To think mandatory video calls is a ridiculous request?

[Lizzie523]

After nearly a year of working from home our manager has requested we all turn our cameras on for every daily team meeting (which is every day).

I can't say what my colleagues reasons are for turning theirs off some days, but I tend to do it on days my mental health isnt great or I've had a terribly sleepless night due to the stress of this whole situation. Probably once or twice a week. They are arguing we should appear like we were in the office - but in the office we got on with our work and were not having a daily meeting or sitting in front of all our co workers faces.

The meetings are usually pointless check ins where no one has a thing to say. It is always the same extroverts talking about personal stuff. The fact the videos on is now mandatory because they say so has annoyed me quite a bit. AIBU?

I want to make it clear that most people do turn cameras on more than half of the week. I think it is ridiculous to force people who just want 1 or 2 days without the camera on them for a change.

I wonder what your opinion on live lessons is for teachers

Do you have anyone else in your house using wifi and video calls? I tend to say it will affect my daughters live video lessons if I have my camera on as our wifi can't cope.

@GreyWall we are not children, we are adults.

I have a relative and a close friend who both work for large companies and neither make this a requirement.

I disagree. If you are working your camera should be on. Would you sit in the office with your face covered?

We have a rule that all cameras are on for all meetings and we prefer that people aren’t muted either.

@GreyWall

I wonder what your opinion on live lessons is for teachers

Not every single thread has to be about teachers.

What?! It’s no different from being seen in person! Ridiculous that you would need to turn your cameras off. I work in several teams in a large organisation and nobody ever has their cameras off. You lose so much interaction in a meeting if you can’t see facial expressions/gestures etc.

Seems a bad time to ask for this as so many people are juggling kids at home and work...I would find this difficult at times. Dont see why its necessary

I have some great advice. Little bit of sellotape over the camera. Makes for a very flattering filter.

@Atrixie at work in the morning, especially first thing, I am facing my computer screen for the first hour usually. My face isnt being beamed around multiple devices.

Having to stare into the camera every morning makes me feel quite exposed when my mental health has taken a downturn or I've had a bad night. I can tell by looking at my colleagues who is struggling lately and they have been turning their cameras off. Not anymore!

Yanbu. As long as there is no question of your work ethic and accountability, I see no need to nag ppl to be on camera. It is actually distressing for some to be on camera. I can understand once a week or so just to maintain familiarity, but I don't think it's right for them to demand it OP.

I don’t think it’s particularly ridiculous. Presumably you wouldn’t regularly cover your face in the office? It helps ensure people are focused on the call (rather than faffing on their phone etc) and it helps make people feel more connected and less isolated. I very much doubt anyone will mind if you look a bit rough occasionally.

we are not children, we are adults
So behave like one then and turn your camera on for the little insignificant meeting!

I agree, video calls are so draining. Plus you have to look at your own face staring back at you and I find unless I’ve made the effort to put make up on and do my hair it really knocks my confidence. My work have now suggested we start to reduce usage of them and if it’s just 2 people to use the good old fashioned phone.

It's been shown that having to appear on camera is much more mentally and physically tiring than meeting in person. You shouldn't have to do it for pointless daily chitchat amongst the time, doesn't sound productive or effective.

Bloody hell. Life's shit enough without having to have your camera on every day for a pointless daily team meeting.

It is actually distressing for some to be on camera

But perfectly acceptable for teachers hey?

Along with no masks in classrooms.... FFS

As a manager, I think it’s quite important to be able to see people. I want to feel connected and be able to see body language and expression, to validate the “I’m OK”, words.
I think communication is about more than speaking.

I hate meetings with no cameras- it's just much more personal and constructive when you can see everyone. Having said that- my group is very small- not sure how I'd feel in a large group.

I think it’s a company culture thing - it’s definitely the done thing to have videos on for all meetings where I work and not having video on without a good reason is considered almost rude. I like seeing people’s faces and in my experience it makes people more likely to engage in meetings so I think YABU.

I quite agree with you @Ciaobaby92. Why give people a hard time for a small thing when we are all working hard?

I also have endometriosis and I simply wont turn my camera on on bad days when I'm on the couch face contorted with pain!

I understand where you are coming from OP. I will have this for the first time next week.

I work alone but now they’ve decided on these meetings where before ot was simply a phone call.

I hate my looks anyway and the thought of being a face on a screen doesn’t thrill me.

I’m dreading it.

I find it a bit rude when people won’t turn their cameras on. Not as a one off but I do note it when it’s a recurring thing. Tends to be the junior end of the team. I wouldn’t ‘enforce’ it though for internal meetings.

I find it easier to focus if cameras are on. If you don't want to be scrutinised could you put it on for the beginning when you each check in or when you are speaking. Presumably it is to prevent people just switching on then doing something else.