Surely being on camera for most virtual work meetings is now the standard?

[CantFindTheBeat]

I've just read a post where someone said that not wanting to be on video for a work Teams call whilst working from home was perfectly fine.

Surely this is no longer the case?

Obviously illness, rare WiFi issues and other and minor exceptions happen, but on the whole, don't most employers and managers expect people to be seen as well as heard these days?

I really dislike it when people don't have their cameras on. What are they hiding from? It makes them seemed removed from the call. They should by now have sorted out either a background or a clear space for calls with nothing in it they don't want to be seen by others. They should be dressed and groomed appropriately for work as well.

Public sector - this is us too. Small meetings on, large meetings off unless it needs to be on.

I'm glad I don't work with you.

We always did calls only , no video , then covid came along and it was all video , then covid went away and we are back to mostly voice only . Doesn’t bother me either way . Even recently having a meeting with the school about my daughter it was half of the people on video and the other half on just voice .

They should be dressed and groomed appropriately for work as well.

😂 you should see us when we go into the office! Several people have fluffy slippers, I wear dungarees and birks, the data guys are mostly barefoot in joggers.

totally agree. We are 99% camera's on, as was my old workplace. I prefer to have a meeting where I can actually see people, interact not feel like I am communicating into the ether

Cameras on for clients, internal small meetings. Cameras off for town hall bullshit that takes two hours.

It depends on the call for me. If I'm using teams instead of a phone call then I'll call and keep camera off. If it's a proper meeting with a small number of people then I have my camera on.If it's a large meeting or training session where it's mainly listening or taking in information then I keep mine off.

I always have my camera off.

Not only do I find them distracting, but I absolutely do not present myself in the same way as I would when I worked in an office now that I am working from home.

I was once interviewed for a job by a panel of cameras-off people. That was odd.

It's cameras on in my company, unless a large workshop/seminar type thing where we're just listening to a presenter.

I work evenings from home, so at some point I go and change into my PJs so I can just go straight to bed when I finish! That's usually after meetings, but I keep a kind of throw/shrug thing on the back of my chair in case I get an impromptu video call so I can just throw it on and no-one will be any the wiser!

I only put mine on for 1-2-1s/small groups, or external. Large term meetings, webinars etc I wouldn't. I just HATE seeing myself on camera and I always feel self concious

I work in a mostly cameras off organisation so I keep my camera off so I'm not the one keeno with it on.

Yes - it should be. I always have the camera on as do all of my team, the exception being during very large meetings (like 20+) where some people find it easier to hide and turn off. Personally I dislike people having cameras off, it's more difficult to engage, read expressions and generally have a conversation. Yes having the camera on can be more tiring as you have to be fully focussed, I have a lot of meetings, that's why its important to end meeting on time and have breaks in between where possible. My pet hate is having small (2 or 3 people) meeting with the other person having their camera off, it actually makes me feel uncomfortable and like there's an imbalance of power (for want of a better word) in the conversation.

Im actually really surprised how many people on here have cameras off. Incidentally I like my job and generally work with happy people in a good environment! We all have cameras on most of the time!

I think it’s fine if it’s larger meetings or training sessions where you’re not expected to contribute much, if at all - I actually find it really difficult to concentrate on the speaker of there are 50-plus bobbing heads on my screen. If you’re in break-out rooms then cameras should also be on.

Smaller meetings where your contribution is needed then absolutely the camera should be on - it’s expected here.

I've worked remotely across two organisations which include meetings with many external companies, and it's always cameras on. If someone isn't on camera they usually apologise and explain why (it's broken, they're in public, whatever).

If I moved to an organisation where cameras off was the norm I'd adapt, but I strongly prefer being able to see the people I'm talking to. I find it really hard to follow phone conversations vs video calls.

Cameras off in my company. Sometimes people put them on but it's totally fine either way. ND people can really struggle with cameras, so I think it's not really ok to force it.

I also dislike the passive aggressive remarks you get from "camera-on" people about not having a camera on.
"(tinkly laugh) well I can't see you of course so I don't know whether...."
"What do you think about xxx? I can't see you so..."
"Are you wearing your pyjamas? HAHAHAHA"
Oddly enough you don't get any comments from "cameras-off" people about people having theirs on.
Why are people so intolerant when others want to do something different? 😞

I’m never on camera. Literally never.

we have cameras on for the first few minutes of the meeting. it's not acceptable to never show your face imo.

I never go on camera unless with my manager as she gets her knickers in a twist about it but I really don’t see the need in cameras being on.

Glad I don’t work with you 😂😂

I think it depends on company culture/how big the meeting is.

I like seeing everyone sometimes, it's nice to remember what they look like/see faces, but other times - eg if it's a presentation type meeting then it's pointless and distracting.

I'm firmly on the fence.

Why? That's the culture in my organisation, we all have our cameras on.

Not expected and mine fails from time to time. Saves bandwidth.