Asking colleagues in Zoom meeting to turn cameras on

[Mamma43435]

I don't mind Zoom cameras on/off either way, I usually have mine on when I'm expected to contribute, and off in a large group when I'm in the background listening.

Our small team has new members. Myself and a colleague do the majority of the talking so we always have them on. The new ones are listening in to learn and have them off - they won't have any contributions for a good long while. The colleague complained to me that he's never even seen them and feels like he's talking to himself. Asked me to ask them to turn on the cameras as I know them well. We'll be working remotely for foreseeable future.

Is it unreasonable to ask them to turn cameras on? I agreed initially, but now thinking about it I feel uncomfortable being the one to ask.

I think it's reasonable however I would forewarn them that Tuesdays meeting at 11am will require cameras on,so that people aren't caught on the day

Why don’t you send an email to say you’ll have 5 mins at the start where you’d like everyone to be camera on to say hi, and thereafter people can be off unless contributing. I think that’s pretty common.

Yes it's reasonable to ask for cameras on

But honestly

NOONE WANTS TO OUT THEIR CAMERA ON

My manager sends a reminder out each week in preparation for our team meeting like hey guys speak tomorrow remember cameras on! It’s annoying as I’m not always in the mood but the majority comply

Not unreasonable at all of him, how will you even know they are there otherwise if no sound or video?

Yeah - say the Tuesday meeting will be Cameras On. If there is an issue please attend the office.

I'm in a new job and have only met my team online and I am grateful that we've had to have the camera on so at least when we finally meet I'll recognise them and vice versa.

My boss does flag that it will be a cameras on meeting which gives me chance to put some make up on.

Of course it's reasonable. My company is fully remote and has been since before covid. We have camera always on policy. Apart from for big meetings with 15+ people.

I agree with your colleague that it’s a bit weird that he doesn’t know who these people can see him but he can’t see them. We run our own business and it’s just assumed everyone will have cameras on, unless someone’s feeling under the weather, which is fine.

As a PP said just send an email stating what will happen next week.

It's completely reasonable to have cameras on. All our internal meetings have cameras on unless there is a specific reason not too. If we were in the office it would be face to face, this is no different.

I expect my team to put theirs on if I had mine on. All snr ppl have cameras on in our meetings/calls.

Sometimes, for informal internal meetings I'd happily say 'I'm looking rough today, lets keep cameras off'

I agree with 'next Tuesday's meeting will be cameras on so that we can all get to meet each other'

It's not unreasonable at all.

They are there to work, be it at home or in the office. In the office people can't wear bags on their heads when they feel like it...!!

I think it’s reasonable to ask them to have their cameras on. I think it’s unreasonable of your colleague to ask you to be his mouthpiece.

Apologies, I hope my post makes sense. I need sleep.

Cameras should be on as default. Otherwise you can't tell facial expressions etc its too hard to see if you're engaging with people or not.
But agree, give a bit of warning

Not in the least unreasonable to insist cameras are on, for those not inclined whilst WFH then they should be asked to go into the office for meetings and participate online from there.

Cameras on. We do make it clear when sending the meeting invite that if anyone joins our meetings that that’s the expectation - ie no surprises (we had a young grad complain she hadn’t got her make up on!).

If he wants them to have cameras on he should ask. Why is he getting you to do it when you're not that bothered either way.

Thanks all, that's a very fast consensus!

Our company doesn't have a cameras policy.

I guess I was just worried about pressuring them to do something that we have no official policy on. I'm not in any position of authority, o just happen to know them best.

As much as I hate being on camera, I hate even more when I feel like I'm talking to myself and no idea if anyone is listening or even still there.
5 mins at the start of the meeting seems like a good compromise.

* Of course it's reasonable. My company is fully remote and has been since before covid. We have camera always on policy.*

^Same as my work

Why can't your colleague ask the team for cameras on, if they are the one that feels it's imperative?

Of course, it’s a meeting - having the cameras on is the closet to being in the room. It’s important for, you know, human interaction and connection.

We never have cameras on in our group at work, we're usually sharing screen to look at more interesting things than each other's faces. Our profile pictures do show up otherwise, which is sufficient.
I've got my camera disabled, the laptop is on its dock behind my monitor so wouldn't be much use anyway.

By company policy I also mean company culture. Some people don't even turn cameras on one-to-one. I don't love it but no one insists on it.

I have my camera on when I’m participating in a meeting. I turn it off if I’m just listening, it slows my internet so I don’t use unless necessary.