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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:

LookItsMeAgain · 19/11/2021 09:10

I don't understand why there even needs to be a policy for something like this.
If we were all back in our offices, staff wouldn't have the option of hiding behind a folder/noticeboard/whatever and only have their voice in the room. The only difference to these meetings is that they are not in the same physical space. We're all supposed to show up for these meetings and the only thing I would request is that microphones are turned off unless you're going to ask a question. Cameras should be turned on. For all meetings. Not part of a meeting. All of it.
If someone has poor broadband connection then perhaps having their camera off would be reasonable but not the whole lot of attendees.

tanstaafl · 19/11/2021 09:24

Surely the issue with cameras on in meetings when WFH is whether there’s also an expectation to look like you would in the office?

SirChenjins · 19/11/2021 09:27

It's a work meeting - of course cameras need to be turned on. Imagine you're in the office, you don't sit under a blanket during meetings.

Training is different - OK to turn cameras off for them unless it's break out rooms where you need input from everyone.

StopGo · 19/11/2021 09:31

You have no authority so why is this man telling you to deal with his issue. If it bothers him so much ch then he can do it himself. Bet he won't, so much easier to let you take any flack.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 19/11/2021 09:39

I think reasonable, but there will be resistance. Literally no-one likes having the camera on, and being confronted with their own ill-lit face staring back, but IME people engage massively more when looking at other people who have their cameras on.

Ringsender2 · 19/11/2021 09:42

@GertrudeBElion

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

This. Why are you being asked to do the work and be the bad guy? (Not that it's a bad request)

GerbilCurse · 19/11/2021 09:48

I honestly find this fixation with cameras bizarre... but I've wfh for over 25 years and there were no cameras till relatively recently.

Yep, it seems only those who started working remotely during COVID have this fixation with cameras. I've always worked in teams spread across different sites and for the past decade it's been completely normal to just dial into meetings. It's a complete waste of bandwidth too.

Dizzy1234 · 19/11/2021 09:56

Yeah, email and say camera's on, we are part wfh, I put my camera on if it's a 121 meeting or my manager asks, I think that audience participation is key to zoom meetings, it's easy to work on something in the background when your camera is off or scroll through your phone 😏 then you're not really listening / participating.
It's especially important for new starters to be fully engaged on meetings

fiorentina · 19/11/2021 10:00

I’d always encourage cameras on. Although sometimes switch off if Wi-fi is patchy. I know people hate it but if these same meetings would take place face to face they’d be there. And you can blur your background if you don’t want your home to be seen.

OnwardsAndSideways1 · 19/11/2021 10:12

I teach online and ask for cameras on (unless there's an issue), and since then engagement has been much higher. It's always the one with the camera off who doesn't answer the question when asked, and even just getting them to speak when the camera is off is hard work.

Zoom meetings are awful anyway, but interacting with a load of black squares, and long silences as those people went to make a cup of tea- I can't be bothered to give presentations any more if there's no camera, I might as well pre-record it and play it as you are just speaking into nothing.

No-one has to look 'camera ready', I haven't noticed anyone making a huge effort with appearance and sometimes I appear looking a bit rough, I prefer to see myself in view but if you don't you can get rid of your self-view anyway and just look at the other people.

We tried it the camera off way and people just became disengaged. We have one big meeting with most cameras on and a few off and those off people always take longer to reply/harder to respond or connect in with everyone else, it's like they only wake up when their name is called!

KatherineJaneway · 19/11/2021 10:15

Not unreasonable no. I get annoyed if people constantly keep them off for no good reason. I just think they are sitting there only half listening playing with their phone.

Spiceup · 19/11/2021 10:18

If you're in a meeting with peopem who can't contribute with cameras and sound off, isn't it best done by an email circular?

I promise no one's listening.

Horriblewoman · 19/11/2021 10:21

I wouldn't sit in a meeting room with a bag over my head so equally I don't join a zoom meeting with my camera off.

RobinPenguins · 19/11/2021 10:22

Our rule is cameras are on by default. I only have mine turned off if I’m having connection problems. No one has an issue with this, if we were having the meeting in person then everyone would be able to see each other. Backgrounds can be blurred for privacy.

GerbilCurse · 19/11/2021 10:43

If you're in a meeting with peopem who can't contribute with cameras and sound off, isn't it best done by an email circular

This too, the majority of meetings I'm invited to are a massive waste of my time.

PineappleWilson · 19/11/2021 10:52

In our meetings, the cameras are off to help with internet connectivity. It helps keep people in our meetings. I'd rather have people in meetings with the camera off than have a camera on and keep dropping offline.

Potplant · 19/11/2021 10:53

We have a camera on policy. I hated it at first, but it doesn’t even register now. It’s nice to see who you are talking to.

Nandiniti · 19/11/2021 11:02

Blimey, I'm so conditioned to having my camera on that I'm always amazed when people I've never met don't put theirs on for a call!

I hated it at first and it made me really anxious, but then I raised the laptop up to mimimise the double chin, got a decent ring light, and took to wearing bright colours on my top half and having tidy hair at least at the front. Then I felt a lot more relaxed about it all and have my camera on all the time.

We had a work policy of cameras always on, but I've moved companies now and 80% of my colleagues have no idea how to use Teams...I speak to my old workmates over Teams more than I do the new ones!

Sonex · 19/11/2021 11:12

After 2 years of having to get up an hour earlier to put makeup on and straighten my hair I'm fucking sick of camera on zoom I have to say. In the old days you would have got up, got ready, walked to the tation, had a train journey and a couple of cofees to wake up a bit. I look like shit until 11.00 and I don't particularly want to be framed on someone's screen in HD, rather than just being one of the crowd.in a busy office. I keep mine off wherever I can get away with it. The men can show up bleary eyed, unshaven and having just shoved a hoodie on. I'd be questioned about my appearance if I did that. The usual double standards at play. it makes me feel very uncomfortable now being on camera, especially as I am generally older than everyone else (work in IT).

That being said, I don't think its unreasonable for companies to expect it, I'm just trying to get out of it. I think giving people notice that a meeting will be "camera on" expected is a good compromise. I'd have an early night and vet up earlier to straighten my hair and put some makeup on.

MrsPleasant · 19/11/2021 11:13

I expect my team to keep cameras on. The way they look is irrelevant and if they choose to wear pjs and a hat I couldn't care less, but I do want to engage with everyone and cannot do that with a blank square.

lentilsandeggs · 19/11/2021 12:04

My office is relaxed about cameras. We put them on when we feel like it. Works well for us.

TartanDMs · 20/11/2021 08:03

@Sonex that's really awful that you are pressured to look good on camera - our workplace isn't fussed and sometimes we will take the mick out of our own appearance if we have unbrushed hair or a dressing gown on. We embrace the freedom to be comfy and relaxed that WFH gives us. Even our director doesn't bother with her make up and has turned up to a meeting with hair dye on. I think it makes us bond more - I am not a camera enthusiast but it can make you appreciate that your team has a life beyond the office.

DifferentHair · 20/11/2021 10:50

If two people are doing the majority of talking then it should be an email. I promise you the others are half listening at best. Without the social pressure of appearing to be paying attention- with cameras off it's very easy to have a meeting on in the background while you read emails, the news, shop online, paint your toenails etc

KatherineJaneway · 20/11/2021 12:52

or a dressing gown on

You'd seriously attend a meeting in your dressing gown?

rookiemere · 20/11/2021 15:25

We're on Teams and I don't know how to switch the picture of myself off. In theory I agree cameras should be on - from running meetings I know how difficult it is without knowing how people are responding or are even awake - but as an attendee I find looking at my fat ugly mug unbelievably stressful. I don't notice it as much when I'm actually talking, so I think the switching on for the first few minutes and when you're talking is a good idea.
Unless anyone can tell me how to shut down my own image in teams ?

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