Work meetings should be timed sensibly?

[bananafish]

Honestly, who schedules a big kickoff project meeting for 5pm on a Friday during lockdown (even if is is easing)?

Everyone is going to be tired and grumpy - no one is exactly going to be fizzing with enthusiasm and ideas after a long working week.

It’s all on camera, with many different companies represented, so I’m going to have to dress properly, makeup on, all of that...

Of course, I’ll be professional and push through, but I still think it’s rubbish timing.

turn off your camera and say it's not working and it will save the bandwidth - are your working hours till after 5pm on a Friday - that's rubbish.

I’m so tempted to turn off my camera.... that’s a good excuse, thank you!

Totally agree with you.
I used to have to organise meetings with global participation and would do them early afternoon (in Europe) to enable all to attend (US, Asia) etc. That worked well.
Some years ago our UK boss used to have weekly team meetings at 15:00 (CEST) on a Friday, which meant booking a later flight home. It was OK until he started cancelling them at short notice :-(
5pm on a Friday is just a stupid time (especially for a major kick-off), are you able to suggest an alternative day and time?

They do this shit simply because they can. Petty, irrelevant nobodies in the outside world, they set up 5pm Friday meetings (is there a worse time for a project kick-off meeting?) to let you know that they're in charge and also to try to convince you that this will be standard throughout the project. It's BS.
As a project manager of 20 years standing, I've never done this but have seen it loads of times.

YANBU - it's a daft time to start a meeting. It would be better done in the afternoon when people are more awake and able to contribute.

I have done a couple of evening meetings with my direct manager during lockdown, however, we work very closely and it's mutually convenient because our kids are in bed at that time. We wouldn't dream of suggesting the rest of the team attend meetings at that time!

You’re absolutely right, Friday afternoon meetings are always going to be low energy anyway - 5pm is even worse! It’s not a good brainstorming/creative time and I’m sure many others on the call will feel the same way. Is it because there are international attendees maybe?

I would love to suggest an alternative time and day FraughtwithGin, but as Disquieted1 as accurately surmised, the project manager is doing it to flex his muscles and any pushback wouldn’t be worth the fallout.

Still, he’s made it clear who he is and it’s always helpful to know who the difficult ones are at the start!

@Disquieted1 Has it on the nose. It's infuriating.

I don’t miss work meetings, top tip is in a meeting that is really irrelevant and let’s be honest we have all sat in them I made sure to ask one non contentious question, more of a clarification. I then sat and lived in the world in my head for the rest of the meeting. Other good work tip I learn to read upside down.

Not international this time. That’s always understandable, I don’t mind the 7 am/9pm meetings with colleagues indifferent time zones. This guy is just being awkward.

You are right - the people who do this show themselves for who they are, and for how good they are at managing and motivating a team.

urgh no, anytime on a friday afternoon for big meetings is always a last resort! Sadly it's often the only time everyone is available because people tend to avoid it for booking meetings, but not at 5pm. Turn your camera off and pour a glass of wine!!

I think rather than he’s made it clear who he is - he’s made it clear what he is!

Is there something like Athena Swan in your sector? If yes, could you "show initiative" and "boost the company's profile" by setting up a working group to get accredited?

As much as I miss my 5pm seminar wine on a Friday, it really has done a lot to ensure people don't schedule anything outside core working hours.

Sorry if i got a meetting for 5pm on a friday i would decline it. Regardless of how high up the people are. My past experince of Fridays meetings are a waste of time, people tired, its theday most people take time off and you end of having another meeting to make up for what was missed. Actually since lock down ouyr caompany has made Friday's meeting free apart from our usual morning team meetings. there is enough hours in the working week to get meetings done. dont mind having late evening meetings with different time zones Monday to Thursday but no to Friday. Not good for work life balance either

I had to arrange a mega important (it’s not) meeting last week and the only time I could find that was suitable was 4pm on a Friday. My heart sank. I definitely feel your pain @bananafish

I would consider saying - yes that's fine but there is a Zoom family meeting at 18:00 that you must attend so you will have to leave at that point.