Is vaping on conference calls a thing?

Justtochat · 2023-09-13T19:19:31+00:00

What it says in the tin really…at work this week I had a video call with a colleague, we both work from home. In the middle of the call she vaped and I was a bit taken aback! I suppose it’s no big deal, she’s in her home, people she’s speaking with can’t smell it. If anything in fact it’s better than someone heading out regularly for smoking breaks. Nonetheless I was surprised. I’ve never seen this before and almost all my working time for the last 2 years has been internal conference calls. Does this happen where you work?

Coffeesnob11 · 13/09/2023 20:35

2 of my clients vape on calls but none of my colleagues. I would find it a bit odd and unprofessional but I would not say anything unless there were clients online.

Surely2023IsTheYearForMyRainbowBaby · 13/09/2023 20:36

Maybe not quite the same, but I always vaped during zoom meetings for my NVQ. Partly because half of them were during my break and partly cos I was bored out of my mind. At first I'd use the hide self image thinking no one else could see me but one time I'd done that and my DCat shoved his bonce in front of the camera and I just heard oh we have a furry visitor come to see us. I'm just like thank fuck it was his face he shoved in front of the camera and not his arse 😅 then I was like oh crap if they saw that, that also means they'll have all seen me stuffing my face as well. Vaping, smoking, eating and drinking anything other than water in a see through bottle was banned during any exam done via zoom though, even during the break we got.

StoatofDisarray · 13/09/2023 21:11

I can't see the problem. I'd be a bit if they started shooting up, though.

chipsandpeas · 13/09/2023 21:16

within calls at home with people in my team, people inc me vape, however never in a wider call with colleagues or with clients

Loopy9 · 13/09/2023 21:23

I had someone vape in the middle of their interview.. it was a no from me!

CMOTDibbler · 13/09/2023 21:30

One of my (now retired) colleagues would fully smoke on conference calls. I was surprised at how much I was shocked by it - in his own home, no reason why not, but I think it was also the thing of not having seen anyone smoking inside for so long.

ScarletWitchM · 13/09/2023 21:43

If it’s an informal catch up with team mates the it wouldn’t bother me, but as a manager if I was doing a team catch up or a formal meeting with other department stakeholders I would find it unprofessional and not acceptable- same with smoking.
I was once on a full department Teams meeting where one woman had her camera on and was applying a full face of make up throughout- it was like watching a tik tok GRWM 😂
i heard she got a slapped wrist after!

continentallentil · 13/09/2023 21:45

I spose it’s no different from drinking coffee when you are on zoom

I would do that in meetings, I would’t in a pitch or an interview

Fallenangelofthenorth · 13/09/2023 21:52

Surely2023IsTheYearForMyRainbowBaby · 13/09/2023 20:36

Maybe not quite the same, but I always vaped during zoom meetings for my NVQ. Partly because half of them were during my break and partly cos I was bored out of my mind. At first I'd use the hide self image thinking no one else could see me but one time I'd done that and my DCat shoved his bonce in front of the camera and I just heard oh we have a furry visitor come to see us. I'm just like thank fuck it was his face he shoved in front of the camera and not his arse 😅 then I was like oh crap if they saw that, that also means they'll have all seen me stuffing my face as well. Vaping, smoking, eating and drinking anything other than water in a see through bottle was banned during any exam done via zoom though, even during the break we got.

That's hilarious! Did you mentally rerun everything trying to remember if you'd picked your nose/teeth/ears/a spot once you realised? Or is it just me who's quite disgusting when I think no-one can see? 🤣

I do smoke and vape but wouldn't do it on a teams call. Although, yesterday I was on one that went on a bit and admit to dropping my pen a few times so I could put a chunk of chorizo in my mouth. If it had gone on any longer I may well have also had a crafty vape under the table...

Glorifried · 14/09/2023 00:41

No to vaping but a mug / glass is fine.

MagnoliatheMagnificent · 14/09/2023 08:25

No I think it's very unprofessional

PacificState · 14/09/2023 08:42

I vape on internal calls (ie within the organisation - it's very small and quite informal). I'm a freelance consultant so I figure they pay me for my time/expertise, they're not my dad. (Although I vape in front of him too.)

I wouldn't do it with a brand new client or when I'm pitching for work. I guess it does denote that I am addicted to nicotine, which - while not directly relevant to anything I do - might be perceived as messy/undisciplined/flaky. So I wait until people are happy with my work before I do it!

MrsKeats · 14/09/2023 21:09

Totally unprofessional

DatumTarum · 14/09/2023 21:15

Had someone smoking a cigarette in one the other day.

Who cares?

Surely2023IsTheYearForMyRainbowBaby · 15/09/2023 10:26

@Fallenangelofthenorth haha no but I do remember thinking oh crap they'll have seen me roll my eyes about a thousand times at the person who had an opinion on absolutely everything. During the exams we had to do a full room scan so they knew no one else was in the room. Moggy was safely shut out of the room during those times. On my English reading exam I was having my bathroom fitted and didn't realise the electrician needed to switch all the electrics off. Fuse box is in the living room so he had to come in mid exam. I did quickly explain to the examiner who he was and didn't turn away from the camera so she knew I wasn't cheating

divinededacende · 15/09/2023 12:58

I openly vape in internal meetings and external ones where I have an established relationship with the people on the call. Otherwise, I'll gauge the room first. Beyond lockdown, there's a definite shift towards focusing on what's really important; is your contribution to the meeting valuable? Is your work good quality? Are you a respectful colleague? etc. Aside from that, I don't see there's place for judgement on behaviors or actions that have no impact aside from arbitrary notions of what's 'professional'. If it's not illegal, offensive or distracting then who cares?

I'll always be aware of who I'm dealing with. Different industries and cultures shift in different ways but we do a lot of work with colleagues in the local authority and health and social care partnership. The shift away from unnecessary formalities and expectations have definitely improved working relationships.

Imfullofcrazyideas · 15/09/2023 13:10

someone senior continually vaped
in calls and I didn’t give it a second thought- the person sounds like they’ve smoked all their life so probably equivalent of chain smoking with something slightly less deadly I suppose

MelodiousThunk · 15/09/2023 13:12

We have customers who do it, and colleagues who do it on internal calls. All German for some reason.

PauliesWalnuts · 15/09/2023 13:14

I do it but fake bad connectivity and turn my camera off for a bit.

AgnesX · 15/09/2023 13:14

No, mine is a very corporate world and would be seen as unprofessional.

CirreltheSquirrel · 15/09/2023 13:26

My boss does, which I found strange at first but now I'm used to it. He's German as per the comment above!

Porridgeislife · 15/09/2023 13:42

Not for us. Same as cracking open a lager or a glass of wine wouldn’t be looked upon favourably unless it’s pre-arranged social call.

Trinity65 · 15/09/2023 13:50

The Horror 🙄

Justgonefishing · 15/09/2023 13:55

I would think less of them…that they can’t even make it through a work call without needing a hit! If you wouldn’t do it in the office then you shouldn’t do it working from home.

CornishGem1975 · 15/09/2023 14:11

I think it's really unprofessional. I'd judge one of my team members if they did it on a call. Just wait surely?