance monitoring also leads to employees feeling like they are being micromanaged and not trusted to do their jobs.

A poll conducted by Blind Workplace Insights revealed that 91% of the 2,585 verified Amazon employees it surveyed were dissatisfied with the new five-day RTO mandate. In addition, 73% shared that they were considering looking for another job due to the new policy.

A study by researchers at the University of Michigan and University of Chicago that looked at Microsoft, SpaceX and Apple -- three companies that were quick to implement RTO after the pandemic -- found that these mandates can lead to higher turnover in senior positions. This kind of turnover poses a significant threat to company workflow, innovation and productivity. Disruption in senior positions has a wider effect on productivity and moral companywide.

How to make employees more receptive to working in the office

Tracking locations and badge swipes might not be necessary for companies that are trying to implement RTO policies. Showing employees that both they and their time are valued is an essential step toward motivating them to get back to the office.

Some ways to make returning to the office look more lucrative include the following:

• Compensation. Depending on how employees get to work, commuting can cost upward of $5,000 per year. Companies that require employees to go into the office three or more days per week can offer to subsidize commuting or parking expenses.
• Flexible hours. Depending on how far employees live from the company office, commuting can take a substantial amount of time. Instead of enforcing strict 9-to-5 office hours, companies can give employees flexible working hours. This will let employees plan their commutes to attend to other responsibilities -- such as doctor appointments, time with family and child care.
• Productive workdays. Management should plan for in-office days to be productive so that employees don't feel as though their time is taken for granted. Teams that work together should be scheduled to be in the office on the same days so that collaboration can take place. Meetings should also be in person when possible, so employees aren't coming into the office only to interact with co-workers, managers and mentors via video calls.
• Morale-boosting activities. In-office team-building and networking activities are a great way to foster collaboration and increase morale among employees. These activities can include free seminars, workshops and employee recognition events. Scheduling happy hours toward the end of the workday also lets employees get to know each other on a personal level, creating a positive work environment.
• On-site perks. Businesses that offer on-site perks such as cafes, free lunches or free membership to an on-site or local gym are another way to motivate employees to go into the office. Employees who can grab a coffee from their favorite cafe or cross a to-do item off their list, like getting in a workout, will be more motivated to make the commute.

Ava DePasquale is a freelance content writer with a degree in professional writing from Fitchburg State University.