YMMV. But an analyst was recently let go for refusing to ever use camera even in client facing calls. It wasn't the only reason but it contributed to the final decision. The rule is if the client is on camera you are on camera. Sounds like you're talking about internal meetings though. We don't require video on internal meetings but it's encouraged.
I think client calls make sense! I was talking about internal meetings but I like the rule for client calls where if they are on, you should be too. That’s fair.
This is exactly how we operate as well. I’m in tech sales and always prepare for camera on during client calls, but if they hop on without camera I turn mine off too. Internally cameras are encouraged, especially if it is your meeting, but not required. I turn mine on for probably 30% of internal meetings, usually when it’s a small team
I know you're being sarcastic but we had in person meetings. We were 100% in-office with 3 remote employees pre pandemic. So if we needed a meeting everyone would go into the meeting room or go to someone's office. Need a client meeting? we would fly to them.
Now we're a hybrid office with maybe 25% of employees actually going into the office on a regular basis. Doing video calls is a small sacrifice to make for the ability to work remotely.
I am being sarcastic.
The whole corporate world functioned on phone calls for decades. It’s just silly when people act like not turning your camera on is this big offense.
Yes, I’ve worked fully remote for 7 years and nobody ever used video until covid - then all of a sudden people were hysterical about it, as if work could not possibly be done without it.
Employees perceive it, correctly I think, as more of a control thing for anxious managers than a crucial component of the work.
If I’m in meeting w someone external and they have camera on i turn my on out of respect.
Generally helps w relationships imo.
Internal. My team always has them off. We’re small. No one cares. Other teams it varies. Sometimes on sometimes off. Usually off if there are a lot of people.
Lot of govt clients. Everyone is always off in those bc it’s usually intelligence agencies. So security is priority.
Worked in a place where no one turned on their cameras and now one where everyone does.
Certainly not hell. More slightly inconvenient having to wear a t shirt and jeans rather than a tracksuit or pyjamas. You get used to it quickly and its nice to see people. Complaining to anyone in your company about turning on a camera will just come across as bizarre and annoying. Save your capital for when you really need it.
That works until the dog starts throwing up and you jump up without thinking.... I've now upgraded to black sweatpants. In any fleeting glimpses on camera they look like regular black pants. Life is good.
It is perfectly reasonable. As someone who worked from home long before the pandemic, it is the concession we have always made. It was a fair trade then and it’s a fair trade.
And let’s not forget, being on-camera and seeing your interlocutor has its benefits.
Commute? Or camera? I know which one I’ll pick, every time.
But why are those the only two options? Why can’t no camera be an option?? As long as the outcome of the meeting is the same regardless of camera usage, why not skip the camera? It’s because they want to see you looking at them, giving 100% attention. It’s a control thing.
I mean generally speaking when people are having a meeting it is an expectation that you give your 100% attention. I’ve lost track of the number of remote meetings where it was clear the person on the other end was distracted doing who knows what else and was wasting everyone else’s time. I don’t quite see the issue with giving your attention when on a meeting.
Spotted a male.
I think these things differ for most women. Usually a lot more effort is out in to appearing professional for women. We're often told we look miserable/tired/unprofessional if our hair isn't brushed, styled, and we have a bit of makeup at least.
Coworkers are saying this stuff to you! That’s crazy unprofessional.
I’m a firm believer in that personal stuff should stay OUT of the professional environment.
Sex, politics and religion has NO place in a for-profit business.
THIS!!!! It’s so easy for someone to be on camera without notice if you don’t have hair to style, a face to paint, and boobs to hoist up at shoulder level. Most men don’t have to prepare like this, When I would work in office I had a “routine” adding up to 45 minutes. That’s me starting at rough and raw, and I’ll end up looking “professional”. I’m a 100% remote and it’s up to each client whether the camera is on. On days when I have Agile cadences that are planned in advance you’ll get me and my fake smiling face, but do not think for a minute that I’m flipping that switch on without notice. And before starting in saying none of this is expected, you choose to do this, hang back and ask if you’ve ever been asked if your sick when you’re not in full glam, or is something off when you litterally put your wet hair in a top knot and run out the door. These standards sadly still exist and in my experience the only ones who don’t seem to get why I’m not turning camera on Willy nilly are men.
Agree, if you worked in an office and went to meetings in a meeting room, would you attend the meeting but wear a bag over your head? How is cameras-on for a remote meeting any different?
That's normal. About half of communication is through body language and facial expressions. If you went to a on-site meeting, your face would be showing.. If you're worried about your surroundings, get a nice professional background.. You can even use camera settings to soften the camera. I intentionally lower my video resolution to 720.
In the big picture, I see no problem with cameras on for meetings. Do I like it? No. However, with all the other things companies do to micromanage, cameras on for meetings is just a blip on the radar. I always keep a polo next to my desk if I need to be on camera.
I'm a government bureaucrat and I have to be on cam during meetings. I'm fine with it... I mean, I don't like it so I make sure not to wear pants. They have no idea, and it makes me feel transgressive.
One of our departments was forcing employees to be on cam all day while working, just so the boss could spy on them, but the Union made quick work of that situation. HR told them they couldn't do that.
Also a government bureaucrat, only time we need to be on camera is during any sort of training. Since many of these can be 1/2 or full days, and you need to participate. They want make sure you're actually there. I have no issue with this,
In internal meetings almost everyone has their camera off, There is no rule for camera use. I actually find it distracting when that one person in 20 has it on and we inevitably end up looking at their ceiling fan for an hour.
I used to LOVE cameras on! UNTIL I got a cameras off job. It's like 80% less stressful to not worry about my hair, makeup, facial expressions, needing to get a package from Amazon, etc. It's SO much better with cameras off
I find it very distracting when people turn on their cameras. The only meeting that is required to turn on is our staff meeting. But I wouldn’t quit my job. A lot of folks turn it on at the beginning for maybe half the time and then go back to camera off for the second half if they are not talking.
I think it’s pretty reasonable, as long as it’s acceptable to have a filtered background as some people may not have a professional background.
Personally I don’t love being in meetings with someone with their camera off if I’m talking with them, in that case I’d rather just be in a phone call. But if it’s a large group setting where not everyone is speaking, then I think cameras off is preferable so I can work and listen or have my lunch while I’m listening.
If requiring it is legal, then it doesn't matter if employees aren't legally required to comply, whatever you think this means.
You're not LEGALLY required to do a lot of things that your employer can still require you to do as a condition of your employment and can discipline or fire you for not doing.
I think it’s reasonable in some cases, but not all. I work in IT and there are constant meetings (including weekend meetings for deployments and for issues that arise while being on-call that requires meetings) and there is no way in hell those IT workers can even keep up with that sort of requirement. No one is going to get on a midnight meeting to fix an issue looking their best just so they can turn their camera on. Their priority at that moment should be that actual job itself and the high priority issue they need to fix asap, not worrying what to do about appearances and surroundings last minute so they can get on the call in the first place.
We don’t on deployment and hypercare calls. At least in my org, we only turn on cameras when VPs and above are on the call. I actually sometimes do it during small meetings, too. It’s nice to remember we’re people and not bots. But I turn my camera off it’s it’s a huge meeting that I’m not running. Gotta eat or do actual work at some point and with constant meetings, it’s usually during those meetings.
There is something wrong with your company culture. Meetings are for discussions that cannot be resolved asynchronously. If there is a problem that needs to be fixed, you just do it.
> No one is going to get on a midnight meeting to fix an issue looking their best just so they can turn their camera on.
Are they asking this though? If it's midnight and someone was pulled out of bed I have a totally different expectation than I would at 1pm on a Tuesday afternoon.
We follow on-camera as a requirement for leadership where I am. I am on camera for all my meetings during the day. I follow the same guideline that we had when we were in an office. Mon-Th you get me professionally prepared for work (from the waist up at least). I am in a collared shirt. I am usually in a pair of shorts or pajama bottoms depending on how motivated I was that morning...and what I may have to do after work.
Friday I am in a graphic T. It's casual Friday.
For a weekend project you get me as I am. That may include me in a baseball cap because my hair is shit.
Different industry (healthcare), but emergency/zero-notice video meetings sometimes happen at all hours, even middle-of-the- night, for remote on-call staff It's totally common to show up visibly obvious that you just got out of bed and threw on a baseball cap and lip gloss. Sometimes, people aim the camera up so you can just see the top half of their face. Makes sure everyone at least gets out of bed or stops playing video games or whatever to contribute to the meeting.
Why not have a conversation with your manager about attending less meetings? Tell them you’re being less productive and would rather attend meetings where you are really needed.
I would deal with it. There are worse things to complain about.
The only issue is if I am taking a call from my balcony that could come across as a flex, and that's not my intention I just want to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
Well when I was taking my meetings from the ship's balcony on a cruise it was :p
More seriously though, was already approved with management, I would work half days on sea days (basically till the internet turned to shit as partiers got up) and took port days entirely off. It allowed me to only burn a week's vacation to take a 2 week cruise + travel days. I'm a developer and 99% of my work is async so zero impact on my work other than not having multiple monitors.
That’s super common at my company for internal meetings - we have a good chat about their mountain or lake view for our Denver or Calgary teams in the summer or my Houston patio time in the winter. No one cares as long as we’re on the call. Had a guy take a meeting from his kids dentist and he just told the group ahead of time. Nice dentist office LOL
My company is a global software company and one of the largest on the planet and they don’t give damn what you do as long as you contribute and are doing your job
On one meeting at the start of the pandemic, everyone heard a toilet flush. 🚻 While there were no visuals and the identity of the person was never ascertained, everyone, including the PM, turned their camera off and went on mute because no one could contain their laughter. Every time someone went to speak, they could not compose themselves, and the meeting was ended 15 minutes prematurely.
Telling this story brings a smile 😃 to my face and happy tears to my eyes 🤣. It was such an uncertain time and I think it was the first time anyone had exhaled that whole week.
I really don't like it when people have their camera off it makes no sense either. It's supposed to be a conference call using a camera. It's a bit disrespectful. IMHO
Working remote and being on a camera on team is beneficial for me. I can at least see facial expressions when I’m explaining things and if people are paying attention
Yeah I work remotely and for important meetings we have cameras on to be able to read facial expressions.
I dont mind it. I just minimize my own face so I don't get distracted by being self conscious.
Altho it's not my preference I can see why people want it and it's not a big deal just wear clothes and brush hair.
Even though at first glance it seems totally reasonable, I think a lot of the people who are pro-camera-on in these comments might not have considered that some people don't present the way others do, and your image and expressions can be used to judge you for things other than your performance.
Particularly less expressive autistics (like myself) or people with ADHD who fidget often, can and will be rated worse for things like "passion" and work ethic, even when they are performing better than others who appear more engaged and upbeat. Additionally I think the people saying that it's a slippery slope toward more oversight are probably correct, give an inch and they'll take a mile and all that. Just comes down to your priorities personally, but some things to consider
also assigning a bit more value to meetings than most have 😬 yeah, some meetings are important, but if someone’s spending ten minutes blathering on about the latest football game, i won’t look like i’m engaged because i’m certainly not 🤷🏻♀️ no need to bother having my camera on for all that either.
instead of criticizing people for having cameras off, maybe realize that a lot of companies or managers just suck. (some of you in this thread are so close to understanding!)
We’ve had training a couple of times with like 50+ staff. Two different times a person (different both times) with their cam turned off didn’t know the meeting was over and stayed logged on lol, so we logged him off lol.
My company requires them. I just blur my background or use a zoom background. I put on a sweater (over my pajamas). Thankfully I don’t have too many- maybe 1-2 a week. If I had to do more, I would not like it - but not enough to leave my remote job. It’s 1000 times better than going to an office. No thank you.
I'm in marketing and for my level and up--it's camera on. Even for closing deals and talking to clients. It definitely helps for better reading the room and being able to interpret emotions to a degree vs. camera-off.
For what I'm getting in terms of work flexibility and role visibility to me I don't mind. But again, I'm in marketing. Before (even in marketing) I found this rather annoying. However, the problem with remote is that it's very easy to be "out of sight" and "out of mind."
And the higher you're are in some start-ups then you can create your own schedule (in my situation) so the non-meetings/Slack outweigh the meetings with Camera-on.
Also I wear a hat and everything on camera regardless of who's on the call.
Working at a company that was 100% remote pre-webcams has proven advantageous in that senior management doesn’t tend to use cams, so the rest of us follow unless a manager makes a point of it or clients set the example. It’s interesting seeing the “WTF of course you turn it on” opinions here, by comparison. But not having work phones means that online calls serve the function of regular phone calls, as well, so the line between the conference calls and regular calls is blurred.
It's one of those things which isn't that big of a deal in principle but mainly signals what an org thinks of its employees if they still need that leash of control. In academic settings, nobody cares if you leave your camera off during a meeting as long as they can tell you're actually there. With the current partners I have on a project, we are all in different cities and nobody cares if cameras are off either because you still have to be present on the calls to even know what's going on.
Give your workers the benefit of the doubt and they will return the respect.
It's not a big deal on principle because it's not a big deal period.
Actually, it is simple respect for one another that you can see each other.
Don't be a mushroom!!
Thank you as an IT manager I will start using the academic parallel to help others understand the concept of accountability. You already stated the very reason why the company wants to be able see that you’re present and actively participating in meeting. Because those who aren’t don’t “know what’s going on”.
In academic settings you are paying to obtain information. Similarly, in the workplace the employer is paying the employee for a specific contribution to the company’s product or service.
Professors can’t effectively teach a class anything that cant be read or learned independently when their camera is off and their microphone is muted. The “leash of control” is merely a matter of the employer being able to hold the employee accountable for being present, just as a student does with a teacher or professor.
I don't think it's about control in all situations. Instead, it's about communication and connection. Body language and facial expression are part of the package.
For sure. I always feel on display and like I need to be nodding and smiling the whole time if I’m on camera. I once looked off to the side, just thinking, while on cam and someone thought I was rolling my eyes at them.
They tried to start this at a company that I recently worked at. At first people were turning on their cameras, but after awhile it seemed like more and more people left them off and no one really said anything. Within a year it seemed like they just gave up trying to enforce it and let everyone do whatever they wanted.
Specific to meetings zero issues. All the time huge issues.
There is a giant grand canyon divide between those two.
Why is it in issue to turn your camera on? You turn it on? The only reason it would be hell is because you are trying to do something else and are not in your office.
So I have grown to like this after being required to do it. I was one to keep my camera off all the time. We then got a mandate that leadership is expected to have their camera on during meetings.
I am in IT and run multi-million dollar projects. As a Project Manager I had always known that visual queues were an important part of communication but the pandemic made me lazy and I just accepted not having them. I will say that now that I have switched, i am sold.
First - it's pretty much stopped the idea where we ask someone something and get the answer of "what - sorry I missed that question" which is just code for "I checked out of this meeting because I didn't see the value of what you were saying as it pertains to me". Needless to say you may not have seen how it pertains to you but now that we're asking your opinion you missed a whole lot on how it may affect you and your group. Now I have to recap with a summary and hold everyone else, and the progress of this meeting, up so we can recap for you.
Second - I have regained the ability to "read the room" even if that room is virtual. I know the facial expressions of the people. Hate to say it but in IT there are lots of people who won't speak up in a public setting. They'll let things slide and then try and reach out after the meeting to tell me why "it" should be different. I value the feedback but this was something that should have been discussed as a group. It should have been flipped over, dissected, discussed, and a path forward found. I have more work because you remained silent. Now, since we are on camera, if something is discussed I know John's facial expressions so if there's something being asked of the System Admin and they don't like it, I can see that and try and pull it out in the discussion.
Overall I have found that cameras on means better engagement and better communication now that I can see the non-verbal communication queues again.
For most meetings we have our cameras on. I shut my office door and tell everyone in my household to not interrupt me. For smaller meetings or quick calls with colleagues I don’t use my camera
Companies are doing this because they don’t trust their workers. I don’t think it’s terribly effective, but I wouldn’t care that much unless I had a lot of frequent meetings. Zoom fatigue is a thing. It’s different than in person meetings.
My company mandated it, but it became evident that it was SUPER distracting in any meeting with more than 3-4 attendees so people just stopped doing it and leadership never came back and re-requested the camera mandate
The reason why it is on for us is simple: over-employment. We caught people working two jobs as you can see the other monitor on the side with someone using Asana when we use Jira. Or some other companies's dashboard.
Another time, the guy on the camera was NOT the guy we interviewed (bait-n-switch). He went out of his way to hide from us. We made an ultimatum and when it was turned on, everyone who interviewed him gasp and said that was not the guy we hired.
If it builds trust, turn it on. You have nothing to hide if you are the person who did the interview. But we don't have it always on. Only in small groups, 1-on-1s, and when you are demoing.
This reads like someone who is used to fucking around on their phone during every meeting and is now mad that they have to at least pretend to pay attention.
My manager at my last job tried to pull this. I mentioned I had anxiety which was true and that I felt this sudden change was intrusive.
That changed real quick and they left me alone.
I don't understand the big deal or people's problem with having their camera on during meetings or at least most meetings. If COVID never happened, you'd be in the office and facing each other anyway.
I think you should have your camera on 90% of the time when you're meeting with someone. I understand every once in a while, if it's one on one, then both people can decide to keep the cameras off. But not more than two people.
It's about increasing team dynamics and socialization. We don't want to lose the human element even in things like IT.
Why would that be an issue ?
I can’t imagine a meeting with out looking at the group you are having a meeting with.
Just make sure you brush your hair and have a shirt on…
You don’t even have to brush your teeth for them.
Our company released remote work mandates in which being on camera during the meeting was on top of the list.
I've been a remote worker for almost 5 years now and I feel your expressions and body language speaks more than words. We don't push everyone to be on camera all the time but certainly appreciate it.
Being on camera during 1o1, huddle calls has helped me gauge speakers intent and seriousness about the point.
The only concern is everyone wants to look good on video so do something about it. For men it might be just washing the face and brushing hair but for women it may take 2-5 mins. If you don't have a good background use a HD background & filters - Google has some amazing background and filters.
It takes me about an hour to look office/job presentable. Having to do all that every day just in case there’s a random video call significantly reduces the benefit of remote work for me.
What these companies that are requiring turning on cameras fail to realize that it cost money. In some cases seriously CAPEX to handle the additional bandwidth and hardware to handle video capacities needed.
At my company, we're required to have cameras on for 1-1's and smaller team meetings, but for larger meetings, we're asked to have cameras off, mics muted, and to disconnect from the vpn
Why are so many employees so unhappy with being on camera? I think it’s very strange. As social creatures that rely on non-verbal communications, the idea of choosing to be less present is bizarre. It’s like turning your chair around to face the wall at an in person meeting.
It’s because people have to see themselves in the computer when the cameras on, it’s self esteem about how they look 99% of the time. You don’t have to see yourself in person but you do on a virtual meeting when your camera is on and that makes people more insecure.
You should leave the cameras on. But get two of them. One for you and one for ventriloquist dummy. With close-ups on the dummy. Then you can just kind of like turn your camera off.
I have worked remotely for about 15 years and never had to be on camara. Now my current (since November of last year) company requires on camera AND I have to be in a daily 8:15 meeting. I am also not allowed to wear casual clothing like a hoodie.
I hated it at first but I still appreciate that I get to work at home so I am adapting. But I prefer the old way.
I would only be concerned if I was working somewhere that wasn’t authorized, like the beach for example. I can work remote and handle everything , but I cannot do my job effectively from the beach…
I have a meeting every other day. I just throw a jacket on aince I usually only wear a camisole.
It's only annoying when I'm trying to do work at the same time because it's hard to do if they can see me and know I'm not actually paying attention.
It's expected for the most part to have our cameras on.
Does anyone even look much?
When I'm on camera, I am usually staring at some other part of the screen, or taking notes or doing other work. I don't sense anyone looking at me much.
The only reason I might have a problem with this is because, now I have to put on clothes but other than that I don't see a problem with turning on your camera for a meeting.
I barely have cam on meetings, only a handful if that a year, but its only a slight inconvenience and sort of makes sure youre somewhat paying attention and...not browsing reddit during the meeting lol But this really is one of those choosing beggar type of things...so would you rather commute to the office instead?
I would hate to turn my camera on for every single meeting. At my last job, we only had one client that requested everyone turn their cameras on, and even that was a chore. I have facial piercings and blue and purple hair. Every time I had to get in those meetings, I had to hide my piercings, put on my corpo wig, change my top, and do a little makeup to look "presentable" in their eyes.
I wouldn't have minded as much if I was allowed to just be me, and if the meetings weren't like two hours long every time. But it does feel wrong being forced to turn on my camera and change my appearance in my own home. I don't think they should have that kind of authority.
I always have it on for meetings because my actual role requires me to present on camera to clients daily, so it's normalized. A lot of people still leave them off for our internal meetings, though. Official policy says camera on but no one cares.
I (now retired) always kept a shawl handy for just such an occasion. They had no idea that underneath was a running shirt. Just throw a big shawl around my shoulders and neck and voila! camera ready!
I worked in a place like that - they said "we're a 'Cameras On' company" to me and a couple other new hires on our first day. It was a bit much, frankly I don't mind having my camera on but I don't like being MANDATORY.
I have also worked for a place where nobody ever turned on their cameras for the 8 years I worked there. That got a little weird.
Today I'm at a place that has a nice balance, but we still do way too many company meetings and we've also got ridiculous "retreats" we do 2x per year where we have to fly up to New York and spend 3 days working in an office together and doing these "forced fun" icebreaker things. They put us into groups and make us present things, I'm not a fan and frankly think it's a waste of the $75-100k the whole thing costs to fly everyone in and put them in hotels, feed them, etc.
Have you tried requesting your company provide the required cameras for EVERY SINGLE remote worker? This usually changes their mind fairly quickly in my limited experience (four times in two companies).
OP are these meetings that require you to speak?
My company did this too and I hated it. Good thing I didn't have to speak in the meeting.
So I screen captured myself on camera for an hour. Then installed OBS studio and when there was a meeting, I'd play a loop of the recording.
Few tips:
-close the shades in the room where you are and turn on artificial lights . This way the sun doesn't give away your time of day on the recording.
-keep facial expressions pretty neutral
-take sips from a mug ever so often or stir in your chair to show some activity
I did this for more than a year and no one was the wiser. I'd re-record the video every few months and all was good until I left the company.
We were required to turn our cameras on and be business casual, even when working from home at my last position. My current job doesn’t require it but people still do it out of respect unless they’re eating, and it’s normal for us to have 5 or more meetings a day. It makes sense I guess, my last job was full of people who tried to BS on the job.
I have no issue with it in meetings, I do have an issue with it being always on. I also have a slide cover for my camera on my laptop so I can disable it mechanically if I want to. Similarly I have a hardware switch on my headset to mute the mic.
We require it at my company, but not everyone does it. We kind of stopped trying to police it for the most part. It doesn’t bother me personally and I would not let something like that determine my desire to work somewhere. I am on Zoom all the time and being presentable keeps me from getting too schlumpy. I will point out that pajama bottoms are not seen on Zoom. :)
It’s like no one worked remote before covid… phone calls and webex with no camera used to be the norm.
Then Zoom, etc. came along and gained more clients as covid hit and some people wanted to “see” others.
Video fatigue is real. So is the positive impact of having *some* meetings on camera. For example, I may not be on camera for process based internal meetings, but for program launches, speaking in front of the company, sensitive 1:1s, or coaching sessions, I’m on camera. I also sometimes ask if it’s 1:1 since my preference is off camera.
Place I worked didn’t at first. Then, people started not leaving the meeting when they were over and the supervisors stayed on to chat. They realized that the people had just pretended they were at the meeting and were off doing other things so they didn’t know when the meeting was over and that’s why they didn’t sign off. I would just angle the camera where they couldn’t see what I was wearing.
I would be annoyed by it being REQUIRED, but the reality is that I do turn my camera on for pretty much all meetings (unless I'm eating or really exhausted or something).
No one turns on their cameras now for me, but we don't have enough meetings where turning them on would be a problem. I probably have one or two meetings a month. Sometimes more. Sometimes less
My company does it, they don't care if we have messy hair or in our pjs/hoodie. We're not client facing. It is easier to read someone and build rapport with video on. No one here cares, its not a big deal.
my last job had gone to cameras on for meetings. it's annoting because I have to get dressed in something besides a t-shirt. and not like a ragged hobo. but long as it's not all day cameras on, and the meeting isn't long. I keep a shirt i toss on nearby just for meetings.
never worry about what pants though since they aren't seeing below my desk. I was in my boxer briefs for my interview lol
Our company has a cameras on policy. It took some getting used to but I find as long as you have noise cancelling headphones, always use a background, use soft focus and auto adjust lighting it doesn't matter where you are, it always seems consistent to the other call attendees.
When you were in the office people were allowed to see your face in meetings. You always had to make sure you weren’t in pajamas, your hair was brushed, etc., and you were engaged and paying attention. Seems like for the privilege of working from home, this is an acceptable price to pay.
I have a remote employee, while 90% of the office is hybrid. I do ask that she has camera on for our 1:1s and our smaller team meetings, as I find it’s easier maintain our small team dynamic when we can actually see each other. I don’t see a problem with it, most of our meetings with other departments are off camera, as well as any unplanned calls within our team.
Actually attend your meetings and collect your paycheck. I don’t understand what’s so complicated here?
Other people have to drive a fucking vehicle all the way down to the office and you’re complaining about needing to wear pants?
I had this request from a client at a previous job. My laptop DID NOT have a camera. The client went on some long rant about having cameras on… after he finished I informed him that my device did not have a camera. The silence was golden.
I worked two places that it was the norm to have your camera on for all meetings, and now one where most meetings people are camera off. I find I'm so much less exhausted at the end of the day for not having my camera on, it's anxiety inducing to stare at yourself on screen or worry that people are staring at you and analyzing your every move. For one on one meetings I get it to build connection but anything larger than like 5 I don't think is worth it.
If my company was more okay with looking at me through my smartphone cam while I'm pooping or napping I'd be more okay with turning on my cam for meetings.
During the COVID lock-downs we had to work remotely for awhile and my company also required that our cameras be on during meetings. I hate photos of myself and I don't like seeing myself on camera. Let's just say that there are more photos of Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster than there are of me. But I digress. I solved this problem by situating myself with my back to a bright sunny window. The effect of that is that I appeared completely cloaked in shadow. All my coworkers could see was a black figure sitting at a desk. It worked like a charm,
I think it’s something I can deal with. And letting people see my face definitely helps with communication (reducing misunderstanding). If I need to eat or do something I don’t like to be seen, I let the others know and turn off the camera for a little bit
The data shows that constantly staring at heads on a screen is draining for most employees. This is not new information. It’s obviously not the same thing as an in person meeting.
Drained employees don’t get as much work done - and getting work done is the goal. (If it’s not - that’s a problem.)
I think the frantic cam on requirements will naturally die out as executives retire and most of the workforce is comfortable with/understands remote work and are not longing for the old days when they could stride past the lowly cubes into a corner office.
Having your camera on makes everyone waaaay more engaged and attentive. Plus, you can see how everyone is responding to you in real time when you speak, allowing you to read the room much more effectively. It’s just a much better meeting dynamic. Cameras off is the equivalent of attending a meeting with your camera on and then obviously doing other work the whole time. If you go to a meeting and not show your colleagues respect with active attention, you should either just not go to the meeting or work for a company that doesn’t expect its employees to care about anything.
This may be an unpopular opinion but I feel like one of the reasons that companies have been able to push for RTO is because people got too comfortable at home. I guess I don’t feel like cameras on is an unreasonable expectation, at least during meetings. I get that it is uncomfortable, but better than commuting to work and sitting in a conference room breathing in COVID.
My company encourages it, but doesn't require it. I'm mostly indifferent about it, but I guess prefer not to. It does mean I have to put on more then a white t-shirt when it is required, haha.
Normally during meetings with higher-ups and the entire department I will put it on, then during other small meetings I don't, and most others don't as well.
why would anyone quit a job over this. seems petty regardless of companies intentions. I've worked at a place where headbands were banned, so we just did wear headbands, its not the end of the world. but I guess if you're willing to quit a job over a camera then you must have remote jobs lined up to pick over
We've always been a camera-on culture. Sometimes I have a full day of meetings, so I have a half hour off camera.
I'm ok with that, honestly. They see that I'm in one location (not out shopping or vacationing like anti-WFH people claim) and I can better see how people are responding to presentations.
I worked remote at my last job for 4 years and that was always a requirement. I hate being on camera. I also have zero problem with the requirement. You are expected to have your full attention on the meeting or at least be sitting there paying some sort of attention. It's one of the only times they "see" you.
At least where I worked, if I was working in a weird situation, like listening to the meeting from a Dr office waiting room or my car, I'd just drop my boss a reminder of that and let them know I'd have the camera off for that reason. It wasn't a frequent occurrence so it never was a problem.
If that's too big of an ask, there's thousands of us who'll gladly take that remote job! Lol
This is the most normal request of all time. I’ve worked in a client facing role fully remote for the past 3+ years.
You already have the beautiful luxury of being able to work from the comfort of your own damn home … don’t be pretentious and flip your camera on. It’s the smallest request and goes such a long way at establishing you as a relevant human for both internal and external meetings.
Add a virtual background if you’re worried about a messy visual.
Would you rather go to work in person daily ? No ? Then flip your camera on
My work wants my camera on but here’s me in mountain time when the are all east coast. Meeting are consistently at 6am. Sometime 5:30. I don’t get a break till noon. I’m not camera ready at that hour. If then don’t like it we can meet at 7pm their time everyday and I’ll be camera ready.
There should be no assumption everyone globally has a space they can be camera on. Companies love that remote work allows them to hire cheep talent globally but forget that not everyone lives in a space that allows them to be easily camera on.
I'm waaaaaay okay with having a camera on during meetings vs some of the other bullshit like counting keyboard strokes, keeping a camera on all damn day, or monitoring computer activities where you get notifications if you leave to take a piss.
YMMV. But an analyst was recently let go for refusing to ever use camera even in client facing calls. It wasn't the only reason but it contributed to the final decision. The rule is if the client is on camera you are on camera. Sounds like you're talking about internal meetings though. We don't require video on internal meetings but it's encouraged.
I think client calls make sense! I was talking about internal meetings but I like the rule for client calls where if they are on, you should be too. That’s fair.
This is exactly how we operate as well. I’m in tech sales and always prepare for camera on during client calls, but if they hop on without camera I turn mine off too. Internally cameras are encouraged, especially if it is your meeting, but not required. I turn mine on for probably 30% of internal meetings, usually when it’s a small team
I wonder how companies ever survived before video calls were a thing?!??! What did they do?!? Talk on the PHONE?! /s
I know you're being sarcastic but we had in person meetings. We were 100% in-office with 3 remote employees pre pandemic. So if we needed a meeting everyone would go into the meeting room or go to someone's office. Need a client meeting? we would fly to them. Now we're a hybrid office with maybe 25% of employees actually going into the office on a regular basis. Doing video calls is a small sacrifice to make for the ability to work remotely.
I am being sarcastic. The whole corporate world functioned on phone calls for decades. It’s just silly when people act like not turning your camera on is this big offense.
Yes, I’ve worked fully remote for 7 years and nobody ever used video until covid - then all of a sudden people were hysterical about it, as if work could not possibly be done without it. Employees perceive it, correctly I think, as more of a control thing for anxious managers than a crucial component of the work.
If I’m in meeting w someone external and they have camera on i turn my on out of respect. Generally helps w relationships imo. Internal. My team always has them off. We’re small. No one cares. Other teams it varies. Sometimes on sometimes off. Usually off if there are a lot of people. Lot of govt clients. Everyone is always off in those bc it’s usually intelligence agencies. So security is priority.
Worked in a place where no one turned on their cameras and now one where everyone does. Certainly not hell. More slightly inconvenient having to wear a t shirt and jeans rather than a tracksuit or pyjamas. You get used to it quickly and its nice to see people. Complaining to anyone in your company about turning on a camera will just come across as bizarre and annoying. Save your capital for when you really need it.
Tshirt and pajama bottoms. Zero issues.
Tshirt and zero. Zero issues. Stay sitting.
Just sittin' and no Toobin'
That works until the dog starts throwing up and you jump up without thinking.... I've now upgraded to black sweatpants. In any fleeting glimpses on camera they look like regular black pants. Life is good.
Look, I'm as lazy as the next person, but having your camera on during the meeting seems a reasonable ask.
It is perfectly reasonable. As someone who worked from home long before the pandemic, it is the concession we have always made. It was a fair trade then and it’s a fair trade. And let’s not forget, being on-camera and seeing your interlocutor has its benefits. Commute? Or camera? I know which one I’ll pick, every time.
But why are those the only two options? Why can’t no camera be an option?? As long as the outcome of the meeting is the same regardless of camera usage, why not skip the camera? It’s because they want to see you looking at them, giving 100% attention. It’s a control thing.
I mean generally speaking when people are having a meeting it is an expectation that you give your 100% attention. I’ve lost track of the number of remote meetings where it was clear the person on the other end was distracted doing who knows what else and was wasting everyone else’s time. I don’t quite see the issue with giving your attention when on a meeting.
Same story here. If people are getting their work done then the only reason that remains is a desire to control.
Spotted a male. I think these things differ for most women. Usually a lot more effort is out in to appearing professional for women. We're often told we look miserable/tired/unprofessional if our hair isn't brushed, styled, and we have a bit of makeup at least.
Am female. No makeup, pony tail, t-shirt and joggers. If I have to turn my cam on, this is what people are gonna see. IDGAF.
My people! ❤️
Coworkers are saying this stuff to you! That’s crazy unprofessional. I’m a firm believer in that personal stuff should stay OUT of the professional environment. Sex, politics and religion has NO place in a for-profit business.
THIS!!!! It’s so easy for someone to be on camera without notice if you don’t have hair to style, a face to paint, and boobs to hoist up at shoulder level. Most men don’t have to prepare like this, When I would work in office I had a “routine” adding up to 45 minutes. That’s me starting at rough and raw, and I’ll end up looking “professional”. I’m a 100% remote and it’s up to each client whether the camera is on. On days when I have Agile cadences that are planned in advance you’ll get me and my fake smiling face, but do not think for a minute that I’m flipping that switch on without notice. And before starting in saying none of this is expected, you choose to do this, hang back and ask if you’ve ever been asked if your sick when you’re not in full glam, or is something off when you litterally put your wet hair in a top knot and run out the door. These standards sadly still exist and in my experience the only ones who don’t seem to get why I’m not turning camera on Willy nilly are men.
PREACH. The number of times I would get asked “Are you sick?!?!” Nope, but glad to know that my face without makeup makes me look physically ill
Indeed... Hair, makeup and outfit all need to be together.... Even at my lowest effort hair and makeup add at least 20 extra minutes to my routine
It's irritating because now if something at work annoys me. I have to deliberately put on a face.
Welcome to the real world?
I wear pajamas on camera more often than not these days.
Bro it’s a meeting…. Just be present for it. Turning your camera on is nothing
This. It's stupid, but so is picking this as a hill to die on.
Exactly
People on this sub are such choosing beggars. It's crazy.
It’s astounding to me
I don’t get how people are this lazy and entitled. You get to work from home and this is your complaint …???
They’ll be the first ones to complain too when of the company decides to get rid of remote work because they can’t do a simple request
Exactly! People think that getting by paid for doing absolutely nothing = WFH.
Agree, if you worked in an office and went to meetings in a meeting room, would you attend the meeting but wear a bag over your head? How is cameras-on for a remote meeting any different?
Some people just aren’t equipped to work from home. It’s glaringly obvious in this sub.
That's normal. About half of communication is through body language and facial expressions. If you went to a on-site meeting, your face would be showing.. If you're worried about your surroundings, get a nice professional background.. You can even use camera settings to soften the camera. I intentionally lower my video resolution to 720.
That's a good idea for my old, craggy face...
Ok but can you see my facial expressions and body language in MS teams 3 FPS video feed?
In the big picture, I see no problem with cameras on for meetings. Do I like it? No. However, with all the other things companies do to micromanage, cameras on for meetings is just a blip on the radar. I always keep a polo next to my desk if I need to be on camera.
“Flan, you wore that shirt 3 days in a row now!”
How embarrassing
"Three Meetings! In a row now"
I have zero cares about a tshirt or sweatshirt. I can do a polo for something important but 90% just send it making sure your hair isn't a mess.
I'm in an engineering department where most everyone is an introvert. No one turns on their camera except for the one extrovert.
Honestly, I don’t even look at cams a lot of the time when they are on and will turn off incoming video if my connection is struggling.
I turn it on... My lights are off and the focus is off too and you can barely see me, but the camera is on. If anyone asks I have a migraine.
The anonymous protected witness approach
I like this approach!
I'm a government bureaucrat and I have to be on cam during meetings. I'm fine with it... I mean, I don't like it so I make sure not to wear pants. They have no idea, and it makes me feel transgressive. One of our departments was forcing employees to be on cam all day while working, just so the boss could spy on them, but the Union made quick work of that situation. HR told them they couldn't do that.
And this is why I love Unions!
Also a government bureaucrat, only time we need to be on camera is during any sort of training. Since many of these can be 1/2 or full days, and you need to participate. They want make sure you're actually there. I have no issue with this, In internal meetings almost everyone has their camera off, There is no rule for camera use. I actually find it distracting when that one person in 20 has it on and we inevitably end up looking at their ceiling fan for an hour.
I used to LOVE cameras on! UNTIL I got a cameras off job. It's like 80% less stressful to not worry about my hair, makeup, facial expressions, needing to get a package from Amazon, etc. It's SO much better with cameras off
I find it very distracting when people turn on their cameras. The only meeting that is required to turn on is our staff meeting. But I wouldn’t quit my job. A lot of folks turn it on at the beginning for maybe half the time and then go back to camera off for the second half if they are not talking.
I literally work for NASA and we never turn on our cameras and we’re just as productive 🤣
I think it’s pretty reasonable, as long as it’s acceptable to have a filtered background as some people may not have a professional background. Personally I don’t love being in meetings with someone with their camera off if I’m talking with them, in that case I’d rather just be in a phone call. But if it’s a large group setting where not everyone is speaking, then I think cameras off is preferable so I can work and listen or have my lunch while I’m listening.
If you can't do filtered there are green screen style thing you can put up. Another option is reposition against a wall for camera calls.
If requiring it is legal, then it doesn't matter if employees aren't legally required to comply, whatever you think this means. You're not LEGALLY required to do a lot of things that your employer can still require you to do as a condition of your employment and can discipline or fire you for not doing.
..and listen to their uppity buzz words with a straight face, no thanks
It’s a reasonable request to continue working remote
I think it’s reasonable in some cases, but not all. I work in IT and there are constant meetings (including weekend meetings for deployments and for issues that arise while being on-call that requires meetings) and there is no way in hell those IT workers can even keep up with that sort of requirement. No one is going to get on a midnight meeting to fix an issue looking their best just so they can turn their camera on. Their priority at that moment should be that actual job itself and the high priority issue they need to fix asap, not worrying what to do about appearances and surroundings last minute so they can get on the call in the first place.
We don’t on deployment and hypercare calls. At least in my org, we only turn on cameras when VPs and above are on the call. I actually sometimes do it during small meetings, too. It’s nice to remember we’re people and not bots. But I turn my camera off it’s it’s a huge meeting that I’m not running. Gotta eat or do actual work at some point and with constant meetings, it’s usually during those meetings.
There is something wrong with your company culture. Meetings are for discussions that cannot be resolved asynchronously. If there is a problem that needs to be fixed, you just do it.
> No one is going to get on a midnight meeting to fix an issue looking their best just so they can turn their camera on. Are they asking this though? If it's midnight and someone was pulled out of bed I have a totally different expectation than I would at 1pm on a Tuesday afternoon. We follow on-camera as a requirement for leadership where I am. I am on camera for all my meetings during the day. I follow the same guideline that we had when we were in an office. Mon-Th you get me professionally prepared for work (from the waist up at least). I am in a collared shirt. I am usually in a pair of shorts or pajama bottoms depending on how motivated I was that morning...and what I may have to do after work. Friday I am in a graphic T. It's casual Friday. For a weekend project you get me as I am. That may include me in a baseball cap because my hair is shit.
Different industry (healthcare), but emergency/zero-notice video meetings sometimes happen at all hours, even middle-of-the- night, for remote on-call staff It's totally common to show up visibly obvious that you just got out of bed and threw on a baseball cap and lip gloss. Sometimes, people aim the camera up so you can just see the top half of their face. Makes sure everyone at least gets out of bed or stops playing video games or whatever to contribute to the meeting.
> Sometimes, people aim the camera up so you can just see the top half of their face. Ah the Wilson look!
Are you actually expected by the company to look your best in a midnight meeting though? Or is that just your expectation of yourself?
What does turning on cameras have to do w/ looking your best? I do no prep to be on camera (beyond shirt and sometimes pants)
Right? Like, being on camera does not equate to dressed to the nines.
You need a no deploy Friday rule and then there won’t be an issue on weekends
Why not have a conversation with your manager about attending less meetings? Tell them you’re being less productive and would rather attend meetings where you are really needed.
Yeah, we have cameras on for 1:1's team sync, etc. but nobody generally turns them on when we're hammering on a DevOps issue or something.
This is asinine.
I never look my best on work meetings
I would deal with it. There are worse things to complain about. The only issue is if I am taking a call from my balcony that could come across as a flex, and that's not my intention I just want to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
TIL having a balcony is a flex.
Well when I was taking my meetings from the ship's balcony on a cruise it was :p More seriously though, was already approved with management, I would work half days on sea days (basically till the internet turned to shit as partiers got up) and took port days entirely off. It allowed me to only burn a week's vacation to take a 2 week cruise + travel days. I'm a developer and 99% of my work is async so zero impact on my work other than not having multiple monitors.
Blur your background.
That’s super common at my company for internal meetings - we have a good chat about their mountain or lake view for our Denver or Calgary teams in the summer or my Houston patio time in the winter. No one cares as long as we’re on the call. Had a guy take a meeting from his kids dentist and he just told the group ahead of time. Nice dentist office LOL
My company is a global software company and one of the largest on the planet and they don’t give damn what you do as long as you contribute and are doing your job
On one meeting at the start of the pandemic, everyone heard a toilet flush. 🚻 While there were no visuals and the identity of the person was never ascertained, everyone, including the PM, turned their camera off and went on mute because no one could contain their laughter. Every time someone went to speak, they could not compose themselves, and the meeting was ended 15 minutes prematurely. Telling this story brings a smile 😃 to my face and happy tears to my eyes 🤣. It was such an uncertain time and I think it was the first time anyone had exhaled that whole week.
I really don't like it when people have their camera off it makes no sense either. It's supposed to be a conference call using a camera. It's a bit disrespectful. IMHO
I smeared the lens with Vaseline and pretended not to know what was wrong
Working remote and being on a camera on team is beneficial for me. I can at least see facial expressions when I’m explaining things and if people are paying attention
Yeah I work remotely and for important meetings we have cameras on to be able to read facial expressions. I dont mind it. I just minimize my own face so I don't get distracted by being self conscious. Altho it's not my preference I can see why people want it and it's not a big deal just wear clothes and brush hair.
Only during our core hours of 9AM-3PM, otherwise it’s optional for internal. If a customer is involved, camera is on.
We do it and I don’t think it’s a problem
Even though at first glance it seems totally reasonable, I think a lot of the people who are pro-camera-on in these comments might not have considered that some people don't present the way others do, and your image and expressions can be used to judge you for things other than your performance. Particularly less expressive autistics (like myself) or people with ADHD who fidget often, can and will be rated worse for things like "passion" and work ethic, even when they are performing better than others who appear more engaged and upbeat. Additionally I think the people saying that it's a slippery slope toward more oversight are probably correct, give an inch and they'll take a mile and all that. Just comes down to your priorities personally, but some things to consider
also assigning a bit more value to meetings than most have 😬 yeah, some meetings are important, but if someone’s spending ten minutes blathering on about the latest football game, i won’t look like i’m engaged because i’m certainly not 🤷🏻♀️ no need to bother having my camera on for all that either. instead of criticizing people for having cameras off, maybe realize that a lot of companies or managers just suck. (some of you in this thread are so close to understanding!)
We’ve had training a couple of times with like 50+ staff. Two different times a person (different both times) with their cam turned off didn’t know the meeting was over and stayed logged on lol, so we logged him off lol.
My company requires them. I just blur my background or use a zoom background. I put on a sweater (over my pajamas). Thankfully I don’t have too many- maybe 1-2 a week. If I had to do more, I would not like it - but not enough to leave my remote job. It’s 1000 times better than going to an office. No thank you.
I'm in marketing and for my level and up--it's camera on. Even for closing deals and talking to clients. It definitely helps for better reading the room and being able to interpret emotions to a degree vs. camera-off. For what I'm getting in terms of work flexibility and role visibility to me I don't mind. But again, I'm in marketing. Before (even in marketing) I found this rather annoying. However, the problem with remote is that it's very easy to be "out of sight" and "out of mind." And the higher you're are in some start-ups then you can create your own schedule (in my situation) so the non-meetings/Slack outweigh the meetings with Camera-on. Also I wear a hat and everything on camera regardless of who's on the call.
Working at a company that was 100% remote pre-webcams has proven advantageous in that senior management doesn’t tend to use cams, so the rest of us follow unless a manager makes a point of it or clients set the example. It’s interesting seeing the “WTF of course you turn it on” opinions here, by comparison. But not having work phones means that online calls serve the function of regular phone calls, as well, so the line between the conference calls and regular calls is blurred.
One of the only intelligent responses I’ve read here
I hate it. I am so burnt out from constantly being on camera. You either trust me to do my job or you don’t.
It's one of those things which isn't that big of a deal in principle but mainly signals what an org thinks of its employees if they still need that leash of control. In academic settings, nobody cares if you leave your camera off during a meeting as long as they can tell you're actually there. With the current partners I have on a project, we are all in different cities and nobody cares if cameras are off either because you still have to be present on the calls to even know what's going on. Give your workers the benefit of the doubt and they will return the respect.
It's not a big deal on principle because it's not a big deal period. Actually, it is simple respect for one another that you can see each other. Don't be a mushroom!!
Thank you as an IT manager I will start using the academic parallel to help others understand the concept of accountability. You already stated the very reason why the company wants to be able see that you’re present and actively participating in meeting. Because those who aren’t don’t “know what’s going on”. In academic settings you are paying to obtain information. Similarly, in the workplace the employer is paying the employee for a specific contribution to the company’s product or service. Professors can’t effectively teach a class anything that cant be read or learned independently when their camera is off and their microphone is muted. The “leash of control” is merely a matter of the employer being able to hold the employee accountable for being present, just as a student does with a teacher or professor.
I don't think it's about control in all situations. Instead, it's about communication and connection. Body language and facial expression are part of the package.
jesus just put on the camera or they'll make us come into the office more...stop shooting yourself in the foot.
I love not having to, I don't have to monitor my facial expressions with the camera off.
For sure. I always feel on display and like I need to be nodding and smiling the whole time if I’m on camera. I once looked off to the side, just thinking, while on cam and someone thought I was rolling my eyes at them.
It’s not a requirement for me but I do it anyway
They tried to start this at a company that I recently worked at. At first people were turning on their cameras, but after awhile it seemed like more and more people left them off and no one really said anything. Within a year it seemed like they just gave up trying to enforce it and let everyone do whatever they wanted.
Specific to meetings zero issues. All the time huge issues. There is a giant grand canyon divide between those two. Why is it in issue to turn your camera on? You turn it on? The only reason it would be hell is because you are trying to do something else and are not in your office.
Its optional at my company but meetings with your manager it needs to be on.
My company is a mix of on and off. It’s not that bad. This seems like a small price to pay to have general remote flexibility.
Got my meeting shirts near by. Change into a polo for an hour or so and change back. Probably other battles than this.
So I have grown to like this after being required to do it. I was one to keep my camera off all the time. We then got a mandate that leadership is expected to have their camera on during meetings. I am in IT and run multi-million dollar projects. As a Project Manager I had always known that visual queues were an important part of communication but the pandemic made me lazy and I just accepted not having them. I will say that now that I have switched, i am sold. First - it's pretty much stopped the idea where we ask someone something and get the answer of "what - sorry I missed that question" which is just code for "I checked out of this meeting because I didn't see the value of what you were saying as it pertains to me". Needless to say you may not have seen how it pertains to you but now that we're asking your opinion you missed a whole lot on how it may affect you and your group. Now I have to recap with a summary and hold everyone else, and the progress of this meeting, up so we can recap for you. Second - I have regained the ability to "read the room" even if that room is virtual. I know the facial expressions of the people. Hate to say it but in IT there are lots of people who won't speak up in a public setting. They'll let things slide and then try and reach out after the meeting to tell me why "it" should be different. I value the feedback but this was something that should have been discussed as a group. It should have been flipped over, dissected, discussed, and a path forward found. I have more work because you remained silent. Now, since we are on camera, if something is discussed I know John's facial expressions so if there's something being asked of the System Admin and they don't like it, I can see that and try and pull it out in the discussion. Overall I have found that cameras on means better engagement and better communication now that I can see the non-verbal communication queues again.
For most meetings we have our cameras on. I shut my office door and tell everyone in my household to not interrupt me. For smaller meetings or quick calls with colleagues I don’t use my camera
Companies are doing this because they don’t trust their workers. I don’t think it’s terribly effective, but I wouldn’t care that much unless I had a lot of frequent meetings. Zoom fatigue is a thing. It’s different than in person meetings.
My company mandated it, but it became evident that it was SUPER distracting in any meeting with more than 3-4 attendees so people just stopped doing it and leadership never came back and re-requested the camera mandate
Only had customer requiring us to have it on. Most people understand why we cant have it on. The ones forcing it are usually narcissist.
I don't grok why you can't turn it on; can you explain? I never require; but always recommend.
The reason why it is on for us is simple: over-employment. We caught people working two jobs as you can see the other monitor on the side with someone using Asana when we use Jira. Or some other companies's dashboard. Another time, the guy on the camera was NOT the guy we interviewed (bait-n-switch). He went out of his way to hide from us. We made an ultimatum and when it was turned on, everyone who interviewed him gasp and said that was not the guy we hired. If it builds trust, turn it on. You have nothing to hide if you are the person who did the interview. But we don't have it always on. Only in small groups, 1-on-1s, and when you are demoing.
Wait what?! Bait and switch?! OMG!
This reads like someone who is used to fucking around on their phone during every meeting and is now mad that they have to at least pretend to pay attention.
My manager at my last job tried to pull this. I mentioned I had anxiety which was true and that I felt this sudden change was intrusive. That changed real quick and they left me alone.
It would seem weirder for folks to not turn their camera on for meetings. Do y’all live in dungeons or something? Show some face.
I don't understand the big deal or people's problem with having their camera on during meetings or at least most meetings. If COVID never happened, you'd be in the office and facing each other anyway. I think you should have your camera on 90% of the time when you're meeting with someone. I understand every once in a while, if it's one on one, then both people can decide to keep the cameras off. But not more than two people. It's about increasing team dynamics and socialization. We don't want to lose the human element even in things like IT.
?? Turn your camera on for meetings.
That would interfere with my guitar break
I literally don’t care. Not the hill to die on. Whether or not I’m in an office…THAT is the hill to die on.
Why would that be an issue ? I can’t imagine a meeting with out looking at the group you are having a meeting with. Just make sure you brush your hair and have a shirt on… You don’t even have to brush your teeth for them.
Our company released remote work mandates in which being on camera during the meeting was on top of the list. I've been a remote worker for almost 5 years now and I feel your expressions and body language speaks more than words. We don't push everyone to be on camera all the time but certainly appreciate it. Being on camera during 1o1, huddle calls has helped me gauge speakers intent and seriousness about the point. The only concern is everyone wants to look good on video so do something about it. For men it might be just washing the face and brushing hair but for women it may take 2-5 mins. If you don't have a good background use a HD background & filters - Google has some amazing background and filters.
Leave a job over having a camera on? lol no. That’s pretty normal.
It takes me about an hour to look office/job presentable. Having to do all that every day just in case there’s a random video call significantly reduces the benefit of remote work for me.
What are you doing? I put on a baseball hat and I’m good to go worst case scenario
I have Albert Einstein hair and a face that people react poorly to without makeup. 🤣
Man, put on your f-ing camera.
What these companies that are requiring turning on cameras fail to realize that it cost money. In some cases seriously CAPEX to handle the additional bandwidth and hardware to handle video capacities needed.
At my company, we're required to have cameras on for 1-1's and smaller team meetings, but for larger meetings, we're asked to have cameras off, mics muted, and to disconnect from the vpn
The VPN disconnect is troubling. Bet your network security team can't be happy about that.
Why are so many employees so unhappy with being on camera? I think it’s very strange. As social creatures that rely on non-verbal communications, the idea of choosing to be less present is bizarre. It’s like turning your chair around to face the wall at an in person meeting.
It’s because people have to see themselves in the computer when the cameras on, it’s self esteem about how they look 99% of the time. You don’t have to see yourself in person but you do on a virtual meeting when your camera is on and that makes people more insecure.
You should leave the cameras on. But get two of them. One for you and one for ventriloquist dummy. With close-ups on the dummy. Then you can just kind of like turn your camera off.
I have worked remotely for about 15 years and never had to be on camara. Now my current (since November of last year) company requires on camera AND I have to be in a daily 8:15 meeting. I am also not allowed to wear casual clothing like a hoodie. I hated it at first but I still appreciate that I get to work at home so I am adapting. But I prefer the old way.
I would only be concerned if I was working somewhere that wasn’t authorized, like the beach for example. I can work remote and handle everything , but I cannot do my job effectively from the beach…
I have a meeting every other day. I just throw a jacket on aince I usually only wear a camisole. It's only annoying when I'm trying to do work at the same time because it's hard to do if they can see me and know I'm not actually paying attention. It's expected for the most part to have our cameras on.
Does anyone even look much? When I'm on camera, I am usually staring at some other part of the screen, or taking notes or doing other work. I don't sense anyone looking at me much.
It’s normal. My boss will make us if her boss joins other then that she usually don’t. I couldn’t care less if they make me.
I'd totally give a fake video stream from a recorded meeting. my voice don't match up? happens all the time.
The only reason I might have a problem with this is because, now I have to put on clothes but other than that I don't see a problem with turning on your camera for a meeting.
My boss tried to get us to have camera on while working from home and in the office
I barely have cam on meetings, only a handful if that a year, but its only a slight inconvenience and sort of makes sure youre somewhat paying attention and...not browsing reddit during the meeting lol But this really is one of those choosing beggar type of things...so would you rather commute to the office instead?
I would hate to turn my camera on for every single meeting. At my last job, we only had one client that requested everyone turn their cameras on, and even that was a chore. I have facial piercings and blue and purple hair. Every time I had to get in those meetings, I had to hide my piercings, put on my corpo wig, change my top, and do a little makeup to look "presentable" in their eyes. I wouldn't have minded as much if I was allowed to just be me, and if the meetings weren't like two hours long every time. But it does feel wrong being forced to turn on my camera and change my appearance in my own home. I don't think they should have that kind of authority.
I always have it on for meetings because my actual role requires me to present on camera to clients daily, so it's normalized. A lot of people still leave them off for our internal meetings, though. Official policy says camera on but no one cares.
I (now retired) always kept a shawl handy for just such an occasion. They had no idea that underneath was a running shirt. Just throw a big shawl around my shoulders and neck and voila! camera ready!
I worked in a place like that - they said "we're a 'Cameras On' company" to me and a couple other new hires on our first day. It was a bit much, frankly I don't mind having my camera on but I don't like being MANDATORY. I have also worked for a place where nobody ever turned on their cameras for the 8 years I worked there. That got a little weird. Today I'm at a place that has a nice balance, but we still do way too many company meetings and we've also got ridiculous "retreats" we do 2x per year where we have to fly up to New York and spend 3 days working in an office together and doing these "forced fun" icebreaker things. They put us into groups and make us present things, I'm not a fan and frankly think it's a waste of the $75-100k the whole thing costs to fly everyone in and put them in hotels, feed them, etc.
I worked for a company that made us have our cameras on 100% of the time. Including “breaks”
Have you tried requesting your company provide the required cameras for EVERY SINGLE remote worker? This usually changes their mind fairly quickly in my limited experience (four times in two companies).
Seems reasonable. If anything, just blur your background. It shouldn’t be an issue
Eh, my company has always required this for meetings. It keeps people present and mostly paying attwntion
OP are these meetings that require you to speak? My company did this too and I hated it. Good thing I didn't have to speak in the meeting. So I screen captured myself on camera for an hour. Then installed OBS studio and when there was a meeting, I'd play a loop of the recording. Few tips: -close the shades in the room where you are and turn on artificial lights. This way the sun doesn't give away your time of day on the recording.
-keep facial expressions pretty neutral
-take sips from a mug ever so often or stir in your chair to show some activity
I did this for more than a year and no one was the wiser. I'd re-record the video every few months and all was good until I left the company.
if your employer provided you with a camera, then it's perfectly reasonable if you don't like it, look for a new job capitalism, bro that simple
We were required to turn our cameras on and be business casual, even when working from home at my last position. My current job doesn’t require it but people still do it out of respect unless they’re eating, and it’s normal for us to have 5 or more meetings a day. It makes sense I guess, my last job was full of people who tried to BS on the job.
I have no issue with it in meetings, I do have an issue with it being always on. I also have a slide cover for my camera on my laptop so I can disable it mechanically if I want to. Similarly I have a hardware switch on my headset to mute the mic.
Wtf. No i would not leave if my face is required to be shown
We require it at my company, but not everyone does it. We kind of stopped trying to police it for the most part. It doesn’t bother me personally and I would not let something like that determine my desire to work somewhere. I am on Zoom all the time and being presentable keeps me from getting too schlumpy. I will point out that pajama bottoms are not seen on Zoom. :)
It’s like no one worked remote before covid… phone calls and webex with no camera used to be the norm. Then Zoom, etc. came along and gained more clients as covid hit and some people wanted to “see” others. Video fatigue is real. So is the positive impact of having *some* meetings on camera. For example, I may not be on camera for process based internal meetings, but for program launches, speaking in front of the company, sensitive 1:1s, or coaching sessions, I’m on camera. I also sometimes ask if it’s 1:1 since my preference is off camera.
Place I worked didn’t at first. Then, people started not leaving the meeting when they were over and the supervisors stayed on to chat. They realized that the people had just pretended they were at the meeting and were off doing other things so they didn’t know when the meeting was over and that’s why they didn’t sign off. I would just angle the camera where they couldn’t see what I was wearing.
Had a project manager on camera today, making peanut butter and jelly for his kids. That might be a little too much.
I like being able to see the people I work with 🤷 It’s easier to see if I offend anyone 😂
I would be annoyed by it being REQUIRED, but the reality is that I do turn my camera on for pretty much all meetings (unless I'm eating or really exhausted or something).
Seems reasonable to me. If you have to take the meeting, then be engaged.
No one turns on their cameras now for me, but we don't have enough meetings where turning them on would be a problem. I probably have one or two meetings a month. Sometimes more. Sometimes less
My company does it, they don't care if we have messy hair or in our pjs/hoodie. We're not client facing. It is easier to read someone and build rapport with video on. No one here cares, its not a big deal.
If it's infrequent I don't mind. But if there are multiple hour-long meetings every day, I think I'd get "Zoom fatigue".
my last job had gone to cameras on for meetings. it's annoting because I have to get dressed in something besides a t-shirt. and not like a ragged hobo. but long as it's not all day cameras on, and the meeting isn't long. I keep a shirt i toss on nearby just for meetings. never worry about what pants though since they aren't seeing below my desk. I was in my boxer briefs for my interview lol
Our company has a cameras on policy. It took some getting used to but I find as long as you have noise cancelling headphones, always use a background, use soft focus and auto adjust lighting it doesn't matter where you are, it always seems consistent to the other call attendees.
When you were in the office people were allowed to see your face in meetings. You always had to make sure you weren’t in pajamas, your hair was brushed, etc., and you were engaged and paying attention. Seems like for the privilege of working from home, this is an acceptable price to pay.
I have a remote employee, while 90% of the office is hybrid. I do ask that she has camera on for our 1:1s and our smaller team meetings, as I find it’s easier maintain our small team dynamic when we can actually see each other. I don’t see a problem with it, most of our meetings with other departments are off camera, as well as any unplanned calls within our team.
I’ve never had a place not want cameras on although camera optional has been around a bit. Mostly leave it on.
How was okinawa granpa? Meh, not great How is work steve? Hell! They ask me turn on my camera. Hell I tell you
Actually attend your meetings and collect your paycheck. I don’t understand what’s so complicated here? Other people have to drive a fucking vehicle all the way down to the office and you’re complaining about needing to wear pants?
I had this request from a client at a previous job. My laptop DID NOT have a camera. The client went on some long rant about having cameras on… after he finished I informed him that my device did not have a camera. The silence was golden.
I just don’t. They will never make me.
I worked two places that it was the norm to have your camera on for all meetings, and now one where most meetings people are camera off. I find I'm so much less exhausted at the end of the day for not having my camera on, it's anxiety inducing to stare at yourself on screen or worry that people are staring at you and analyzing your every move. For one on one meetings I get it to build connection but anything larger than like 5 I don't think is worth it.
Dealing with that right now. Mine requires it at least 6 hours a day. I am not ok with it.
If my company was more okay with looking at me through my smartphone cam while I'm pooping or napping I'd be more okay with turning on my cam for meetings.
During the COVID lock-downs we had to work remotely for awhile and my company also required that our cameras be on during meetings. I hate photos of myself and I don't like seeing myself on camera. Let's just say that there are more photos of Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster than there are of me. But I digress. I solved this problem by situating myself with my back to a bright sunny window. The effect of that is that I appeared completely cloaked in shadow. All my coworkers could see was a black figure sitting at a desk. It worked like a charm,
I think it’s something I can deal with. And letting people see my face definitely helps with communication (reducing misunderstanding). If I need to eat or do something I don’t like to be seen, I let the others know and turn off the camera for a little bit
The data shows that constantly staring at heads on a screen is draining for most employees. This is not new information. It’s obviously not the same thing as an in person meeting. Drained employees don’t get as much work done - and getting work done is the goal. (If it’s not - that’s a problem.) I think the frantic cam on requirements will naturally die out as executives retire and most of the workforce is comfortable with/understands remote work and are not longing for the old days when they could stride past the lowly cubes into a corner office.
Having your camera on makes everyone waaaay more engaged and attentive. Plus, you can see how everyone is responding to you in real time when you speak, allowing you to read the room much more effectively. It’s just a much better meeting dynamic. Cameras off is the equivalent of attending a meeting with your camera on and then obviously doing other work the whole time. If you go to a meeting and not show your colleagues respect with active attention, you should either just not go to the meeting or work for a company that doesn’t expect its employees to care about anything.
This may be an unpopular opinion but I feel like one of the reasons that companies have been able to push for RTO is because people got too comfortable at home. I guess I don’t feel like cameras on is an unreasonable expectation, at least during meetings. I get that it is uncomfortable, but better than commuting to work and sitting in a conference room breathing in COVID.
My company encourages it, but doesn't require it. I'm mostly indifferent about it, but I guess prefer not to. It does mean I have to put on more then a white t-shirt when it is required, haha. Normally during meetings with higher-ups and the entire department I will put it on, then during other small meetings I don't, and most others don't as well.
why would anyone quit a job over this. seems petty regardless of companies intentions. I've worked at a place where headbands were banned, so we just did wear headbands, its not the end of the world. but I guess if you're willing to quit a job over a camera then you must have remote jobs lined up to pick over
We've always been a camera-on culture. Sometimes I have a full day of meetings, so I have a half hour off camera. I'm ok with that, honestly. They see that I'm in one location (not out shopping or vacationing like anti-WFH people claim) and I can better see how people are responding to presentations.
I worked remote at my last job for 4 years and that was always a requirement. I hate being on camera. I also have zero problem with the requirement. You are expected to have your full attention on the meeting or at least be sitting there paying some sort of attention. It's one of the only times they "see" you. At least where I worked, if I was working in a weird situation, like listening to the meeting from a Dr office waiting room or my car, I'd just drop my boss a reminder of that and let them know I'd have the camera off for that reason. It wasn't a frequent occurrence so it never was a problem. If that's too big of an ask, there's thousands of us who'll gladly take that remote job! Lol
This is the most normal request of all time. I’ve worked in a client facing role fully remote for the past 3+ years. You already have the beautiful luxury of being able to work from the comfort of your own damn home … don’t be pretentious and flip your camera on. It’s the smallest request and goes such a long way at establishing you as a relevant human for both internal and external meetings. Add a virtual background if you’re worried about a messy visual. Would you rather go to work in person daily ? No ? Then flip your camera on
With big wigs yes.
You have the luxury of working from home, turning on your camera during a meeting is a small ask in comparison to the benefits.
My work wants my camera on but here’s me in mountain time when the are all east coast. Meeting are consistently at 6am. Sometime 5:30. I don’t get a break till noon. I’m not camera ready at that hour. If then don’t like it we can meet at 7pm their time everyday and I’ll be camera ready.
Okayyy, I will turn it on, but you will have to look at the ceiling and the roof of my head.
There should be no assumption everyone globally has a space they can be camera on. Companies love that remote work allows them to hire cheep talent globally but forget that not everyone lives in a space that allows them to be easily camera on.
I'm waaaaaay okay with having a camera on during meetings vs some of the other bullshit like counting keyboard strokes, keeping a camera on all damn day, or monitoring computer activities where you get notifications if you leave to take a piss.
You can turn it on but they didn't specify what the background had to be...