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?

Heartlantern2 I’d tell you to put a false background on if you were worried about people seeing your house.
If you’re deliberately cracked a screen that belonged to the firm, you’d have more of a problem than not wanting your screen on. I’d replace it once perhaps, but then they’d be some questions and actions about company property.

You would be signing off a big chunk of the work force. This is the reality of the world we are living in.

But it isn't for a lot of people. As I said, it sounds like crap management is the problem, not having to have your video on.

I think requesting cameras to be on and explaining why (eg more engagement with the team) is fine. But can be turned off if eg wifi issues, kids working in same room in shot etc.

If it is a large team meeting, you may be able to get away with a photo instead - less obvious than the black screen.

I too am of the sight of my own face by the end of a day.

Not sure why teachers are relevant. My kids teachers are showing eg powerpoint rather than their faces.

IMO cameras should never be 'mandatory'. I find it distracting to have my face on screen and end up staring at myself. It makes me feel much less confident having my face in front of me and a lot of my colleagues have said the same. It's completely different to meeting face-to-face. When you're in the office, you don't have your own reflection in front of you.

Sounds like your meetings are awkward enough as it is. Now you'll have your self staring back at you whilst other people chat. Cameras is not a fair request.

Yabu- if you were in the office they would see you, working from home you have no travel time so you just need to be vaguely presentable shoulders up, it's far better to see people in my experience

She says she doesn't get sick pay. Which is unusual but I don't know a lot about what goes on in other jobs.

My org has a cameras off culture. It all started with cameras on and gradually people just got tired of it I think.

My team is more linked to a sister company with a camera on culture. I often have mine off the others don't.

The sales team always have theirs on as well actually.

I think a lot of it depends on what sort of role you do/ what sector it is etc.

Mine is often off because I'm depressed and thanks for the PP who said that was 'crapola' aren't you lovely.

I've been open about it with my team and they seem to accept that my camera action is a bit hit and miss.

For those who said it's to check people are ok. It's better to do that 1-1 which OPS manager doesn't do. So they don't sound like a great boss tbh. If they were a great boss presumably OP would feel able to tell manager and wouldn't be in this situation.

Heartlantern2

I feel the same. I couldn’t tell you the last tune I had a picture taken. Maybe one or two in 25 years? Not posed for either.

For me it is nothing at all to do with unprofessionalism. Just a deep dislike of being on screen or having photos or videos of me since my husband rearranged my face. Which is why I do a job where I work alone.

My face is nothing to do with my usual job. Some may think I need help but I’m content with my lot. Being forced into something that has been unnecessary for nearly 20 years makes me uncomfortable.

See, I find the camera-off calls weirdly draining, it’s like talking into the abyss. I’ve recently joined a new organisation and I’ve struggled with the camera off habits of some colleagues. Some of them I’ve never even seen their faces and I’ve been there >3 months. I think you need to show your face for at least the first few minutes of the call; I don’t mind so much if someone turns their camera off after that, but I tend to only do that when I’m very obviously doing something else so cameras on is better for business IMO.

I'm on the fence.

Personally I find it really irritating if someone won't turn their camera on for a zoom meeting because it defeats the whole purpose of having them.

However, I also hate stupid meetings that waste people's time. Meetings should have a clear purpose and benefit.

So... if you are having a lot of stupid, pointless meetings that feel like a waste of time, then I can understand why you get fed up of being on camera for them. Sounds to me like you're actually fed up of your job, whether that's the fact you're stuck at home doing it or just the role/company in general, and this camera issue is just the tip of the iceberg and something that you feel you have control over. I get it.

I agree with you OP. It is completely unnecessary. I hate mine being on especially when I am just listening to someone droning on and I am not even required to speak. You could always say that you have a hideous rash or that the camera is not working properly on your device??

I had this in my morning meeting. Personally I think it is so you can't bugger off to the loo while the meeting is going on.

@CherryBlossomTree7 At one they actually requested we try to look happier on camera. That went down well.

I think now everyone is plodding on but people are genuinely struggling and they dont take our wellbeing seriously.

If you were at work, people would see your face-I don’t see the difference.

Running a team meeting where you can’t see anyone would be like talking into a void. I would imagine your managers want people to engage more.

I work in a very senior team and we have multiple virtual meetings every day. No one has ever asked for cameras to be switched on. We share documents, presentations and important papers, that’s the only thing that needs to be visible. We are adults , if we chose to work in our pyjamas that’s our business, as long as the work is done.
Some very controlling ‘managers’ out there!

I'm interested in whether those places that have a cameras on rule, is that something new since Covid, or was it in place prior, or did you work in places where conferences calls didn't really happen?

I've worked a lot of places where conference calls are a daily fact of life but video has never featured. I do like interfaces which let you know who's talking but I don't get anything additional from seeing people's faces on a screen, it doesn't replicate a face to face meeting.

@Lizzie523

Let me just say, I do a bloody good job. In fact I'm likely over performing at the moment to make up for colleagues who are struggling. I even curled my hair before work this morning because why not.

Almost very single one of my friends is struggling with mental health issues and anxieties and sleepless nights. You would be signing off a big chunk of the work force. This is the reality of the world we are living in.

I agree. I don't think managers want half their workforce gone and some people are in a terrible state but work gives them relief.

I hate wellbeing checks, i think the workplace is very intrusive compared to when I were a lass 😂 but requests like "I don't want to be on camera" should be accommodated to help wellbeing.

[quote Lizzie523]@CherryBlossomTree7 At one they actually requested we try to look happier on camera. That went down well.

I think now everyone is plodding on but people are genuinely struggling and they dont take our wellbeing seriously.[/quote]
😱😱😱😱

Always have cameras on and I don’t like it when people don’t during meetings as if someone is quiet then there is no way of knowing who is actually still in the meeting - we’ve had long mandatory meetings when there are a couple of staff members who contributed only at the beginning and end, they could have put their phone down and wandered off/gone for a little nap

People engage much more when you can see them, and are less likely to talk over one another as they can see who is speaking or who might be about to speak.

We have a mandatory morning meeting and it replaces going into the office and saying good morning to people. It is used as a way of checking on well-being too, as you can tell more about someone by seeing them and seeing their facial expressions when asked how they are getting on.

Not doable in my house -- two kids trying to study online while I work! I tried very briefly to turn my camera on in a two person meeting yesterday and we both promptly turned into daleks.

These sound just like my pointless team meetings. No one has any news, there's no structure and it's the same people talking irrelevant rubbish who love the sound of their own voice. It's totally artificial and I turn my camera off all the time. I feel your pain OP.

If my camera was on for every meeting and I wasn't on mute all my colleagues would hear my kids running around as they're not in school. Them being mandatory would feel like an intrusion.

Goatscheesewithhoney
That seems like aa total waste of staff time - a meeting instead of saying good morning to people. That is just presenteeism culture but at home. Why not just focus on meetings when they are necessary to discuss, make decisions etc. Maybe let people get on with their work??The well being check thing is ridiculous. You cannot make any helpful suggestions to people about their well being from a pointless video meeting apart from maybe noticing that they recognise the meeting as being pointless.

As someone who frequently hosts meetings I find it rude when people have cameras off and are muted. They’re always the same people that claim “you just cut out there, could you repeat the question”

Perhaps they have a poor connection. It is poor manners to be unmuted in a call. When I start a meeting I ask everyone to mute unless they want to speak. It is very disruptive to hear every cough, keyboard tap, chair squeak, interruptions from others in the room etc. I had a meeting this afternoon and the person running it kept having to turn her camera off as her entire family was online and the connection was running slow. There can be perfectly acceptable reasons not to be camera on.

But people like you who don’t trust others and treat them like children make this a whole thing far more difficult than it needs to be.

You are WFH, but you are at work. You get up, you get dressed for the office and you behave in a professional way. If you can't face putting the camera on, to do the job you are paid to do, then I would suggest you seek help.

Couldn’t agree more.

Maybe we are on the same team @Tillyfloss1 It does sound identical. People would rather be using that time to work rather than talking inane rubbish.

I would hate to work at all these places with cameras on during calls. We never turn ours on for our daily meetings. We have one catchup a week which is informal and with camera....I feel like that is plenty. The only saving grace of this pandemic is being comfortable at home. Half the time I work in my lounge wear with my hair scraped back .