Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Flip

1 2 3 4

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:

Sonex · 20/11/2021 16:01

I do this all the time on Teams PP, I start camera on an dthen wheni share my screen to do a demo I turn off my own face. I can't remember off hand what it's called but it's in the general meeting control area.

DifferentHair · 20/11/2021 22:56

Are people really attending meetings in pjs or a dressing gown? 😮 even external meetings?

I think if people want to keep WFH then they need to be more professional than that. Why are we suddenly incapable of brushing our hair and throwing a smartish jumper on for a work meeting? Sitting down for a work meeting looking like you've just climbed out of bed is taking the piss IMO.

Xmasbaby11 · 20/11/2021 22:59

I don't attend that many meetings bit caneras on is standard unless someone has a poor connection.

workoholic · 03/12/2021 00:34

No one wants cameras on and it will become the dreaded meeting unless you make it a little more 'fun'. I would give people advance warning of it though.

Providing you aren't suited and booted kind of people people would feel more comfortable. If you are more friendly/sociable/relatable its more OK to turn it on and not look pristine. I tend to never turn it on if the people I am speaking to look amazing as I am sitting there in my Oodie.

workoholic · 03/12/2021 00:35

@DifferentHair

Are people really attending meetings in pjs or a dressing gown? 😮 even external meetings?

Yes. Yes they are. Professional dress while sitting at home isn't needed, and quite frankly a waste of time. It doesn't stop you from doing your job. Only time I 'bother' is if I had a meeting with seniors or externals.

DifferentHair · 04/12/2021 07:51

@workoholic I'm not talking a suit and tie. Just brushing your hair and putting a clean and decent top on.

If I was meeting with a supplier, or a junior or someone at another firm and they looked like they had just rolled out of bed I'd find it disrespectful and lazy.

Work is work, and showing yourself to be engaged, focused and taking things seriously will get you a lot further than natural talent IMO.

theriverrunsthrough · 04/12/2021 07:58

Cameras on

There was a thread on here the other day where WFH employees were talking about their loss of motivation/drive ect..

I did think WFH was going to change the face of employment but I can see motivation levels becoming more and more apparent and a move back to traditional offices.

drpet49 · 04/12/2021 08:02

* If I was meeting with a supplier, or a junior or someone at another firm and they looked like they had just rolled out of bed I'd find it disrespectful and lazy.*

^I agree. Imagine be so lazy you can’t even change out of your PJs, grim.

Nietzschethehiker · 04/12/2021 08:18

This has been quite an interesting thread to read to be fair.

It's a middle ground really I'm permanent WFH for one role and it's always a compromise. Generally cameras on in my role but it's no big deal if you have a reason not too. Basically extremes either way are a problem. Anyone insisting on permanent cameras or anyone never putting their cameras on would be considered unprofessional.

We've been doing this type of delivery since before covid and it's not rocket science. Ask them to have a while at the beginning with cameras on but they can switch off afterwards.

However a PP said training is ok to switch off. I'm a trainer among other things, no it's not. Same rules , for some things in training you need your camera on and for others it's OK for it to be off.

Any decent trainer will not certificate you if you refuse to have your camera on at all.

I am a bit surprised at the dressing gown etc , it's acceptable for us to be casual in front of colleagues (hoodies etc when we aren't having learner contact that day) but it would not be acceptable to be that casual.

BeyondMyWits · 04/12/2021 08:23

No camera on my desktop, so thankfully don't have to put mine on for any zooms. My eyesight isn't the greatest, so can't use a laptop, I tend to use voice control on the computer too so zooms are tortuous and generally avoided.

Would check your trainees have a camera...

UnsuitableHat · 04/12/2021 08:26

I think it’s reasonable. Cameras off gives people the chance to completely zone out, which you don’t want.

Shedmistress · 04/12/2021 08:31

Any work laptop I've ever had immediately gets black insulation tape put over the camera and there it stays until the day it goes back.

I'd worked from home since 1999 and it was only in lockdown officey people started with this 'cameras on' nonsense.

If people aren't engaging in your meetings or training sessions then you need to be more engaging, not just force them onto screen.

I can't believe so many people havent got their cameras taped up. It is common practice for us 'work from home' dinosaurs.

RedRobin100 · 04/12/2021 08:37

I think it’s very reasonable to ask that cameras are on for a small team meeting, whether contributing or not/
I find it rude when people don’t unless there’s an issue with their connection or tech.
It’s like sitting in a meeting room not even looking or being distracted on a phone or something.

Just tell them that policy going forward is for camera on team meetings

RedRobin100 · 04/12/2021 08:48

To add to above - we might all be WFH - but I don’t see why that should lead to less engagement or professionalism - just as if we were in a meeting room, no matter who is in the meeting.
If it’s just a quick one to one Teams call I think camera off is fine. But a regular team meeting is about engagement and connecting.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 04/12/2021 08:51

Isn't not having the camera switched on a bit like attending a physical meeting and wearing a pillow case over your head?

Hmm, I think I might give that a try...

Ablenicecat · 04/12/2021 09:24

An interesting subject, I try to banter with the team. If we held a meeting together in person like we have for so many years, will you be planning to wear a paper bag on your head! They get it, now and the importance that I get a chance to interact and see their faces.

Ameanstreakamilewide · 04/12/2021 09:41

I'm firmly in the 'put your camera on' camp. It's really quite rude for the speaker to have a wall of blank screens, with their mics off.

And on Tuesday I was told an anecdote about an incident that had happened the week before.

There was a Zoom call in progress and a particular attendee (let's call him Geoff) was slurring his words and didn't sound like himself.
So, naturally, they asked him if he would mind turning his camera on...and of course - the poor bastard looked like death warmed up.
They took one look at him and suspected he had a stroke, so they called an ambulance.

A cautionary tale in this modern digital age!

Roominmyhouse · 04/12/2021 09:47

I don’t have my camera on but that’s because of the way my equipment is set up. My laptop is used as a sort of hub with a keyboard, screen and mouse plugged into it as it’s too small for the work I do. I don’t have space to have it open so the camera works. We are getting new kit at some point so maybe that’ll change, but luckily no one at my office cares and I only ever have internal meetings via teams.

workoholic · 04/12/2021 16:31

@Shedmistress

Any work laptop I've ever had immediately gets black insulation tape put over the camera and there it stays until the day it goes back.

I'd worked from home since 1999 and it was only in lockdown officey people started with this 'cameras on' nonsense.

If people aren't engaging in your meetings or training sessions then you need to be more engaging, not just force them onto screen.

I can't believe so many people havent got their cameras taped up. It is common practice for us 'work from home' dinosaurs.

Exactly this!

workoholic · 04/12/2021 16:36

[quote DifferentHair]@workoholic I'm not talking a suit and tie. Just brushing your hair and putting a clean and decent top on.

If I was meeting with a supplier, or a junior or someone at another firm and they looked like they had just rolled out of bed I'd find it disrespectful and lazy.

Work is work, and showing yourself to be engaged, focused and taking things seriously will get you a lot further than natural talent IMO.

[/quote]
Honestly, if you have the work output then it doesn't make a difference. It is just about dressing up for the right people.

I work in a big bank and got promoted this year. If staff aren't engaged then the meeting is probably boring / they won't stay in the job anyway. My camera is off though and I write meeting notes for literally every meeting I attend as it keeps me focused, unless I really don't care.

The meetings where I don't care are generally the meetings where it could have been an email / no output from me required.

Stellaris22 · 04/12/2021 16:37

DH WFH permanently and will be in meetings with camera off and microphone muted as default. Just means he can get on with other tasks and contribute when needed. But these meetings are generally catch ups and checking on progress, so needing to see the other person isn't necessary.

I guess it depends on what level you are and how much the company trusts you to be honest.

Meowenstein · 04/12/2021 17:30

Cameras on obviously. How else can you engage. You are worried about pressuring them, but ffs, they are there to work same as if they would have to show their face in the office. No wonder MH is becoming worse and worse, it’s becoming standard not to engage with each other anymore - and many people seem to struggle to even talk to their neighbour or solve an easy problem involving having to actually open your mouth and talk to someone!

ragged · 04/12/2021 17:59

I don't care if other cameras are on when I'm speaking, I'm concentrating on if I'm coherent not what they look like. tbh, I cull emails (or something equally low input) during the boring parts of meetings when I'm not contributing & would prefer that to continue because it benefits every project I'm part of. Most meetings, most people achieve very little by being there.

Flip

1 2 3 4