Human Capital Management
What Is Coffee Badging?
The coffee badging trend has been rising in recent years as a response to return-to-office policies. While some companies are intensifying their mandates with minimum-hour requirements, there are many other ways companies can reduce coffee badging and make hybrid workers happier to be in the office. This guide explores what coffee badging is, how it affects the company and how company leaders can reduce it.
Coffee Badging Meaning
The definition of coffee badging is the practice of showing up to work just to establish that you were at the office before leaving to complete your work tasks at home. The term mainly refers to workers who show up to meet attendance requirements by badging into the office, grabbing coffee and socializing with co-workers.
Once their attendance is recorded, they head back home. This trend is similar to presenteeism, which is when employees come to work while injured or sick but are not efficient even though they are present. Coffee badging is a convenient practice for hybrid workers who need to show up at the office but prefer working remotely and are more efficient while working from home.
Why Does Coffee Badging Happen?
One study shows that 44% of hybrid employees coffee badge. Employees often coffee badge for some of the following reasons:
- Saving time: Coffee badgers arrive late and leave early from work to save time from being stuck in traffic.
- Spending less money: Hybrid workers often spend money on commuting, parking, child or pet care, breakfast and lunch. They may prefer remote work to save money on these expenses.
- Lacking engagement: Sometimes, the work environment is not as engaging as a work-from-home setup because home work environments are more tailored to one’s individual needs, while company offices fit broad needs.
- Coping with burnout: If employees find the office stressful due to clashes with colleagues and extra projects, they may prefer to spend most of their work hours outside of the office to prevent burnout.
How Coffee Badging Affects Workplace Dynamics
Coffee badging allows employees the time to meet family and personal obligations while fulfilling return-to-office mandates. Still, some company leaders believe coffee badging reduces meaningful, in-person connections. Shared lunch breaks and quick meetings help teams build rapport and sync up. Some employers also view coffee badging as disengagement because workers do the minimum to fulfill attendance requirements. It also appears to be less efficient because employees spend time and money just to stay at the office for a few hours.
Even so, coffee badging is a clear sign that a one-size-fits-all approach may be less effective in the workplace. Employers will need to change aspects of the work environment to reduce coffee badging. Otherwise, companies may need to recognize that flexibility is now an expectation that they will need to accommodate their needs and preferences.
The Impact of Amazon Cracking Down on Coffee Badging
Let’s consider one real-life example of coffee badging. Amazon has been experiencing coffee badging among its employees despite requiring them to come to the office for a minimum of three days a week. Now, Amazon has updated its requirements for the return-to-office mandate to reduce coffee badging. They are now considering requiring employees to spend a minimum number of hours per day to meet the mandate.
Amazon believes that this policy change will lead to better long-term results for the business, its culture and its customers. Their spokesperson states that it is already beginning to make a difference. Their employees are in the office regularly, and employees and other businesses state that they’ve noticed better collaboration, energy and connection.
How to Reduce Coffee Badging in the Workplace
It’s important to think about why workers are coffee badging and how your company can create solutions that benefit employees and the business. Here are a few ways to reduce the coffee badging trend.
1. Offer Flexible Schedule Options
Some employees coffee badge to rebel against return-to-office policies that do not benefit them. Consider giving workers some choice by allowing flexible schedules. Flexibility can include letting some employees work remotely full-time or letting them choose which days to come into the office.
2. Compensate Workers for Extra Expenses
If your employees are coffee badging to save expenses, consider increasing their salary to account for extra expenses associated with coming to the office. Some costs you may account for include money spent on gas or dependent or pet care. Otherwise, you could subsidize care or create space on the company’s premises for people to care for children or older adults.
3. Track Their In-Office Times
You can track how often workers stay in the office with the following practices:
- Office drop-ins: Leaders and managers can reduce coffee badging by visiting employees’ offices at random to ensure they’re still present.
- Time logs: An easier way to check up on employees is by checking time clock spreadsheets that record when workers come and leave the office.
- Peer feedback: Set up an anonymous reporting channel for colleagues to report when a co-worker leaves early.
- Remote tool use: You can check remote tool use and compare whether time spent using these tools aligns with in-office hours.
4. Schedule Activities and Events
Try to host fun events and activities on the days that hybrid workers work in the office. These give employees extra incentive to stay and spend more time with their team. Some ideas include going on outings, team building experiences, hosting company parties and valuable workshops. These events create opportunities for team building exercises that improve team bonds and collaboration.
5. Make the Office More Appealing
To accommodate employees who coffee badge because they prefer their home setup, make the office a more welcoming and productive environment. Consider allowing personalized office setups with ergonomic furniture, greenery and more cozy elements. You can also stock the office with snacks, drinks and catered lunches, making workers feel more comfortable in the office.
6. Reward Workers Who Stay in the Office
Give workers an extra reason to stay with rewards and incentives they could earn by staying. For example, the company could run a monthly or quarterly attendance contest and give prizes to the employees with the best record. Rewards can encourage workers to stay in the office by choice.
Reduce Coffee Badging Trends With Exude Human Capital
Understanding your company’s employees and how their needs can align with company offerings is key to reducing coffee badging. Exude is a company that helps business leaders and HR teams build effective solutions that help both employees and the organization thrive.
Our Performance Management Strategy and Consulting Services uses best practices to help your company’s organizational structure align outcomes with expectations. This service includes integrating and improving the business’s change management strategy, pay-for-performance integration and communication strategy. For help reducing coffee badging, schedule a consultation with us today.
