What Is Coffee Badging? The New Workplace Trend Changing Hybrid Work Culture

Show up. Swipe. Sip. Leave.  The latest return-to-office hack. 

The state of hybrid work was promised to provide employees the best of both worlds—flexibility when they need it, in-office collaboration when it matters. 

But as companies push return-to-office (RTO) policies, a new trend is emerging: coffee badging.

Employees who show up to the office just long enough to swipe their badge, grab a coffee, and leave.  These modern heroes are known as coffee badgers. 

Some do it to comply with attendance policies. Others do it as a quiet protest against rigid in-office employer mandates that don’t make sense anymore.

So, is coffee badging a sign of workplace disengagement, or is it a symptom of outdated office policies?

We’ll break down what coffee badging is, why it’s happening, and what HR leaders can do about it.

What Is Coffee Badging?

Coffee badging refers to the practice of employees who go into the office for a short period—often an hour or less—just to meet attendance requirements before leaving to work remotely.

It’s called coffee badging because, in many cases, employees barely have time to do more than grab a coffee before heading back home.

Key Facts About the Term Coffee Badging:

• A report by Owl Labs on the hybrid-workforce shows that 44% of hybrid workers have coffee badged.

• The term was coined in response to strict in-office mandates for hybrid workers.

• Employees aren’t skipping work—they’re just choosing to do it somewhere more productive.

• Many workers view it as a loophole rather than outright defiance.

• It highlights a growing disconnect between traditional workplace policies and modern work culture.

For companies, the real question isn’t “How do we stop coffee badging?” but rather “Why aren’t employees staying?”

If workers don’t see value in being at the office, it’s worth rethinking how hybrid work policies, and return-to-office mandates are being implemented.

Why Is the Coffee Badging Trend Happening?

If employees are coffee badging, it’s not because they’re lazy or trying to avoid work. It’s because they’re questioning the purpose of in-office attendance.

And honestly they have a point.

Here’s why this trend is picking up momentum:

1. The Office Doesn’t Offer Any Real Value

If employees are commuting just to sit in a cubicle and take Zoom calls, they’re going to wonder: Why am I here?

A lot of companies haven’t adapted their office spaces to fit how people actually work today. If collaboration, culture, or mentorship aren’t happening in person, employees won’t see a reason to stay.

2. Hybrid Work Fatigue Is Real

Many workers spent the past few years proving they can be just as productive (if not more) when they work from home. 

Now, being forced back into the office without a clear purpose feels unnecessary—especially when the cost of commuting is factored in.

3. Digital Tools Are Replacing In-Person Interaction

Collaboration tools like Slack, Zoom, and Notion have made it possible for teams to work efficiently from anywhere.

Unless there’s a specific need for in-person interaction, employees see no real difference between working from their desk at home versus their desk at the office.

4. Employees Value Flexibility Over Presence

For Gen Z and Millennials, flexibility is priority one and work-life balance is non-negotiable. 

They’re not rejecting in-office work entirely—they’re rejecting the idea that being physically present is the only way to be productive. When companies focus on attendance instead of outcomes, employees feel micromanaged rather than trusted.

5. Company Culture Is Shifting

Workplace culture used to revolve around in-office interactions, but that’s not the case anymore.

Many employees feel more connected through digital spaces than they do sitting in the same physical office with coworkers they barely talk to. The definition of "being part of the team" has changed, and coffee badging is a direct reflection of that shift.

At the end of the day, coffee badging isn’t the problem—it’s a symptom of outdated back to the office work models that haven’t caught up with how people actually want to work.

The Pros and Cons of Coffee Badging

Like most workplace trends in 2025, coffee badging isn’t all bad—or all good. It’s a workaround for employees, a challenge for companies, and a sign that hybrid work policies might need a rethink. Let’s break down both sides.

The Pros: Why Employees Love Coffee Badging

• Flexibility Without Breaking the Rules
  For employees who want to maintain their remote work routine but also follow company attendance policies, coffee badging lets them check the in-office box without disrupting their productivity.

• Less Time Wasted on a Pointless Commute
  If the only reason to come into the office is to prove you showed up, it makes sense that employees would find the shortest possible way to meet that requirement. Coffee badging minimizes the time lost to unnecessary commuting.

• Keeps In-Person Interactions Short and Intentional
  Not all face-to-face time needs to be a full eight-hour day. Some employees want a quick moment in the office—whether it’s grabbing coffee with a coworker or checking in with their manager—before heading back to their home setup, where they feel more focused.

The Cons: Why Companies Are Concerned

• Signals Disengagement With Office Culture
  If employees are coming in just to swipe their badge and leave, it raises a bigger question: What’s missing from the office experience?

• When workers don’t feel connected to in-office culture, coffee badging becomes their way of opting out.

• Creates a Disconnect Between Leadership and Employees
  When company leadership is pushing for in-office attendance and employees are resisting it, there’s a clear misalignment on what work culture should look like. If the reason for returning to the office isn’t well-communicated—or doesn’t actually benefit employees—it leads to tension.

• Makes It Harder to Track Meaningful In-Office Collaboration
  Some companies are measuring the success of their return to office policies based on badge swipes—but if people are only staying for an hour, that metric doesn’t reflect real engagement. It also complicates office planning, from space utilization to scheduling in-person meetings.

Coffee badging isn’t just about avoiding the office, it’s about questioning how necessary office time really is and for companies, the challenge isn’t forcing people to stay a full day, it’s how do we make them want to.

How Companies Are Responding to Coffee Badgers

Companies are noticing coffee badging—and they’re reacting in very different ways. Some are cracking down with stricter attendance policies, while others are using it as a wake-up call to rethink their approach to hybrid work.

1. Redefining Return to the Office Policies

Some companies are realizing that forcing employees into the office just for the sake of it isn’t working. Instead of requiring a set number of days in the office, they’re shifting to:

• Team-based attendance policies (letting departments decide when in-person collaboration makes sense).

• Flexible scheduling (setting office days around projects, not arbitrary mandates).

• Outcome-based performance tracking (measuring results, not hours in a chair).

2. Making Employees Want to Come into the Office

If employees are coffee badging, it’s a sign they don’t see a real reason to stay. Smart companies are focusing on what actually makes in-office time valuable, like:

• Collaboration-first workspaces (less assigned seating, more team meeting areas).

• Exclusive in-office perks (think free meals, networking events, and wellness programs).

• Intentional face-to-face moments (mentorship sessions, brainstorming meetings, and team-building activities).

3. Building a Trust-Based Work Culture

Instead of fixating on where employees work, progressive companies are focusing on how they work best. They’re shifting from attendance-driven management to performance-based leadership, trusting employees to get their work done—wherever they are.

4. Doubling Down on Rigid Back to the Office Attendance Rules

Not every company is adjusting its approach. Some are responding to coffee badging by:

• Mandating full workdays in the office (even if employees don’t need to be there).

• Tracking badge swipes and time in-office (which can feel invasive and counterproductive).

• Tying attendance to performance reviews (which can backfire by decreasing morale).

Unsurprisingly, this isn’t going over well with employees who have already proven they can work effectively outside the office. Companies taking this route risk losing talent to more flexible employers.

For companies struggling with coffee badging, the real question isn’t: "How do we make employees stay longer?"

It’s: "What’s missing from our office experience that makes them want to leave?"

Is Coffee Badging Here to Stay?

Short answer? Yes.

Longer answer? Until companies stop treating office attendance as a goal instead of a tool.

Workplace flexibility isn’t just a trend—it’s the future. Employees have experienced firsthand that they can be productive, collaborative, and engaged without sitting in an office five days a week.

If companies keep pushing attendance over autonomy, coffee badging will continue as a quiet resistance.

What This Means for the Future of Work

The shift is redefining what the office is for. Employees aren’t against showing up, but they want it to be worth their time.

Here’s what forward-thinking companies are focusing on:

• Replacing outdated attendance rules with purpose-driven office time (structured around collaboration, not just being present).

• Investing in workspaces that feel like a resource, not an obligation (think flexible seating, breakout areas, and creative hubs).

• Measuring success based on productivity, not presence (because showing up doesn’t always mean getting work done).

Coffee badging is a symptom of a work culture that hasn’t fully adapted to hybrid expectations. The companies that figure this out first? They’ll be the ones attracting and retaining top talent in the years ahead.

Conclusion

The coffee badging trend is a reaction to outdated office policies that don’t align with how employees actually work today.

Workers aren’t rejecting in-office time entirely; they’re rejecting arbitrary attendance rules that don’t add value to their day.

For companies, the takeaway is clear: forcing people into the office won’t rebuild workplace culture—creating a meaningful in-office experience will.

The future of work isn’t about where employees sit; it’s about how they work best.

Companies that embrace flexibility, trust, and purpose-driven office time will be the ones that thrive in this new era of work.

The rest? They’ll keep watching their employees swipe in, grab a coffee, and head back home.