Experts reveal the dangers of workplace TikTok trends!

Coffee Badging: Experts reveal the dangers of workplace TikTok trends 

Coffee Badging and ‘Act Your Wage’ are common trends among employees  

·       HR expert reveals why following controversial trends can be detrimental to your career 

There’s a new TikTok workplace trend on the rise, known as ‘Coffee Badging’, which refers to employees who clock into the office just to meet the mandatory in-office hours, and leave as soon as possible to work from home. Google searches for the trend have increased by 376% in September. 

As social media generations continue to bolster the workforce, ‘workplace trends’ has over 82 Million videos on TikTok to this day.  

Whilst companies search for a way to combat these negative trends, leading office furniture suppliers Furniture at Work teamed up with esteemed HR expert, Oleg Segal, to investigate the most popular TikTok workplace trends and the potential repercussions on the workforce. 

Five workplace trends taking TikTok by storm are: 

1.     Coffee Badging  

Coffee badging is when people show up to the office just to grab a coffee, chat briefly, and then dip out to work remotely the rest of the day. It’s kind of like pretending to be present without really being there. 

The problem here is that it can create trust issues with managers and coworkers, making you look less committed. Plus, it might hurt team collaboration. Instead, it sounds like a good time to talk to your manager about the best way to spend time in the office eg. team collaboration so you don’t feel like you’re wasting time coming in. 

2.     QuitTok  

The QuitTok trend involves an employee filming themselves quitting their current jobs – usually on the phone or in a video call – and posting the videos on TikTok. The trend can often see people ‘quietly quitting’, a term that has over 10,000 Google searches a month on average. 

“This is the most alarming and detrimental trend for an employee to partake in,” Oleg says. “Publicly broadcasting your resignation not only burns bridges with current employers but can also tarnish your professional reputation long-term. Potential future employers may see this behaviour as a glaring red flag.” 

3.     Act Your Wage 

Those participating in the Act Your Wage trend will fulfil the bare minimum requirements of their job without working any extra hours or taking on any further responsibilities, simply because they’re not paid to do so. 

Oleg explains: “Ethically, this could encourage a demoralising work environment if it’s interpreted as an excuse for lacklustre performance, which can undermine both team morale and individual engagement.”  

To combat this behaviour, employers should focus on creating a positive workplace culture where workers feel recognised and appreciated for their efforts. This could include written praise, employee awards, monetary rewards, and progression based on productivity. 

4.     Bare Minimum Mondays 

This trend encourages employees to do as little as possible on a Monday while still meeting their minimum responsibilities or requirements of their role.  

Oleg explains: “If leaders can address sources of employee dissatisfaction early on, trends like ‘Bare Minimum Mondays’ can be mitigated. By creating an open forum for feedback, providing opportunities for growth, and ensuring employees feel valued for their contributions, employers can foster a more motivated workforce and environment.” 

5.     Rage Applying  

Rage Applying refers to when disgruntled employees send a high number of applications to different jobs after a negative experience at their current job. Rage Applying as a search term has increased by 136% in the last month alone.  

Oleg said: “While it’s often a knee-jerk reaction to a negative experience, it highlights a desire for change and can be a positive milestone. If approached thoughtfully, moments of frustration could lead to constructive career evaluations and strategic job searches.” 

As the more social media-savvy generations continue to enter the workforce, it can be expected that there will be more transparency around the trends that crop up. However, workers should be mindful of the potential impact of participation. 

“These trends can signal underlying morale issues, leading to decreased satisfaction and productivity. It’s important to address root causes by ensuring fair compensation, recognising and rewarding good work, and fostering a culture where everyone feels they can contribute meaningfully.  

“By investing in a supportive and empowering work environment, we can mitigate the allure of these trends and elevate the overall employee experience.” 

To learn more about the importance of employee wellbeing in the workplace, head to the Furniture At Work blog.