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Original poster

Expected to start teams meetings?

457 replies

surrpundedby · 29/10/2024 14:40

I’ve started a new job and my diary for now is very empty with few meetings and there’s quite a lot of training material that I have to go through.

My manager is always in back to back meetings and he’s put two 30 minute catchups in with me for the first month. From experience meetings tend to overrun so I’ve waited for him to be ready for our call and then I’ll hop on as I’m just reading - or he might need a loo break or get a drink.

Today it got to 5 past our meeting and he messaged me to say “are you joining”. So I started the call and he said that I am expected to always start the meetings.

Obviously once I’m more busy I won’t even give it a second thought as to who starts a meeting, but this seems such a weird rule to me.

OP posts:
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lizzyBennet08 · 27/01/2026 17:24

Honestly you're new and should be trying to impress. Rocking up late to teams meeting with your boss is frankly a bit odd. You're not the same and are sending a really funny message by doing the "why do o always have to be the one who starts ' thing.

Rubinia · 27/01/2026 13:49

deleted my post as realise this is a zombie thread

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 27/01/2026 11:03

Aaagh to Zombie!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 27/01/2026 11:00

I agree with everyone saying you should join at the stated time and then wait. Also, as others have said, your joining gives him a cue to leave the previous meeting.

He doesn’t want to leave the previous meeting and then wait for you.

Generally speaking the more junior person should do their best to be on time/ start the meeting. You shouldn’t habitually keep your manager waiting or expect him to call you in when it’s time.

The only the worse in terms of Teams etiquette is the people who always start the meeting early. Absolutely maddening as it gives everyone else an alert and pulls them out of concentration but it’s not time yet!

HarvestMouseandGoldenCups · 27/01/2026 10:51

Eurgh Zombie thread

Stompythedinosaur · 27/01/2026 09:58

Yeah, you're definitely making a mistake. You're new in the company, now is the time to be as helpful as possible and make a good impression!

Ultimately, the expectation of your job is to attend those meetings, it doesn't matter whether someone else is running late. You are only doing training, so there isn't much excuse not to be punctual.

You manager is clearly more busy and doesn't want to sit around waiting, so joins when you join. Just accept it as how things are, it isn't rude enough to make a fuss over.

Calliopespa · 27/01/2026 09:47

surrpundedby · 29/10/2024 14:52

He didn’t stick to that rule though?

He was equally sat there waiting for me to start it.

Show quote history

It is you who should join and sit and wait for him.

Honestly op, I'm not sure why you even asked us. We are mostly all telling you the same thing but you won't hear it.

GeorgeMichaelsCat · 27/01/2026 09:31

saveforthat · 27/01/2026 09:03

Yes, if op is still around though it would be interesting to know if she is still in the job.

Show quote history

Not really, she clearly is clueless

saveforthat · 27/01/2026 09:03

thirdfiddle · 27/01/2026 08:57

Zombie thread.

Yes, if op is still around though it would be interesting to know if she is still in the job.

thirdfiddle · 27/01/2026 08:57

Zombie thread.

bloodredfeaturewall · 27/01/2026 08:37

yes join at allocated time

will also give your boss the oppotunity to cut the other meeting short

LiteraryBambi · 27/01/2026 08:30

Just start at the allocated time and do what your managers asks without fussing FGS.

itslikecakesbutitsnotcakes · 27/01/2026 08:28

@LucyLoo1972great work resurrecting a zombie thread well over a year old to add that pointless comment.

LucyLoo1972 · 27/01/2026 04:22

Singleandproud · 29/10/2024 15:38

Ignore him asking to start all meetings for a minute.

Is there an actual physical reason why starting the meeting (cam off/muted) and having the training resources up to carry on reading is an issue. Do you have enough screens? I have my teams chat/calls on my laptop and the actual work I'm doing on my two monitors so perhaps there is something there you can work at rectifying. Will your workplace pay for additional equipment so you have enough monitors to easily work?

this is a helpful point

Flyhigher · 03/11/2024 22:49

surrpundedby · 29/10/2024 15:57

I can’t find the post now, but I agree there’s too many outdated opinions on this thread. Even using the word “boss” seems so beyond outdated to me. Seems the type of word someone in middle management would use to describe themselves and declare they “pay your wages” - as if it directly comes out of their HSBC current account.

I’ve been lucky that I’ve had good managers previously that don’t make up pointless rules to insert authority. Ive only ever had one manager who lorded his authority and he lost his position and was demoted within six months.

Times have drastically moved on since Covid.

Wow. Just Wow.
Ok. You get riled up with someone using the word boss thinking it's outdated. You have an authority problem. And you will either
Ok whatever you want to call it - there are people who will be your boss. Your line manager.

You need to get your head around it. Or think about a solitary job, or working for yourself.

I'm sure when you are the boss you be fine with the authority in your hands.

kittybiscuits · 03/11/2024 16:09

I can really tell if this is a wind up - if it is, well done OP, you did a fantastic job. If it isn't, I don't know how it's possible to have such a mangled and frankly stupid outlook.

thirdfiddle · 03/11/2024 12:57

I have said more than once that OP should do whatever her current firm do, I just object to ridiculing her for being surprised when it's different from the places she's previously worked. Or telling me my colleagues are doing things wrong and need to sort ourselves out when our system works perfectly fine for us.

And seniors who are ready deliberately not starting a meeting until the junior has is apparently alien to plenty of us to the extent various posters have told OP she must have misunderstood that bit. Or maybe she's reporting exactly what she was told and their culture is different again.

JFDIYOLO · 03/11/2024 11:37

Say 'got it.'

Always be there just before.

Start the meeting.

There are a lot worse things you could be posting about here. That's nothing.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 03/11/2024 11:26

thirdfiddle · 03/11/2024 11:12

I think this is where our culture differs, we don't see a 1:1 as the same as a normal meeting. Maybe if you think of it as more like going for coffee with a colleague.

if that’s the culture in your work then that’s fine. As you’ve seen on the thread it is not the culture in most companies and clearly not the op’s so you keeping saying that is how it works for you is not helpful to the op who needs to learn the culture in her work.

luckylavender · 03/11/2024 11:24

Join at the right time. Always

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 03/11/2024 11:23

thirdfiddle · 03/11/2024 09:30

It pops up a so-and-so has started the meeting message. It is an interruption, most people feel like they need to message back or curtail the call they're on, when normally there's no need for that when it's just a 1:1. It has a similar effect to knocking on the door of an occupied meeting room. Which I would do if there was a multi person meeting scheduled but wouldn't if it's just two of us and we can do it later.

Well I don’t find it an interruption and would not appreciate my team never joining on time. If I know I will considerably late I message them and tell them I will let them know when I am ready to join, otherwise I expect them to dial in on time/ as close to on time as they can.
if they were routinely late I would be concerned.

BookishType · 03/11/2024 11:23

You join at the booked time and wait. If you’re running late, you pop a message on the teams chat.

This is the protocol. I’d take a dim view if my team didn’t follow it.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 03/11/2024 11:20

thirdfiddle · 03/11/2024 07:45

Who's thanked you for interrupting their call with the CEO to let them know you're ready for your oh so vital 1:1?

Sending a quick teams chat isn’t interrupting, if they are busy then they can just choose not to read it.

DilemmaDelilah · 03/11/2024 11:18

A Teams meeting is like any other meeting. You turn up on time (or slightly early if you are me) and wait for everyone else to join. If I was your boss I would expect you to be there waiting for me and not to have to chivvy you up. I

very rude not to turn up on time.

thirdfiddle · 03/11/2024 11:12

I think this is where our culture differs, we don't see a 1:1 as the same as a normal meeting. Maybe if you think of it as more like going for coffee with a colleague.