To think people are a bit slack at work these day

[Iseeaghost]

I've worked as part of a multi disciplinary group - both voluntary and statutory sector; for about 2 years

Everyone is quite busy and most of our meetings; 2-4 per month, are on teams or zoom.

Lots of people don't turn up. Most of those that do have cameras off and don't contribute to the meetings. The strategic group ask for feedback to be brought to the session; no one brings it.

On top of this, people don't respond to many emails; even as far as you might be asked for some information or to support a project, will supply that info and don't get a response, not even thank you! There are people working hard on forums who send out valuable information etc but they don't get replies.

I get multiple requests to attend forums, meetings and so on, I get everyone is in a similar position but really?: a simple apology and acknowledgement of an email goes a long way.

Similarly, I'll only put my camera on if I'm meant to take an active role in the meeting. If it's not really about my role or if I don't need to respond very often, then I keep my camera off.

Again, it's about relevancy really.

All of these are great answers and have helped me get a picture of how it is.

I've only been back in this line of work recently and prior to this was a mum and doing other things.

Teams and remote working etc feels like a who new way of doing things. I guess it's the culture etc.

I do really feel for people who are having to put out requests for info repeatedly though.

Also shocked to hear about the culture in the police and I'm tempted to join. That's extraordinary!

Loads of people are doing very little at home. There are other threads where people have admitted doing little and being paid £70-80k per year. I work with a team where people probably work 2 hours a day, the rest they fill with mtgs where they do something else, and at home they actually do other things. I worked with people who have their babies or toddlers at home, basically they do nothing!
this is why there is a huge push in back to the office. It is a shame and I M the first one to love wfh as has cut my commute if 4 hrs/day but it should be earned really as some people are really taking the piss

But in the good old days of conference calls, no one had to show their face. Just talking should be fine IMHO.

I am shocked at response times to queries though. Sort but I’m convinced a lot of people are working with children at home.

I’m still seeking out the holy grail of the £80k job doing very little. I always end up with the jobs with lots to do.

Cameras on is physically very uncomfortable. Laptop with camera is on the desk way below eye level so I'm looking down at everyone, either that or using the second screen which means the camera is peering up my nose. Plus in a meeting room you'd be looking round and making eye contact with people and moving your body naturally. Having to stare straight on at a camera for hours on end gets really painful on the neck and back.

That said, with camera off I also dip in and out of meetings and do other work in the background. I think that's expected now in a lot of places.

this is why there is a huge push in back to the office.

^

Is there? And if so, why? Because the work isn't getting done? It is where I work

Probably because companies are increasing profits over correct staffing numbers, people are overworked, and society is starting to prioritise efficiency over unnecessary niceties. Thank goodness, what a waste of time and mental energy.

I think the least people can do when invited to a meeting, is join in. In person or virtual. You might think you don’t need to be present but the organiser wanted you there. It’s so rude to have camera off/contribute nothing - if someone has asked for your time you should assume it’s for a good reason. Deciding your other work is more important is really dismissive and disrespectful. Plus it’s a ballache for the poor people with manners who have to join in on the silent people’s behalf! Rant over, from someone constantly trying to engage people on a daily basis!

I think it might really vary by what company and sector you work in. I work from home and put my camera on for meetings. I have a large monitor and web cam on the top so don’t have the issue of a previous poster about the camera being low down and uncomfortable to look in. People are messaging and emailing all day. In large training meetings people have cameras off. I find it more relaxing to have camera off for training and then I can really focus on taking the info in.

I work in social care, given you mentioned voluntary and statutory agencies not sure if you are in the same field?
When I come back from leave I can have around 300 emails to read, also given my role I'm not sat at my desk all day to attend meetings and go through emails, I'm out in the community doing my job most of the time.
It's really frustrating when I am overwhelmed at the amount of emails to get through to find so many that are irrelevant, such as thank you emails. Even more frustrating when it's been a group email and people have replied to all with responses that have nothing to do with me.
I get sent lots of "useful info" some is very useful, some is not actually useful at all and is sent to everyone in the authority despite having no relevance to my role.
So, I rarely send thank you emails, never send them to something distrubuted to a group because I know I wouldn't appreciate the pointless emails filling my box. I also do not attend every meeting I am invited to as I literally do not have the time, or given the nature of the role I do miss some when I have been called out to something urgent. I do not always have the time to respond to requests such as requests about data or completing surveys that don't directly benefit the people I support.
I think it's easier for people who are sat at their desk all day to keep on top of emails but if you are working with people in health and social care they have to balance admin with direct work with the people they support, the latter will always be the priority. Its certainly not a lack of work ethic, everyone on my team is works above and beyond their contracted hours.

I am guilty of not putting my camera on for some meetings. They are usually ones that I need to listen to but not necessarily engage due to the number of attendee's.

Equally I have a demanding job and I need to prioritise the use of my time, which isn't possible if I am actively engaging in every meeting that I am asked to attend.

If my camera is not on,I am usually multi tasking because I need to. My organisation has lots of agendas and provides updates to colleagues all the time, which feels like information overload. Some don't interest me as much as others, but attendance is compulsory badged as optional.

I mean. Sounds like the meetings don’t have value. I wouldn’t complain about that. Or about you not getting a thank you for doing your job. Above and beyond - absolutely. Baseline expectations - probably only occasionally.

And this is why workplaces are going back to in person. Less work gets done at home.

Well it depends on the meeting doesn't it. My daily 15 min team meeting with the three other people in my team - absolutely I'd always have my camera on. A monthly update call with 30 people where I know that all I have to do is listen, probably not.
Any meeting with a small number of people (regardless of my involvement), or a large number of people and I'm required to speak, I'll have my camera on. If it's a large number of people and I won't need to speak, I won't.

Me too!

I have too much work to do. My employer and many others want more work done for the same quality in less time. I don’t have time to sit in someone else’s vanity project meeting so that they can tick a box. I will attend if I have to, if it is useful to my role or I can add something. I will also engage in a project if I think I can add value, but not just so my voice can be heard.

We are also encouraged to keep cameras off in larger meetings so the call runs more smoothly.

A few years ago when I went on leave I would come back to a handful of emails, now I come back to approx 200 emails.

Most of which are pointless.

Because it’s so easy to bang off an email, we get them about all sorts of things, people seem to use them like instant messenger with one line of info, ok, where’s the rest, and don’t get me started on the I’ve sent you this task etc,,,,,ping….thank you. Yes I understand you are being polite but thanks for wasting my time in the fact that I spent valuable time reading that, only to then have to press my read and delete button. Seconds you say, well yes, but times that by 50 plus you’ve interrupted me for no reason whatsoever.

Maybe the OP is guilty of sending too much rubbish through.

If I attended every meeting I’m invited to, I would never get anything done at all, it’s crazy, and yes, everyone things their meeting is dreadfully important, when in fact no, it’s not.

Maybe OP needs to stop and think, is this information relevant to those I’m sending it to, we get lots of blanket emails.

I feel the other reason we are not coping so well, is my workload has increased drastically, someone leaves and is not replaced, we still have to get the work done.

In my sector it's the norm to put your camera on briefly to introduce yourself and then cams and mics off until it's your turn to speak. Chair and key speakers may have their cams on but mainly one cam and mic at a time

It is a shame and I M the first one to love wfh as has cut my commute if 4 hrs/day but it should be earned really as some people are really taking the piss

Lots of employers have to earn staff by offering remote/hybrid. The idea that it should be earned only works for organisations who can actually pull that off. It's probably less than you think, with the current skills shortage.

In my book, there is absolutely nothing worse than a "thank you" email, especially when it is CCd to the entire team. I have emails coming out of my ears, if I had to send/read a thank you email as well as reading that Ben is very happy for Margaret who is retiring to sail the globe (sent to all, for some reason), I'd never get any work done.

I don’t like having my camera on so won’t unless I’m specifically asked to by a senior member of staff. I’m fat and ugly and I do t want to see my face on screen which has a bigger double chin than in person.

I don’t do work unless it’s mandatory and part of my role. I don’t send emails unless I need to. I have a big enough job to do and I’m not going to feel uncomfortable doing it or pressure myself to do extra things when I don’t have the time.

Can you please tell my manager? I’m so glad our team meetings are now in office, as it’s excruciating.

I don’t even take her seriously anymore- not since I turned up for a 1-2-1 and she asked if we could do cameras off, as she hadn’t showered and changed out of her dressing gown yet at 2pm 🙄.

In the last three workplaces I've been in, it's not ok not to have your camera on in a meeting. If there is a large meeting where I don't input I will put my camera on at the beginning and the end to say Hi and Bye and then work during the bits that aren't relevant. Answering emails is obviously essential - I give a thumbs up to emails that don't warrant an answers (other than thanks, I've noted that) It's very quick. Is it a workplace culture issue or some kind of widespread lethargy where you work?

I've had a bunch of teams meetings this week and I turned my camera on for none of them.

I'm not WFH but I work with people in offices round the UK and meeting up in person would mean 1 person driving from each of the 12-15 locations every day minimum. Our Scottish supervisor is based in Glasgow and our southern manager is based in Devon. The daily planning meetings wouldn't be possible without teams.

In front of me at my desk I have my laptop and 2 much larger giant monitors. My camera is a part of my laptop screen and whatever we are talking about is normally spread over the other monitors. If they want my camera on they will get a great shot of the side of my head as I'm going through the schedule we are talking about on the monitor in front of me.

Those daily meetings are necessary and we have got it well practiced and down to 20 mins max if there has been major problems. Otherwise its a run through the agenda listing errors that occurred yesterday on the main system and need chasing and absences for the upcoming day.

Then there's the OTHER meetings. I was a part of one this week that, in fairness, did need to be a meeting. It was 1 person teaching a few of us how a new part of the software worked. But that teaching took 4 mins at the very end of the meeting and we weren't looking at anyone for that because they shared their screen to show us how it worked. But there was 56 other minutes of that meeting that were completely unnecessary and ate up a MASSIVE portion of time where I had 40 other tasks to complete. The person teaching is close friends with 70% of the people who were meeting so it was all catch up and what they are up to. I completely tuned out the meeting and got other tasks done. I don't care how their cousins wife's sisters wedding was 🙄. And I certainly aren't going to turn my camera on so I have to pretend to.

Teams is useful for us but that's so we can all look at the same page of the schedule together or the same photos or doc to discuss. Seeing those from 1 persons shared screen is more useful than counting everyone's chins. At best when people are on camera all we get is a giggle when somebody turns into a ghost because their background takes over. Most of the time when it is a chat and some have their cameras on, the page with the little squares with faces in gets minimised in favour of looking at what we are talking about anyway. A waste of webcam budget in my opinion. Stop buying them and invest in a better quality microphone. What you're saying is more important. As long as I can hear you when its your turn to speak then that's all that matters.

I'm really not sure that people remember what the workplace used to be like before Covid... I really don't remember it as a go-getting place where everyone was on top form all the time and meetings were always fully attended and really valuable.

I pretty much always do camera on for meetings but my job is communication. Wfh saves a ton of time, which means more time for patients.