Office peacocking: What is it and why it's trending

Experts, however, said that employees too have been on the hunt for strategies to escape the artificial trappings of 'office peacocking'. (Representational image)

"Office peacocking" has been doing rounds for a while but it's only in 2024 that it started trending among workplaces, especially with companies attempting to lure employees back to offices.

The term "office peacocking" refers to the deliberate makeover of office spaces into inviting havens that will tempt employees to spend more time there. It may involve setting up plush sofas, cozy nooks, natural light, and a lot of plants transforming the once-typical cubicle-type grid into a vibrant lounge-style setting. Some companies are also investing in fancy decor and stocked kitchens.

According to Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs, major firms were pushed into taking these measures after they received pushback from employees following the return-to-office (RTO) mandate.

“We just passed the fourth year anniversary of the pandemic and many employers still haven’t yet given up on trying to return to pre-pandemic policies,” Weishaupt told Forbes. “Despite our data showing that many employees will make sacrifices to achieve flexibility in where they work, as 62 percent would take a pay cut of 10 percent or more to remain hybrid.”

He also cited employees being on the hunt for strategies to escape the artificial trappings of “office peacocking.”

Another term that has been trending in offices currently is "coffee badging" which involves brief, often symbolic visits to the office solely for coffee breaks, leaving the impression that they are actively working on-site. This is also viewed as a response to resistance against the recent return-to-office mandates.

The trend, however, has its negative implications.

Experts say junior employees and freshers, in particular, may feel a heightened pressure to adopt this return-to-office façade. They may believe that by being visible in the office, they can secure career opportunities and gain favour with their superiors in terms of fulfilling the mandate to “work from office”. But, this approach can be detrimental in the long run.