In the post-Covid world of work, a new trend is emerging: “coffee badging”. This phenomenon, a product of the shift to hybrid work, reflects the delicate balance between the flexibility of remote work and the expectation of being in the office.
Some companies, such as Amazon, have recently implemented return-to-office policies of five days a week by 2025. This marks a significant shift in work culture, with a focus on productivity and strengthening social connections within teams.
In South Africa, despite employers’ efforts to bring employees back to the office, approximately 59% of office workers have adopted hybrid work models. This raises the question of balancing employees’ desire to continue working from home with the importance of building a strong company culture.
Recent studies show that hybrid work is popular with many employees due to the many benefits it offers. In addition to reducing transportation costs and daily expenses, it also allows for a better work-life balance.
However, it is essential to emphasize that flexibility should not compromise responsibility. Companies must establish clear expectations in terms of performance and schedules, whether employees work from home or in the office. This ensures a certain consistency in the productivity of the entire team.
Furthermore, trust and psychological safety at work are key elements in fostering a better balance between remote and in-person work. It is crucial that team members feel comfortable taking risks, expressing their ideas and concerns, in an environment where communication is open and constructive.
To maintain team cohesion despite the distance, companies can take advantage of technology by organizing virtual meetings, online coffee breaks and using remote collaboration tools. This helps prevent the feeling of isolation that can arise from hybrid work and strengthens the company culture.
Ultimately, coffee badging can be seen as an opportunity for employees to reconnect with their workplace, in their own way. Regardless of the strategy companies adopt – fully remote, 100% in-person or hybrid – it is essential to get employee buy-in to ensure that working conditions work for both companies and employees.