Maybe you’ve already walked into an office at 10 a.m. and seen employees briefly grabbing coffee before they mysteriously vanish for the rest of the day. Or maybe you’ve noticed that some remote workers keep their messaging app’s green, active status no matter what, even after finishing their workday. These behaviors are not isolated and are two ongoing work trends, referred to as “coffee badging” and the “green status effect,” respectively. They reveal how in-office, hybrid, and remote employees resort to performative displays when the work environment values appearances over actual productivity.
According to a recent report from HR software company BambooHR, the vast majority of in-office (79%) and remote (88%) workers feel the need to prove they’re being productive. The issue is that over time, the habit of choosing performative work over meaningful tasks jeopardizes a company’s overall efficiency. So, how can organizations create cultures that prioritize meaningful contributions instead?
Coffee badging has been seen as a “resistance tactic” to return-to-office (RTO) policies following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. First coined by Owl Labs in a 2023 report, it describes the act of employees physically entering the office just to be seen, briefly fulfilling office attendance requirements, and then leaving to continue work remotely from home or elsewhere. In many cases, the time spent in the office is minimal, perhaps just long enough to grab a cup of coffee and check in — hence the term “coffee badging.”
Among remote employees, the “green status effect” has emerged as a relevant trend. This term refers to keeping work messaging apps always open, displaying a green, “active” status to imply one is online and actively engaged in work.
Performative displays: the numbers
According to a survey by people analytics provider Visier, 83% of employees admit they’ve engaged in at least one type of “productivity theater,” and 43% said that they spend more than 10 hours a week trying to look busy.
The on-site workers are more likely to prioritize gaining visibility (37%), followed by hybrid (28%) and remote (25%). Among those who spend over 10 hours a week playing productive are almost half (49%) of the hybrid workers, 45% of the on-site workers, and 35% of the remote workers.
The 2023 survey by Owl Labs revealed that men “coffee badged” more than women: 62% against 38%. Among hybrid workers, 63% of Millennials were coffee badging, compared to 54% of Gen X, 43% of Gen Z, and 38% of Boomers. Earlier this year, a new report by Owl Labs indicated that coffee badging was still popular among workers, with 44% of them coffee badging and 11% who hadn’t coffee badged yet but would love to try it. Moreover, 47% of managers were coffee badging, compared to 34% of individual contributors.
As for the green status effect, 64% of remote workers surveyed by BambooHR admit to maintaining this constant online presence, even when they are not actively working.
The same survey reveals that 37% of in-office workers admit they walk around the office just to be seen by colleagues and superiors.
What’s behind performative displays
Performative displays, such as coffee badging and the green status effect, are often symptoms of broader challenges associated with a work environment that values visibility over results.
These behaviors are not always inherently negative, and reflect employees’ desire to create a visible presence and maintain a positive image within the organization. For some, coffee badging, walking around the office, or the green status effect are forms of impression management. These actions are particularly significant in environments where appearances hold considerable weight.
The fear of layoffs also places pressure on employees to show they’re busy and, therefore, are valuable to the organization. Another important reason for performative displays is exhaustion.
Additionally, performed productivity often indicates a lack of trust between employees and employers and stems from increased employee monitoring and surveillance. According to the Visier report, the recent rise of employee productivity-monitoring tools may have backfired: “Employees with employers who use surveillance tools were also more than twice (and in some cases three times) as likely to commit the most egregious performative behaviors, like keeping a laptop screen awake while not working, asking someone to do a task for them, and exaggerating when giving a status update.”
The performative attendance of coffee badgers raises questions about whether time in the office truly equates to value added. According to BambooHR, 42% of employees who returned to the office say they feel like they are showing up just for visibility. The report states that vague expectations or goals around returning to the office may be actively eroding employee trust.
The practice of coffee badging also underscores a possible gap in office design and culture. Many employees engage in coffee badging because they don’t find the office environment conducive to their productivity or well-being. Factors such as lengthy commutes, outdated facilities, a lack of quiet workspaces, and limited options for healthy or affordable meals in the office surroundings can all make the physical office less appealing than remote work.
How to stop the show
Open, transparent communication about expectations can help bridge the trust gap between employees and employers. When employees know they’re evaluated based on their actual contributions, they may feel less pressure to engage in performative displays.
Even companies implementing RTO mandates should still balance attendance and results when assessing their employees so as not to inadvertently encourage surface-level participation over actual productivity.
For companies with hybrid settings, one feasible way to address coffee badging is to encourage meaningful in-office engagement, shifting the focus from mere attendance to purposeful office days with specific objectives — such as collaborative meetings, workshops, or team-building activities. This can make in-office time feel intentional and valuable rather than merely obligatory.
If employees are dissatisfied with the physical workspace, companies might consider redesigning the office to better accommodate different work styles. Offering flexible workspaces, quiet zones, clean bathrooms, and comfortable communal areas can make the office a more appealing place to work.
Key takeaways
Performative displays like coffee badging and the green status effect may indicate issues related to a workplace that values appearances over actual performance.
Coffee badging is the practice of employees physically attending the office for a few hours to fulfill office attendance requirements and then returning home to continue work. The green status effect refers to keeping work messaging apps always open, displaying a green, “active” status to imply one is online and actively engaged in work.
As a rule of thumb, employees may feel less pressure to engage in performative displays when they know they’re evaluated based on their actual contributions.
As organizations navigate RTO and hybrid or remote work policies, one feasible way to address specifically coffee badging is to encourage meaningful in-office engagement. Also, companies might consider revamping their office space if employees don’t find it conducive to productivity.
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