Coffee badging creates an opportunity for OCS operators

Once again, coffee service has emerged as the epicenter of the workplace experience. Coffee badging is on the rise again as a testy hybrid worker response to company initiatives that require employees to return to the office on a more frequent schedule.

Swipe, drink and go

According to a January article in Yahoo Finance, coffee badging occurs when employees visit the office just long enough to prove their presence. After saying hello to some coworkers, getting a coffee and swiping their badge, they return home to finish work. Coffee badging gives workers the freedom to work remotely while adhering to the rules — somewhat.

Yahoo Finance identified who the coffee badgers are. “A report from Owl Labs found that 58% of hybrid workers have coffee badged at least once. The report also showed that men are more likely to coffee badge than women, with 62% of coffee badgers being men. This could be because men might feel more comfortable bending workplace rules.”

Millennials lead the way

The article points to “Millennials as the biggest group of coffee badgers. They're used to hybrid work and want more flexible options. Gen Z workers, who are just starting their careers, might not feel as confident doing the same. Older generations are also less likely to coffee badge as they are more familiar with traditional office routines.”

For operators, coffee badging is good news. It should represent a nice increase in sales, especially if we can take steps to keep those reluctant employees around through lunch. It is important to understand what workplace surveys are telling us about how to motivate people to come into the office and stick around.

OCS operators, turn coffee badging into coffee, snack and lunch badging

Tracy Brower, Ph.D., is an expert on happiness in the workplace. In a recent Forbes article, she wrote that “when people are forced to do something, they experience plummeting motivation as well as the perception of significant obstacles to achieving it, compared with when they want to take action based on their own volition. This is based on a study published in the Journal of Research in Personality.”

This resistance-oriented attitude is certainly a contributor to the whole concept of coffee badging.

Free food works

“And this is why offering great food, afternoon snacks or even free meals is such a great idea,” noted Brower. “For example, offer free snacks at break time each day so that people can get away from their desks and enjoy a quick bite with colleagues each day. Or offer [discounted or free] meals on certain days of the week to facilitate the lunches mentors can set up with mentees or teammates can schedule with each other to stay in touch.”

Sell the benefits

In the current office environment, with hybrid happy employees seeking to find a way to circumvent the requirement of being in the office, there is an opportunity for operators to sell the concept of using free or subsidized breakfasts and lunches to keep the coffee-badging crowd in the office longer. This issue is a monumental challenge for office managers who are trying to balance return-to-work mandates with employees who just want to work at home. It is important for operators to promote our value as providers who can ease the pain by offering so many enticing offerings, especially if our clients are willing to help pay for it.

So, how can you leverage food to bring people back to the office and serve up engagement, well-being and a thriving office culture? Brower offers this strategy — all of which can be delivered by operators. It is something to talk about with your clients.

1. Create a cadence

“People appreciate predictability, so offer food regularly. Create a cadence that people can use to plan their days in the office, meetings, lunches and connections with colleagues. Make it about a predictable routine where people come together over food.”

2. Create a draw

“Also be creative about what you offer. People appreciate bonding over shared or surprising experiences. Offer amazingly delicious Caesar salad every Wednesday, and people will have a starting point for the discussions about the predictably long lines for the never-to-be-missed weekly highlight. Or offer make-your-own ice cream sundaes to surprise people and welcome spring. Make it about a shared experience that brings people together.”

3. Create events

“It is wise to use food as part of meaningful events. Sponsor iced tea and cheese gatherings for executives to mix with new employees. Or, a progressive late-afternoon tasting event for interns — so they can visit multiple departments and meet people in the field. We can make it about learning and networking with provisions.”

It takes effort and persuasion to get a client on board, but with the challenges they are facing dealing with return-to-work initiatives — now more common than ever — operators offer an easy solution to turn coffee badging into “coffee, snack and lunch badging.” It’s a big win for employers and for operators as well.