To think British people could bother to turn on video during introductions?

[GinDaddyRedux]

So I've joined a new department. It's based in the UK, but we work across geographies - Asia, parts of west Africa, and Europe.

We had a core team introduction video call on Tuesday. Everyone at the moment is working from home due to COVID-19.

For information, I'm relatively senior, but the incumbent manager was hosting the call. It was specifically labelled on Teams as "Video introduction with XXXXYY team" etc.

We go on the call, 15 people, and those from Asia and Africa and Europe? All had their video on, all very friendly and positive.

The Brits? I couldn't actually believe it, but aside from the manager who was excellent, not one person had their camera on. Just a black screen with their initials.

Now this is not the first time I've experienced this. At a previous department, it was the same sort of culture. Some folk especially from IT or HR were happy to have the camera on, but anyone from the project teams? Oh no, not us...never ever on.

I think that's fine if you're sharing slides, or you know the people, but this is team building in the time of COVID. Surely it's not unreasonable to expect that when the only tool for connecting is video, then someone could be bothered to quickly say "hello" and smile at folk to make them welcome?

It was also notable how the people with black screens/letters, barely spoke. The critical in me was thinking whether they come on the call, mute their mic, then wander around doing other tasks. Yes video calls can be too numerous and lengthy, but it's such a poor way to make a first impression.

AIBU here? I remember seeing a topic on this last year on here and being roundly told to "keep my nosey (sic) beak out of my house", as if I want to see into someone's furniture and upholstery choices!! Nope couldn't care less about your house, I just actually want to interact with my team!

Several reasons why people could not have their video on:

1. They are not comfortable with being on video calls or they are concerned about their privacy as they are at home.

1. They don't live in a major urban area and have shitty broadband.

1. They have back to back video calls all day and just want a break from being in display.

I have done huge numbers of zoom and teams meetings. Teams is often problematic for me if I have my video on in terms of general video and audio quality (blocky picture and clipped audio). I have just now defaulted to having video off for any teams calls.

Hahaha. This drives my US colleagues MAD! They don’t get why we don’t like to be on camera. They also find us ridiculous for getting so nervous about giving presentations when the most junior US intern loves to leap to their feet and grandstand.

"I think it either comes from insecurity - people thinking that everyone is paying them much more attention than is actually the case"

Well, OP is obviously paying them a lot of attention.

@Hingeandbracket

I remember your previous contributions moaning about Brits on video calls. You appear weirdly hung up on this and quite racist.

"British" isn't a race. So no racism.

I always have video off so my clients don’t see I’m distracted and can’t sit on a desk without doing this...

In my experience, the main reason people turn off their videos is that they are not paying full attention to what's going on in the meeting. This is a very rude IMHO.
I have my camera on for the vast majority of meetings. The handful of times I didn't was when I was feeling mentally shit and was either on the verge of tears or had just been been in tears and didn't want colleagues seeing me in that state. I was still paying full attention to the meetings.

But your management should request that videos are turned on during the meeting

DP and I have discussed this. He hates the idea and finds it intrusive, but says if they insist, he is going to go and buy a printer so he can make some fake dustcovers for the books on the bookcase.

They will include such titles as "Why I Hate Managers", "Stop Looking At My Fucking Books" and, my personal favourite "Harry Potter and the Crock of Shit".

notalwaysaondoner

I don’t think it should be optional - first of all, it’s much easier to zone out and just sit on the line if you know people can’t see you, so you’re unlikely to be giving the meeting your full attention.

I disagree, in fact I'd go as far as saying video calling is far more distracting than audio calling.

Secondly, it does massively decrease how connected the other people on the call feel to you. So it’s super important for relationships and networks.

Super important?. Again I disagree, you don't need to see someone to be connected and it's business not a date. Relationships and networking worked perfectly fine in the dark old days.

Because each and every one of us got together and created a plan not to do so, solely to piss you off. It was a great meeting, all 65 million of us were in full agreement. I must report back that it was a success

it's quite cool that we actually agreed on something

With a partner also working from home and two kids using laptops for online school work, my rural broadband connection would self destruct if I tried to use video - speaking from experience....

Well, we are all ugly bastards

Seriously, I haven’t heard such a specific generalisation in a long time.

I don't think you're being unreasonable at all!!!! I get that in lengthy meetings, and with numerous people it is accepted to turn off video, but our meetings always start with video on and everyone says hello, and a bit of a greeting, and then if there's more than about 6 or 7 people, we turn off our cameras. Just because some people might have weak wifi connections. But yeah, there's some people who just take advantage - I posted about my team leader yesterday. She "attends" all the meetings but never contributes anything, only speaks if spoken to. She's left me 'hanging' a good few times. I don't think it's very nice, or good practice. Don't bother coming if you're just going to be a 'presence' on a black screen. IMO.

PS on teams and most apps you can 'blur' your background, or put up a fake one, so the whole 'don't want people to see my house' excuse, is just an excuse

We don’t have cameras on our company-issued PCs, and nor do we have webcams, so it’s impossible to video call.

PS on teams and most apps you can 'blur' your background, or put up a fake one, so the whole 'don't want people to see my house' excuse, is just an excuse

Not on bluejeans. And it doesn't work that well on Zoom, if you move, you blur out like you're disappearing behind the invisibility cloak in Harry Potter. The blurring in Teams is the best option I think.

To the person who wanted to know if there was a way not to see themselves in Zoom, yes you can hide yourself but others can still see you.

It is rude. If people are "wfh" they can at least pretend to be doing so by actively showing up, dressed and presentable and make an effort to look engaged and interested in their work! It's what they're paid for. Surely black screens equal CBA.

Not a chance until I've had a haircut.

You are being unreasonable - I work in a University and the general consensus is that you get better online 'discursive spaces' if people turn their cameras off. There is some very interesting research about the cognitive dissonance that arises when people are communicating online. Something about the slight lag between someone speaking and the sound coming through as well as the lack of eye contact. I think you are also being unreasonable using the term 'Brit'. It might just be me but does anyone else find this term really annoying?

I could think of nothing worse then having to turn my camera on. I actually have an interview next week so will need to turn my camera on -luckily I have plenty of warning so will have time to dye my hair, do my eyebrows, find clothes that actually fit, dig out my makeup bag which hasn’t seen day light since March. It will be odd not wearing leggings and a T-shirt with my hair thrown back into a bun. But if someone randomly asked me to turn my camera without any warning I absolutely would not.
If you are in charge of these meetings then send round an email to every one involved asking everyone to be ready to have their cameras on. If you’re not in charge then put your own camera on if you wish but ignore what other people choose to do.

Personally I don't think you are being unreasonable so far as the meetings are concerned.

However YABVVVVVVU to use the word "geographies" in that context. I know language evolves but there are several perfectly good words for what you're talking about and "geographies" isn't one of them.

If being visible is a requirement for your meetings, let the participants know!

It's a bit silly to complain that people in one country didn't comply with an expectation that you hadn't even told them about.

For me it is really dependent on context. If there are 5 people on the call then I will happily have video on for team building or communication. If there are 20 people on (which is what you post appears to be) then I won’t have video on as it strikes more of information conveyance (which is not helped with lots of people’s faces and mics on) as opposed to team building where you can actually connect with people

I have mine off if I am listening to a single speaker. I find it easier to concentrate on their message and derive absolutely no benefit from spending an hour watching Emma in Singapore also listening. If I speak I put on my camera and mic, then switch both on mute again once the point is addressed. If there is a debate I would also switch the sound and vision on.

These Zoom calls are starting to get a bit like the type of office culture where participants feel their worth is measured by their ability to be visible in as many meetings as possible, regardless of the contribution they bring to the meeting and its outcome.They are also starting to get earlier/later in the day so participants feel they get extra credit for being visible at 6am.

OP you sound like you're American from your post. If you're not British (and you give the impression you're not but I may be wrong) it sounds like a bit of a culture clash. We have much stricter rules on Gdpr and also are more reserved as a nation. You don't like it? Tough. That's the attitude of the many in the nation and it won't change for you. Great if it's different in other cultures but you need to respect people's wishes in the digital age. For many having a camera on is intrusive. And you argue with a lot of the responders, why post on here if you don't like the responses?

We have much stricter rules on Gdpr and also are more reserved as a nation. You don't like it? Tough. That's the attitude of the many in the nation and it won't change for you.

Oh come off it. GDPR doesn't mean you can't have video calls but as a nation we are very rude and uptight compared to other cultures