Working from home - cameras on laptops?

[bbcessex]

I work from home at least two days a week, and regularly have conference calls etc.

In the past, it's not standard to have laptop cameras switched on for conf calls as we are a financial services company and it's not been common, but that's changing with teams about to regularly work more remotely due to corona policy.

I actually much prefer seeing the person / people I'm talking to and i think it helps with connecting / focus / communication. I've given my team notice that as we are all going to be working from home more (not formally told to yet but likely) I'd like to have work laptop cameras on during team calls wherever possible going forward.

Most people are fine - I've had the obvious comments 'oh no, I'll have to get dressed, ha ha', but a couple of people are really not happy about it (without being specific about why).

It's not mandatory of course, and i can't / won't enforce it, but I will encourage it.

Does anyone else have a view on this? Is it unreasonable to encourage?

We have to do it all the time for work just part of daily life... on recent calls regarding virtual leadership it was explaining benefits of it in terms of relationship building which I personally agree with. Tbh in our company large global organisation if people don't put it on we talk more about them and in terms of backgrounds there have been all sorts (bikes stored on wall, interesting art, etc etc).. I think it's the way work is done now.

It’s how people work now

I plug my laptop into a screen to make my home workstation more ergonomic so I can't do this anyway.

Good point. I don't have a screen or separate keyboard so work would need to supply them (and a printer, paper, ink etc).

Do this alot in my job and I quite like the face to face contact tbh. However on calls I find most people are looking over my shoulder at my photo wall more than concentrating on the topic we're discussing! Also once didnt realise my clothes horse was just in shot with my bras and big pants hanging on it :(

Oh ffs. People really need to get over themselves! 🙄🙄🙄

My home office used to be in my kitchen so it wouldn’t have bothered me. My home office (having moved) is in a corner of my son’s bedroom. So, no. It does not work for me and I refuse to do video calls from in there. The only other space available would be my room (again, no).

Oh ffs. People really need to get over themselves! 🙄🙄🙄

Maybe the people insisting on totally unnecessary video calls need to get over themselves?

My home is simply that - my home. I do jot want people from work invading my home space.

Also, I don't have an 'office space' so it really would feel like an invasion of privacy. To add to the discomfort - I'm usually in PJs/joggy bottoms /t shirt with scraped back pony tail - not at all office dress!

If I'm at the office, I have no issues at all with camera on conf calls. And I use the conference suite if it's free, which has everyone visible on huge screen - feels like we're all at the same table.

1. My broadband couldn't handle it.
2. I look like shit at the best of times. At least let me sound like I'm not a haggard old beast.
3. In my last flat, I'd have been humiliated by the fact the walls were covered in mould and the only place I get a signal was on my (knackered) bed.

The one time I did inadvertently have the camera on I must have given the other team members a shock as I sat there with 2 black eyes and a broken nose!

I'd hate it. Can't see any benefit either.

Where I have my laptop is always so untidy I'd refuse to let anyone see it in the background ... non-negotiable, I'd not be willing to redecorate/alter my lifestyle for my employer.

I wonder if there will be enough broadband for videoconferencing when so many people are working from home.

Personally, I find that getting the video and sound right takes most of the time in videoconference meetings when a domestic connection is involved.

I wfh full time have had to do a couple in 10 years. Hate it though makes me so self conscious they so close up & me sitting in my hoodie & hair thrown up. Some managers on our team calls leave their cameras on they look so awkward & can't see how it adds to anything.

I would object to video calling from home. It's my home space, I've kids toys stacked up, family photos on the wall. Nosey beak out please!

@SciFiRules

Nosey?

If I'm calling a person at home couldn't give a monkeys about their pics of their kids or home decor. If I want to see you on a video call it's purely about work.

Most people have an angle or spot where they can set up their laptop with a neutral background. The kids thing is an excuse. This isn't MTV Cribs, so why is everyone using the pics of kids/washing out reason?

It's my home. So no.
Yep. I totally agree. It's an invasion of privacy.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

I don't get it. We had three rooms (lounge, kitchen, bedroom) in the setup I described. It was hardly a house "set up for home working". I made it happen because I knew where I wanted to get to.

But it doesn't matter - you don't want to use the video camera, then fair enough. Just not sure all the topography of your home is the reason why you can't do video calls. It's because you just don't want to. And that's fair enough.

Most people have an angle or spot where they can set up their laptop with a neutral background.

But what about those of us who can't? You don't seem to want be able to comprehend that it's not always as easy as you make out.

I use Zoom when I wfh and I love it! Not sure about those saying invasion of privacy/ it’s my home etc. I think wfh is a privilege ( as I also have an office but choosing to wfh save me hours on the bus/money). We also use Zoom in the office for global meetings . I’m not seeing the problem tbh.

I think you're being deliberately obtuse now GinDaddy. What part of you need to walk through the living room to get to the bathroom and kitchen is so difficult for you to understand? That would be the living room where I would be on this video call.

I don't actually know why I'm bothering to engage with you, I've seen other posts from you and, as far as you're concerned, it's your way or no way.

@BaileysforBreakfast

Invasion of privacy?

I think you're entitled to your opinion. But can I state mine also?

Video cameras on laptops are marvellous things in that we can essentially angle them how we want.

I used to lie on the bed, angle the screen upwards, and boom - neutral background. No one had the foggiest clue about my home.

I think there are a fair few people for whom WFH is a work day mixed with household stuff (washing, some kids and interaction with DH, some personal care or getting to relax a bit in PJs and not rush to get dressed).

That's fine in theory, but if work pay your salary and ask for a commitment on a video call, for me it seems a tad unreasonable that because someone has got used to all of the above, pottering around their house in their Pjs while occasionally answering an email with TV on in background and washing hanging up.... then it's no to any video calls.

That just seems entitled - if people wanted to, they'd find a corner of their world and make it habitable for an hour's call.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

I'm not being deliberately obtuse - you're also being inflexible here - but fine let's agree to disagree.

L

@PinkSparklyPussyCat - I’m struggling to imagine a home where a person cannot sit and be on their laptop without worrying about colleagues seeing something they shouldn’t. When I Zoom, I only see about 3 inches around the person - it’s more like a close up of them - very difficult to see what’s on the wall or anything else for that matter.

I would object to video calling from home. It's my home space, I've kids toys stacked up, family photos on the wall. Nosey beak out please!

But it's your workspace too...

I realise the OP's reason for asking is not the norm in the current circumstances, but WFH is seen as a benefit for most people (I would hate it personally). The least they can do is have a "professional" space, however small, so they (the worker) don't have to worry about "the view" and can concentrate on the job in hand.