coffee badging

/ˈkɔfi ˈbædʒɪŋ/
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A brief office appearance made mainly to register attendance before working elsewhere.

Examples

  • Our policy counts hours, so a ten-minute coffee badging visit will not satisfy it.
  • They are not coffee badging today because they have two afternoon meetings on site.
  • Is coffee badging common in offices with hybrid schedules?
  • Some workers describe coffee badging as a practical response to a long commute and an empty office.
  • Maya did some coffee badging before heading home to finish the report.

Similar words

making an appearance
putting in an appearance
checking in briefly
showing face

Meanings

Brief appearance for attendance

workplace
informal
Going into the office briefly to be seen or record attendance, then leaving to do most of the day's work elsewhere, usually in response to a hybrid-work or return-to-office rule.

Examples

  • Maya did some coffee badging before heading home to finish the report.
  • Our policy counts hours, so a ten-minute coffee badging visit will not satisfy it.
  • Is coffee badging common in offices with hybrid schedules?
  • He was warned after his manager noticed repeated coffee badging on attendance days.
  • They are not coffee badging today because they have two afternoon meetings on site.
  • Some workers describe coffee badging as a practical response to a long commute and an empty office.

Similar words

Etymology

A compound of coffee, suggesting a visit short enough for one drink, and badging, from using an employee badge to enter or record attendance. Owl Labs introduced the term in its 2023 State of Hybrid Work report.

FAQ

What does coffee badging mean?

Coffee badging means entering the office briefly to be seen or record attendance, then leaving to work elsewhere.

Does coffee badging involve drinking coffee?

Not necessarily. Coffee suggests that the office visit may last only long enough to have a drink and greet people.

Is coffee badging the same as hybrid work?

No. Hybrid work is a schedule split between the office and another location. Coffee badging is a brief appearance that may only symbolically meet an office rule.

Is coffee badging always dishonest?

The phrase often suggests avoiding the spirit of an attendance rule, but some employers accept short visits when the employee completes the work elsewhere.

Can coffee badging lead to trouble at work?

Yes. It may lead to a warning or other action when a policy requires a set number of hours in the office.

Where did the phrase coffee badging come from?

Owl Labs introduced the phrase in its 2023 State of Hybrid Work report. It joins coffee with the act of using an employee badge to register a visit.

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