As many companies reinforce stricter in-office mandates, many workers are torn about whether they are willing to sacrifice the work-life balance a remote setup brings or sneak in to do the bare minimum while still getting paid the same.

What Is Coffee Badging?

As TheStreet defines it, Coffee badging involves physically going to the workplace briefly to make an appearance, often engaging in a few short conversations or tasks before leaving to finish the majority of work at home or elsewhere.

While "coffee" refers to employees grabbing a cup of coffee in the office while briefly interacting with managers or coworkers, "badging" refers to swiping badges when entering the office to monitor attendance.

Who Is Often Coffee Badging?

Owl Labs' State of Hybrid Work 2023 revealed that a quarter of workers would be willing to give up 15% of their salary for more flexible working hours. The findings indicate that 62% of the respondents are men and 38% are women.

The report does not explore the reasons why men may be more inclined to coffee-badge than women. Still, it suggests that gendered expectations about acceptable office behavior could be a factor, where men generally feel more comfortable negotiating higher salaries compared to their female counterparts.

TechCo also reported that Millennials are more inclined to coffee badges than other generations, possibly because older generations work from home less frequently or have different workplace expectations, while younger Gen Z workers are still establishing themselves in the workforce.

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As hybrid arrangements have become a permanent part of office life, coffee badging continues to persist. A recent LinkedIn poll conducted in June with 1,568 respondents found that 19% of users admitted to still engaging in coffee badging when going to work.

IT manager Amanda from Chicago is one of those who has acknowledged participating in this trend. She tells BuzzFeed she comes into the office but limits her time to four hours, as she finds being in the office to be draining.

Implications of Coffee Badging

While the movement has gained momentum and seems to empower many young workers to adhere strictly to their contracted hours, several employment experts are advising caution.

Jill Cotton, a Career Trends Expert at Glassdoor, told MailOnline that workers should not view coffee badging as a long-term solution to workplace issues. While individuals may believe they are "quiet quitting" by doing the bare minimum, others may perceive them as merely showing up, disliking their job, and trying to blend in with their colleagues.

Cotton also warns about not seeking extra opportunities, engaging in training, or making one's work known. Relying on quiet quitting may lead to stagnation in experience while peers get ahead. In interviews, individuals who do the bare minimum may also find it challenging to provide examples of their achievements. 

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