New trends like "coffee badging" and "task masking" are rapidly gaining popularity in corporate culture. If you're interested in learning more about these trends, read this article to the end.
Since the pandemic, many changes have been seen in office work. Work from home and hybrid models were particularly popular. After the situation returned to normal, companies began inviting employees back to the office. Now, every company wants people to come to the office, but employees are unwilling to give up their work-life balance. Amidst this situation, two new trends have rapidly gained traction in most offices. We're talking about 'coffee badging' and 'task masking.' Let's explore these two trends in detail.
1. What is 'Coffee Badging'?
The coffee-badging trend is gaining traction these days, especially in corporate settings. It simply means that people are now going to the office solely to show their presence and mark their attendance. This happens when a manager orders them to attend the office two or three days a week. In such cases, employees go to the office, but instead swipe their card, have tea or coffee with colleagues, exchange pleasantries, and then leave for home within two or three hours. They complete the remaining work at home. This phenomenon is now being called "coffee-badging." Employees believe that commuting wastes time and that the hustle and bustle of the office hinders work, so they only go to the office to mark their attendance on paper.
2. What is 'task masking'?
Talking about 'task masking,' it simply means that whether an employee is working or not, they always appear busy, whether at the office or at home. You could also call this 'fake productivity.' In this, people keep their fingers moving rapidly on the laptop screen, writing useless emails, or keeping themselves always 'online' on the office chat app , even when they have no real work. People do this when companies focus more on how long a person is sitting in front of the system rather than on the results of the work.
Why are these trends increasing so much?
The biggest reason for the rise of both these trends is the lack of trust between employees and management . Many employees feel that when working from home was going well, the insistence on calling them to the office feels like a restriction. Furthermore, constant work pressure and a deteriorating work-life balance may also be a major reason for this. Nowadays, people are prioritizing their mental peace and self-worth instead of sitting in an office chair for hours.
