To join MS Teams meetings one minute late to avoid awkward small talk?

[AdeptEagle]

I’ve started deliberately joining Teams meetings a minute or so late to dodge the awkward “how’s the weather?” chat while waiting for others to join. I get that it’s polite to engage but sometimes it just feels forced.

AIBU to think this is a harmless life hack or does it come across as rude?

YANBU! I do this sometimes. Anyway, no one will know why you're joining late - you could have had an urgent email to finish.

YANBU - I've started doing this too!

I hope everyone doesn't catch on, otherwise we'll all be joining one minute late and still have to make small talk lol

I think YANBU if it really is just a single minute and the others are happily chatting when you join rather than waiting only for you.

I suppose the problem is that is everyone does this then the problem just gets worse until everyone joins two minutes late and before you know it it's common knowledge that the meeting doesn't start until 5 minutes after the starting time and it gets a bit chaotic.

Honestly in an ideal world I'd make it so the meeting starts as soon as the clock turns to eg 10.31, no exceptions, but since that's not how things tend to go then I think it's probably no big deal.

Honestly, the human race is done. Are people really incapable of spending 30-60 seconds exchanging pleasantries with a colleague now? Good grief.

Join with your camera/mic off until they actually begin. Then they know you're present but you don't need to speak.

I think it depends how many are attending the meeting and if proceedings will be delayed at all by your lateness. I don't log on late but never early either.

This annoys me no end.
It's extremely rude.

It's unbelievable that there are some supposedly nature adults, holding down jobs, where they refuse to join a meeting on time, can't manage 60 seconds of small talk that they aren't even forced into and refuse to turn their camera on.

Unbelievable, that people could cope perfectly well when they had to it in the office but now apartently it's too big an ask.

No wonder companies are trying to get people back in the office when this is the nonsense they receive bu some of those WFH.

I would do the same. I enjoy catching up with my colleagues face to face, but there's something very awkward about doing it via a screen.

I would turn the camera off but I don't do meetings online! Lucky me!

I pretend I’m on a call or that someone has come into my office

A number in my tram love the weekly meeting and to have a laugh together I’m often sitting there wondering what is so funny 😬

Then everyone else has to make small talk until you bother to turn up!

Mic and camera switched off until everyone is settled and ready.

It's rude, it's pathetic. It just forces everyone to wait for you.

It can be annoying when there's always the one team member who starts the meeting 5 minutes early though. We have bets on how early they start it.

Yep!
Also if you click chat with participants you can see who's already joined

YANBU. Most of mine are friendly and we join as soon as ready because the catching up is a plus, but I have one fortnightly one where no-one talks and they sit there with cameras on looking at their screen.

It's very, very odd. I don't know anyone on the call to just talk to and break the ice, so now I join a bit late to avoid finding myself cracking jokes out of pure embarrassment.

Grow up?

Go on and just say 'sorry I was on mute' when the time comes to start the meeting.

I hate small talk online and in person. I do it with in person meetings too 😂. But I also hate being late, so it’s a constant battle. I don’t understand why we can’t all just be quiet until the meeting starts

It's a great life hack! If you aren't in the mood then repetitive, awkward small talk is just painful. Sitting blinking at each other. I hate it too. If you're feeling bold then think of some unique brief conversation starters or share something about yourself.

Alternatively (and less inconveniencing others and coming across as chaotic and disorganised) go on a good bit earlier, on mute and no video, and just turn on your camera when the thing starts. No-one will bat an eyelid.

Am I the only one who used to join early just to have a bit Craic 😂

Sadly I'm out of work at the moment

There is always one that keeps the meeting going on for much longer than needed

so much time wasted with bants 🙄 and pointless points made

Oops that would be me again...

I work somewhere where people start the meeting 15 minutes beforehand and it annoys the shit out of me. Why as it's certainly not to chat.

Being late where there's no good reason, equally irritates me especially when it's a full agenda.