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Original poster

Asking colleagues in Zoom meeting to turn cameras on

98 replies

Mamma43435 · 18/11/2021 22:25

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.

OP posts:
gleegeek · 18/11/2021 23:16

God thank goodness dh's company don't insist on cameras on! I work different hours to dh so am often in my dressing gown walking behind him while he's in meetings, would hate to either appear at his meetings or not be able to walk through to the kitchen when I want. Dh's office was sold last year so not a case of just sending him into the office if he refused to put his camera on. His colleague's profile pictures appear though so he knows what they look like and they have had the odd work social throughout Covid.

VienneseWhirligig · 18/11/2021 23:20

I don't insist on my team having cameras on apart from at 1:1s so I can do a visual check on them to gauge their wellbeing. Yes I know you can't always tell from that but it's one small thing I can do. I don't even expect them to have the camera on for the whole of the 1:1, just for a short time if they are reluctant to keep it on. I don't like mine being on all the time, depends on how I'm feeling and what I'm doing at the same time (I have a very unattractive concentration face so if I'm dealing with emails during meetings I turn it off).

SingItToWinIt · 18/11/2021 23:26

More than fair to expect cameras on. What would they do if you were in the office - Sit with a paper bag over their head?

However don't drop it on them there and then - give advance notice.

There's nothing worse than being asked to turn your camera on there and then when you were expecting a meeting you could just listen to, camera off. Then stuttering and having to make something up quickly about feeling unwell or having system issues - because really you're still in your dressing gown.

Not that that's happened to me of course 😂

SickAndTiredAgain · 18/11/2021 23:34

Oh I hate having my camera on, but I do recognise that it’s a reasonable ask and that it’s just a part of work I don’t love. Not liking something isn’t a reason to not do it. I have had it off recently as I’ve got awful morning sickness so more often than not am surreptitiously nibbling on a cracker (or sucking a bit of lemon!) when not speaking.
I leave it off if there’s a really long, big meeting where it’s mainly key speakers and no contribution from others - the other day I had one with 100 people and didn’t see a need for everyone to have their cameras on.

Breadpapercone · 18/11/2021 23:37

Should absolutely have cameras on unless nip to the loo/need to take an urgent phone call/someone comes in.

Do these people sit in team meeting in real life with a paper bag on their head?

goodwinter · 18/11/2021 23:43

@Somebodylikeyew

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.
This is a nice compromise. Lots of people saying "you wouldn't sit with a paper bag on your head in the office" - no, but in a face to face meeting I'm not constantly aware there's a camera on me, and I can't see myself either. There's a definite self-consciousness on a video chat that isn't present in real life, for me anyway, and it detracts from my concentration.
SarahDippity · 18/11/2021 23:43

Cameras on, and let people know in advance, and at the start of the meeting remind them they can turn on ‘hide self view’ which tends to make people feel less self-conscious. Turning off camera only if their internet is unstable.

Tee20x · 18/11/2021 23:45

Hate having my camera on and never switched it on for meetings unless absolutely required to and I was in some form of formal hearing.

But meetings with my manager, team meetings etc etc - no.

Everyone knows what I look like lol and part of the joys of wfh is not having to wake up early to put on a full face of makeup and do my hair.

Messy bun for the win.

JassyRadlett · 18/11/2021 23:47

Sitting in a meeting with your camera off while someone is presenting is akin to sitting in an office staring at your phone while someone is presenting. Your colleague is right, it’s awful presenting into a sea of nothing. Hard enough doing it on zoom without everyone having their cameras off.

To make hybrid working work we’ve agreed a policy that you need to be just as present for a remote meeting as you would be for a physical one. That means other people being able to see you.

CheeseMmmm · 18/11/2021 23:50

When we had a new colleague. On our small team we were camera on (but not compulsory). The wider cross functional team about 30 people I emailed the organiser and said new person please next meeting can we have 5 mins at start camera on, to introduce.

They sent email warning.

All camera on and did round table. A fair few in wider team had been there months never seen loads of them!

So got email thanks back. And now they say camera on for preference first few mins meet. Loads better!

I think it shouldn't be compulsory though.

ErrolTheDragon · 18/11/2021 23:53

I honestly find this fixation with cameras bizarre... but I've wfh for over 25 years and there were no cameras till relatively recently. And if I'm presenting I'd much rather be able to look at my slides and demos than be expected to engage with a sea of faces!

Essexmum321 · 18/11/2021 23:56

Cameras on when appropriate is our rule, if I feel shy/introverted/haven’t brushed my hair then I am free to keep it off, this is good for MH

Puffthemagicdragongoestobed · 19/11/2021 00:22

If your colleague is complaining that he has not properly met them, why doesn't he arrange an informal chat with them individually?

TheDaydreamBelievers · 19/11/2021 08:16

In mu work the culture if someone was presenting would be to start with it on to say hello, either turn it off or leave on if someone else was presenting, but immediately turn it back on after presentation. For meetings we all have them on the whole time

Bluntness100 · 19/11/2021 08:22

I think you need to give warning also and then say for those comfortable with it.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 19/11/2021 08:23

@Mamma43435

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.
That's dreadful if it's a meeting. If just a catch up like a phone call it's fine. In my company if it's a smaller meeting where anyone can contribute it's cameras on but if a large meeting they stay off.
Bluntness100 · 19/11/2021 08:23

I’d also say if he feels he’s talking to himself then he’s not being interactive.

Spiceup · 19/11/2021 08:24

You have people in meetings who won't have anything at all to contribute for "a good long while"?

That must be absolutely awful for them.

Large meetings we have cameras off or no one's wifi can cope, but small meetings always on.

It's not unreasonable to ask new colleagues to have cameras on IMO. OTOH the colleague complaining he hasn't met them should probably go to the trouble of actually meeying them. Very unreasonable to tell them they can't possibly have anything worth contributing.

AliceAldridge · 19/11/2021 08:31

Cameras always on here. Occasionally someone will have it off when people are feeling a bit ill/crap/grumpy. But they are usually people who we all know anyway, not new colleagues. I'd find it strange.if they assumed they could turn their camera off.

Icenii · 19/11/2021 08:33

Our organisation recognised everyone is different and therefore does not insist with cameras on. They do however ask we understand who is on our calls and whether someone may need us to have cameras on e.g seeing lips, and also to consider blurred backgrounds incase people are concerned about their home.

We also don't need our cameras on for external so calls but people tend to make a judgement and put them on. Everything ticks along fine. Sometimes you have them on, sometimes you don't. If someone puts theirs on, I'll put mine on.

Oblomov21 · 19/11/2021 08:40

I think a compromise is good, maybe 5 minutes at the beginning, and also when you are speaking you should, so that people can see your facial expressions.

JKDinomum · 19/11/2021 08:45

You don't have to look at yourself just click on hide self view. It's pretty hard to interact with people when you can't see them. I teach on zoom and if camera is off you have literally no idea if someone is listening or even there! Except in exceptional circumstances I think it should be the norm to have them on unless it's more like a lecture with loads of participants and only a couple of people talking. Small meetings should definitely be cameras on.

Leftbutcameback · 19/11/2021 08:51

Same as most people - I don’t like having my camera on, but if none are on when I’m talking or presenting I don’t like it! I try to put mine on when I’m feeling and looking ok so when I leave it off it’s the exception rather than the rule. At the end of a long day of VCs it does feel much more tiring than f2f, I don’t know why.

FrazzledY9Parent · 19/11/2021 08:57

Absolutely reasonable to have cameras on (with prior warning if this is not the norm) and I would suggest that you make this a part of your regular meetings as your colleague is not going to get to know people by seeing them for five minutes on one call.

I also think it's reasonable for your colleague to ask you to introduce the topic - he is new to the team, and I would see this as part of making him feel welcome.

Personally I much prefer a default to cameras on, which is what we have in my organisation - with cameras off for very large meetings and if somebody is feeling grotty/struggling with their internet connect.

Soontobe60 · 19/11/2021 08:58

@Somebodylikeyew

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.
The perfect solution.