Work meeting etiquette

[Meetingtimes]

just been on back to back meetings all day again, and feeling so frustrated with with following;

• General update meeting - everyone has a 5 min slot, people going over this consistently with absolute drivel nobody needs to know about, prompts that there time is up, but carry on in the weeds
• Meeting running over, some smart arse asks a question that could of been asked directly to the person at a later time
• No cameras on, even by the presenters, I kid you not I once did a full days training with an external trainer and they didn’t switch their camera on once!
• Having an open calendar policy, but still getting diary clashing invites
• Not responding to an invite at all
• leaving your mic on instead of just having a default so it mutes on calls with 10s of people

I might just be stressed (from all the tedious meetings) but why do people do this, especially the first 2?!?

The point being, if you - or anyone else - feels they do "need" makeup, then you need to put it on before work starts.

Same as everyone brushes their hair or gets dressed. Doesn't bother me two hoots if someone is wearing make up or not, it is the fact that you are actually suggesting it as being a viable reason for not having your camera on in a work meeting that is ridiculous.

Jesus, stop being ridiculous and read my earlier comment, I don’t wear make up on the days I WFH as it’s not necessary and I don’t need to have my camera on!!

Depends. One job had cameras disabled for security reasons. Previous job was cameras on unless it was a regional all-hands with hundreds on the call, in which case cameras only for speakers. Also had meetings where some individuals were asked to turn cameras off because their bandwidth wasn't coping and looking at a fuzzy, pixilated image trying to reload which was making the sound go weird wasn't helpful.

Generally my preference is for cameras on.

Meetings re meetings with nil productivity and a sheer waste of time.
My experience of working in a senior role in a public organisation only served to confirm that it was a different suit on a different day with a tweek of the management speak.
At the same time, front line services were short.
I attended as few meetings as possible and concentrated on responsibilities that directly impacted on service users

The bit about declining or accepting meetings is true and drives me insane especially when I'm booking meetings for a specific purpose and those people should be there.

It's the height of ignorance.

Yes, civil servants do love meetings and we certainly used to have plenty of professional meetings engineers but they were very good at running meetings properly. It was after we were privatised that we endured 20 minute meetings crammed into two hours because no-one seemed to know how to shut people up!

Genuine question, OP - why do you feel so strongly about people having their cameras on? Does it really make a difference?

Yes- I really think it does. Nothing worse than talking to a sea of blank screens, no way to pick up visual clues, engage with the other participants, tell whether you have their attention etc. And people definitely pay less attention when their camera is off- checking other emails, etc. I agree that it's incredibly rude

Virtually no one in my organisation turns their camera on; it's unnecessary, and hogs screen space from whatever is being presented.
What annoys me more is occasionally having to waste time correcting shoddy process documents written by native English speakers who should know better: "there time is up" "could of"... Most of my team have English as their third language and they don't make basic errors like these, OP.

Cameras on at my place, and if you don't like it you have to go to the office for meetings instead.

My personal bugbear is people not seeming to know how to use schedule assist.

Every one of your points annoys me too, OP. I also get fed up of hearing myself say "you're on mute" over and over again.

I find these threads both fascinating and helpful as someone who struggles to get the balance right. For all the people who have very few meetings, and keep them strict and efficient- where do you get your ‘water cooler’ chat and getting to know your colleagues? All this stuff is vital for developing team bonds and cohesive working, trust and psychological safety. How does it happen if you have 2 hours of meetings a week and no chit chat? Do you speak to colleagues in between meetings?

I can't turn my camera on - they're disabled for security reasons. No phones or smart watches in the office, either.

I agree it does make a difference if you can see people, but I've adjusted to it. Mind you, given I was in a face-to-face meeting yesterday where one guy just wandered off without saying anything- it's probably a good thing I can't see them being openly disengaged... (He is so fucking rude, but it's so blatant, I just stared, speechless.)

I never look put my camera on, imo it's not needed for the majority of meetings. Plus i'm always multitasking

I chat to people on the days we are in the office. Majority of meetings are pointless about work that could be done over email or a quick 5min call

That's exactly the problem- you are multi tasking rather than focusing on the meeting. And if the meeting doesn't need your full attention, why are you there?

Because I'm told I have to attend, and people get annoyed if I'm not there even though I don't need to be 🤷 I avoid every pointless meeting I can, but some attendance is mandatory so I crack on with other things to make the best use of my time. I could sit there looking bored on camera doing nothing but not sure why that's better

The absolute worst one we had was a meeting we all agreed to come in for 7am for as our job means we can’t ever have a whole staff meeting unless it’s out of hours
this big manager was coming in so we all get there bleary eyed for 6.45am
big manager never turns up and meeting was cancelled

I'm partially deaf. It's really important to me that people have their cameras on so I can lip read when needed.
It's not a beauty contest. It's ridiculous people are keeping cameras off our of vanity

I can see your problem, but it’s not always about vanity. A colleague of mine leaves theirs off because chronic health means they look ill all the time. It’s not vain or anything to do with a ‘beauty contest’ 🙄 not to want to be seen looking like you’re not well enough to work even when you are.

My chronic illness made me gain a huge amount of weight (steroids) , get horrible rash (steroids) lose my hair (other immune suppression) and have a lopsided face (neurological condition). I still appeared on camera because I think it is important for deaf people and also important for better meetings

Unless your job has a requirement for you to look good, surely it doesn’t matter?

Amazed how many people on the thread don’t bother with cameras. Unless there’s a specific need - eg neurodivergent, on a train etc - I think it’s extremely disrespectful to others on the call.

Fair enough if no-one in your industry bothers with cameras. I think it’s rude and tricky from an accessibility point of view but horses for courses. But If you ‘need’ to look professional I don’t understand why you don’t put your make up on?

Agree! I don't put makeup on for home or office for the most part. I do think it's reasonable to be dressed and showered etc so will do that pre starting work, but that's fine. And my background is messy so I blur.