Page 9 | To think mandatory video calls is a ridiculous request?

Lizzie523 · 2021-01-12T21:55:28+00:00

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?

NoseinBook3 · 13/01/2021 01:39

I think it’s intrusive. It’s my house. Other people don’t have the right to visit my house without being invited.

yogamatted · 13/01/2021 01:49

I've never had a meeting with cameras off unless there are a very large number of participants. Internal or external with clients. Really surprised to read so many don't think this is normal.

wellthatsunusual · 13/01/2021 01:52

@NoseinBook3

I think it’s intrusive. It’s my house. Other people don’t have the right to visit my house without being invited.

There are plenty of reasons that people have given that make sense, but this one makes no sense at all. No one needs to see into your house unless you're happy for them to do so. You can use a background or sit with a blank wall behind you (presumably these days everyone is using a tablet or a laptop rather than a desktop PC that can't be moved?).

sparticuscaticus · 13/01/2021 03:34

I disagree OP. The reasons you stated is exactly the reasons you ought have your camera on.

If you feel like shit, in pain and look terrible as you haven't slept all night- you shouldn't be attempting to work. You ought be off sick that day, wfh doesn't negate that- ought you'll be less productive and no manager wants someone struggling through day feeling rough & in pain.

Professionals use their cameras for
meetings appropriately and don't work in their pjs having neglected to get washed or dressed for start of working day! You need that demarkation between off time snd 'at work time' even more when WFH.

Using Cameras on for (previously face to face) meetings includes all those visual cues to help connect people and make meetings smoother. I'd be bored with an hour long meeting teleconference when I can't work out who's talking or saying what or missing faces/visual cues.

I wouldn't judge the odd time someone had camera off- not for a daily meeting (ours are weekly) turn but if a team colleague regularly turns off camera or too many do, our managers speak to them. It has picked up people's Mental well-being deteriorating, feeling isolated abs several times visually picked up when someone was distressed at an issue being discussed - upset acknowledged at the time with lovely support arranged afterwards - when the worker would have just gone quiet on an audio call.

At my work the expectation for normal meetings (up to 14 people) is camera on, but sound on mute unless you are speaking - so that background noise doesn't disturb the meeting. Background visual Filters are used too to protect privacy. you put a digital hand up so chair can manage who talks when wo that it's not a free for all chat.

OP and PPs on here are also missing that it's helpful to the hard of hearing to have everyone's cameras on ( there are a lot of us, it's a hidden disability). We often need the visual cues of who is talking and when + a bit of lip reading - alongside the words to text subtitles (which can be entertainingly inventively wrong somewhere in every other sentence!)

newyearisnewtome · 13/01/2021 06:20

I hate being on camera, it's too draining and sometimes I'm worried my son will be doing something he shouldn't in the background if he is home. 70% I will turn my camera and my mic off. If my manager tells me to put it on, I would politely decline. I only really turn it on when I need to speak and even then it's not often.

Myyearmytime · 13/01/2021 06:42

Safeguarding
Your children or other vulnerable adults might be in shot . Hence no camera on .
They can't argue with that.

LunaLula83 · 13/01/2021 06:55

Your mental health is fine. Wash your face, put the camera on.

peak2021 · 13/01/2021 06:58

No way am I going to let others view my house. And I have not got children in the house. Whilst I have no reason to think ill of any of my team, I don't want anyone to see anything that might be of use to burglars.

inquietant · 13/01/2021 07:02

Just send a polite email to say you're happy to join in but sometimes you have your camera off because otherwise your bandwidth can't cope and it freezes all incoming videos.

Say you'll turn on your camera as often as it seems to be behaving.

The thing with bossy extroverts (as opposed to nice extroverts) is they are often very insecure so challenging the premise directly gets you nowhere. They are driven to make others do as they do.

So just pretend you really would love to join in, but unfortunately... And hopefully they'll leave you alone.

inquietant · 13/01/2021 07:04

@sally067

Live and let live with my team, if some want to have their cameras off then it's completely up to them. No skin off my nose.

Work and life is hard enough without having this kind of pettiness, as long as the work gets done then no issues. Need to make any allowance that's possible with this pandemic and if someone is more comfortable with the camera off then that's completely up to them. Life's too short.

Most meetings are pointless and I try to encourage people to go for a walk outside and do it over the phone so they can get some air and time away from their desk when a meeting can be held in that way.

A lot of managers could take a few leaves out of this book.

So many petty control freaks about.

Brefugee · 13/01/2021 07:07

I wonder what your opinion on live lessons is for teachers

well, if teachers don't generally spend their time face to face teaching i could, if i stretched, make a comparison.

If it's a company that doesn't traditionally have a morning huddle, it seems ridiculous to start demanding one now. If it's a case of not trusting workers to be up and working, there are other, better ways to handle that.

(also, teachers, we get it. it's hard work. It is not always about you, though)

glasshalfsomething · 13/01/2021 07:08

@Lizzie523

This is it *@Chilver*. I have my camera on for all client meetings barring bandwidth issues. I am only suggesting cameras off sometimes internally. Now this has been fine for almost a year but now they are making a big deal about it, it leaves a bad taste. Don't they trust us by now, havent we proven we are doing the job we are paid to do?

And to people abovw saying you get the camera on and do the job you are paid for, WELL, I did not take this job to sit in inane meetings every morning where a sexist culture often shines through via conversation topics and with babies and dogs noising up the backgrounds. I really miss using that valuable time well.

Like you I often have up to 4 or 5 calls like this a day. It IS draining and it does impact us.

I’m afraid you sound like the exact person I’d want to turn their camera on.

Consider whether you have proven you can do your job effectively. Especially if you’ve spent some of that time lying on the sofa in pain. Surely if it was that bad you couldn’t have been as productive as normal.

Your part of a team; so part of your role is working in that team. To help that team be effective a manager should be encouraging conversation and engagement. There’s always one person who seems to turn their nose up at hearing anything else anyone has to say that’s not strictly work related. Sounds like you are that person.
If you haven’t had a ‘well being check’ in the last 12 months. Ask for one. Integrate in to a performance review; mention your health issues and your anxiety around the camera. Perhaps your company has healthcare that can help you treat this; as it’s an issue that won’t be resolved on its own.
Also use it as a time to raise the sexist culture
Please be slightly more mindful that other’s working from home will also have their own issues; so don’t be a Dick about the noises from children and animals. If you want ‘respect’ to not have your camera on; respect them for trying to do their best also.

MsConstrue · 13/01/2021 07:09

Sorry I don't agree. As a manager, I want to see my team. And if I think that a daily meeting is necessary, then you have to fully attend it. You can't just decide it's pointless. You wouldn't refuse to attend in the office. The visual is just as important as the sound - we need to see our colleagues in order to be able to communicate effectively and to get our work done.

If you're contorted in pain, then take the day off sick.

The same members of staff keep their cameras turned off all the time in my office, and it's just annoying and I can't help but feel that they are trying to undermine or make a point. It's just a camera.

And as for the person who said they don't want anyone seeing their house - that's ridiculous. We're all working from home.

inquietant · 13/01/2021 07:14

@MsConstrue

Sorry I don't agree. As a manager, I want to see my team. And if I think that a daily meeting is necessary, then you have to fully attend it. You can't just decide it's pointless. You wouldn't refuse to attend in the office. The visual is just as important as the sound - we need to see our colleagues in order to be able to communicate effectively and to get our work done.

If you're contorted in pain, then take the day off sick.

The same members of staff keep their cameras turned off all the time in my office, and it's just annoying and I can't help but feel that they are trying to undermine or make a point. It's just a camera.

And as for the person who said they don't want anyone seeing their house - that's ridiculous. We're all working from home.

Think this is exactly the managerial approach many of us hope to avoid

Lifeinaonesie · 13/01/2021 07:15

If you are expected to be seen face to face in normal times then turn your camera on

Ideasplease322 · 13/01/2021 07:15

It sounds like you aren’t fit to be in work.

I can understand managers wanting to see And connect with their team. Meetings with cameras off are annoying - you don’t know if people are engaged, and sometimes you don’t even know if they are there.

I don’t thinks it’s an unreasonable request and you seem very hostile to this. As others have said, you would be seen by your colleagues if you were in the office.

Ginfordinner · 13/01/2021 07:16

@peak2021

No way am I going to let others view my house. And I have not got children in the house. Whilst I have no reason to think ill of any of my team, I don't want anyone to see anything that might be of use to burglars.

What kind of people do you work with? And do they know your home address?

You can change the background on Teams so that other people can't see where you are.

I'm no oil painting, but being on camera doesn't bother me. I have been working with some of my team mates for years. I make sure I look presentable on work days.

Dee1975 · 13/01/2021 07:19

If you were in the office people would see your face all day. I think it’s a reasonable request from your company. It’s good to see people!

peak2021 · 13/01/2021 07:19

@Ginfordinner I work with very good hard working people, but have no knowledge of those in their households.

Two neighbours growing up were (and are) lovely people and I feel privileged to have known them, but it did not stop one of their sons having the wrong group of friends and ending up in youth detention.

Jangle33 · 13/01/2021 07:20

Goodness, we are facing mass unemployment. I must be alone in wanting to do everything to be as flexible as possible and make sure I keep my job...

DuzzyFuck · 13/01/2021 07:20

@peak2021

No way am I going to let others view my house. And I have not got children in the house. Whilst I have no reason to think ill of any of my team, I don't want anyone to see anything that might be of use to burglars.

1) This is the biggest reach I've seen in a while and 2) Use a background filter, almost all video chat apps have them.

Interested to hear what it is you have on display anyway, and so much of it you couldn't point the camera anywhere that they wouldn't be seen. Faberge eggs? Jewels? We have a 3 x a week catch up and I'm now quite familiar with my 1 colleagues kitchen cabinets, another colleagues cheap mass-produced artwork and our bosses fridge.

Redlocks28 · 13/01/2021 07:20

This thread is bizarre-since lockdown I have been on regular video calls and it would never occur to me to refuse to have my camera on. I would suspect if a boss has requested it and someone makes a big deal about it, they’ll be first back in the office and further requests for wfh in future would be seriously considered.

Holly60 · 13/01/2021 07:22

I think if it is a requirement for work and you are unable to do it for health reasons you would need to get a doctors note.

Ideasplease322 · 13/01/2021 07:23

Heavens I really don’t think there is any risk from work colleagues breaking into your home 😂😂

In any case, sit in front of a blank wall. I have only seen walls and doors in the hundreds of homes I have seen over the last year.

No one knows each other’s addresses unless they are particularly close.

Ridiculous reason for no cameras.

inquietant · 13/01/2021 07:23

@Jangle33

Goodness, we are facing mass unemployment. I must be alone in wanting to do everything to be as flexible as possible and make sure I keep my job...

I think some of us just work in nicer places. I couldn't lose my job for this as the organisation has a flexible approach.

That is why I advise the op to find a reason that suits her manager's mentality - when you have a stupid manager, toe the line, avoid where you can, check the job ads.