'Coffee badging' is a recent workplace term for the practice of going into the office just long enough to be seen — typically to grab a coffee, chat briefly with colleagues, then leave — in order to satisfy a return-to-office mandate without actually working a full day on site. If your young adult child mentions coffee badging, they are talking about a workplace negotiation tactic. It is not illegal but is increasingly tracked by employers. The phrase emerged around 2022-2023 as companies pushed back against remote work. A useful word to know if you follow modern work culture.