Work meeting etiquette

Such wide variety of views. I only have 1 or 2 meetings a month so enjoy them, but my friend has 4-6 per day and hates them as they are pointless (could've been an email).

There are roles where the background could give away your whereabouts, or it could pick up plans on the wall in a secure area behind someone that others on the call don't have authority to view. It's easier to disable all cameras and ban mobile listening devices. (In a previous job, my ability to read upside down could be very useful in one-to-ones in my manager's office, so I do get the point that it just removes the need to cover things thst shouldn't be shared.)

I do have a couple of deaf colleagues, but they seem to manage with just hearing aids. Mind you, there probably aren't many calls where they would be missing anything wildly exciting...

I would also include those people that decline the meeting around 15mins before it starts and then ask whether it could be recorded for them to watch on ‘catch up’. I know that sometimes it’s unavoidable but if everyone took that stance there would be nothing to listen back to.

Equally if your role in the meeting is completely passive then you probably don’t need to be there in the first place.

I worked out quite early on how to mute other people and regularly do this if they have background noise.

I sympathise to a degree, but there’s no point being annoyed unless you are prepared to take action.
I became strict on pulling people up on a lot of these behaviours. I only do that if I’m the meeting organiser/host, but I am very clear on my expectations.

Meeting for everyone’s 5 minute updates, people going over time.
Switch it to a shared document. No one needs to listen to 5 minutes from everyone. Everyone can add a few lines to a shared document and read it themselves. A (short) meeting can be held to follow up, for any questions or discussion needed.

Meeting running over. Whether hosting or attending, when the meeting time is up I will explain that I am leaving as the allocated time has ended. Often this is necessary as I’ll be going to another meeting. But either way, people should allocate an appropriate amount of time and plan accordingly (see also, do not set a 1-hour meeting for something that will take 20 minutes!).

No cameras on.
Announce at the beginning, “it would be great if people could use their cameras out of respect for their colleagues, we are all a team working together on this”.

Diary clashes
I reply with a decline saying “I cannot make this, please check my calendar, which is open to view, and find an alternative time”.

I’m curious/nosy - can you say what you do, without outing yourself?

A fair percentage of people are hearing impaired and having cameras off makes it harder for them

Our work are insisting on cameras on now because it's also better from an IT security perspective

And running training to a whole bunch of blank screens is sole destroying. I ran business critical training on data security and after a few sessions I made it a rule that people would only be marked as having attended if they put their cameras on. We got much better engagement in sessions where everyone had their cameras on

Cameras on or off, I don't care.

There is no etiquette for cameras in meetings, and if there was it would be for cameras to be off unless strictly necessary. After all, online meetings were the direct descendent of conference calls, which of course, are audio only.

Unless it is a visual think cameras not on and no idea why make up has to be worn i dont wear it office or online

Agree! I don't put makeup on for home or office for the most part. I do think it's reasonable to be dressed and showered etc so will do that pre starting work, but that's fine. And my background is messy so I blur.

Fair enough if no-one in your industry bothers with cameras. I think it’s rude and tricky from an accessibility point of view but horses for courses. But If you ‘need’ to look professional I don’t understand why you don’t put your make up on?

Unless your job has a requirement for you to look good, surely it doesn’t matter?

Amazed how many people on the thread don’t bother with cameras. Unless there’s a specific need - eg neurodivergent, on a train etc - I think it’s extremely disrespectful to others on the call.

My chronic illness made me gain a huge amount of weight (steroids) , get horrible rash (steroids) lose my hair (other immune suppression) and have a lopsided face (neurological condition). I still appeared on camera because I think it is important for deaf people and also important for better meetings

I can see your problem, but it’s not always about vanity. A colleague of mine leaves theirs off because chronic health means they look ill all the time. It’s not vain or anything to do with a ‘beauty contest’ 🙄 not to want to be seen looking like you’re not well enough to work even when you are.

I'm partially deaf. It's really important to me that people have their cameras on so I can lip read when needed.
It's not a beauty contest. It's ridiculous people are keeping cameras off our of vanity

The absolute worst one we had was a meeting we all agreed to come in for 7am for as our job means we can’t ever have a whole staff meeting unless it’s out of hours
this big manager was coming in so we all get there bleary eyed for 6.45am
big manager never turns up and meeting was cancelled

Because I'm told I have to attend, and people get annoyed if I'm not there even though I don't need to be 🤷 I avoid every pointless meeting I can, but some attendance is mandatory so I crack on with other things to make the best use of my time. I could sit there looking bored on camera doing nothing but not sure why that's better

That's exactly the problem- you are multi tasking rather than focusing on the meeting. And if the meeting doesn't need your full attention, why are you there?

I chat to people on the days we are in the office. Majority of meetings are pointless about work that could be done over email or a quick 5min call

I never look put my camera on, imo it's not needed for the majority of meetings. Plus i'm always multitasking

I can't turn my camera on - they're disabled for security reasons. No phones or smart watches in the office, either.

I agree it does make a difference if you can see people, but I've adjusted to it. Mind you, given I was in a face-to-face meeting yesterday where one guy just wandered off without saying anything- it's probably a good thing I can't see them being openly disengaged... (He is so fucking rude, but it's so blatant, I just stared, speechless.)

I find these threads both fascinating and helpful as someone who struggles to get the balance right. For all the people who have very few meetings, and keep them strict and efficient- where do you get your ‘water cooler’ chat and getting to know your colleagues? All this stuff is vital for developing team bonds and cohesive working, trust and psychological safety. How does it happen if you have 2 hours of meetings a week and no chit chat? Do you speak to colleagues in between meetings?

Every one of your points annoys me too, OP. I also get fed up of hearing myself say "you're on mute" over and over again.

Cameras on at my place, and if you don't like it you have to go to the office for meetings instead.

My personal bugbear is people not seeming to know how to use schedule assist.