Never has camera on in zooms.

[Anonymous]

Camera on people--promotable

Camera off people--will stay at their job level

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Camera on people--promotable

Camera off people--will stay at their job level

But that's not really new post-Covid, good looking people have always advanced more quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Attorney here. Camera off for almost all internal meetings. Frankly, if you’re not multitasking during an internal meeting, that means you don’t have enough work.

For new or newer clients, I always do camera on. For some external clients who are consistent with cameras on, I will too (if I look decent, but fine skipping it if I don’t look decent). If we have an external call with client and opposing side, it’s always cameras off. In other situations I always default to cameras off.

Listen, I am being paid by clients for typically 5-7 hours a day of calls. The balance of my day (typically a 10 hr workday) is doing work at my computer. For the zoom calls I’m on, ninety percent of them, I am “the star” and people are asking me complex questions and need complex answers. Me being on the spot with zoom and worrying about how I look and if I’m gesticulating too much with my hands, or facing the camera…. This is not sustainable for 5-7 hours a day while also giving advice worth $2000 an hour. Before Covid, I was giving that advice to clients on audio only phone calls. They can live without seeing me on screen in exchange for extremely valuable advice.

Yea. This. But I’m former biglaw so makes sense we’d be on the same page. If I’m spearheading a major negotiation while simultaneously owning the documents, I’ll put camera on for intros and take myself off the the negotiation. Mainly because I’m not looking at the camera as I’m referencing drafts on multiple screens and I will lean really close in on occasion and who wants to watch that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Camera on people--promotable

Camera off people--will stay at their job level

If your goal is to get promoted working remotely is not the path.

[Anonymous]

I always have my camera on. A few times, the other person felt compelled to turn on their camera to mirror me. One was not showered. The other was freshly showered and wearing a robe. So now I just assume that everyone who’s off camera is not in their office wear. I find it hilarious because I only wear a blank cotton T-shirt and denim. It’s not that hard to look camera-ready.

[Anonymous]

I like to walk around. I'm fidgety, and sitting still in a meeting is torture for me. I like walking around with my laptop. Yes, I'm paying attention, but I don't want people in the meeting to go on a tour of my house.
If I'm talking, I turn my camera on. I think it's rude otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Back when we were in the office we used to have conference calls all the time, we all had "bridge" codes, just phone calls, no video. Back then I was dressed nice and in an office environment. Now that I'm at home everyone wants to see me on camera, nope I'll pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like to walk around. I'm fidgety, and sitting still in a meeting is torture for me. I like walking around with my laptop. Yes, I'm paying attention, but I don't want people in the meeting to go on a tour of my house.
If I'm talking, I turn my camera on. I think it's rude otherwise.

You can blur your background and walk around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Camera on people fall within 3 buckets in my experience:
- company culture requires it
- power play
- people who don't have enough work

Busy people don't like to have cameras on.

Camera off people fall into these buckets:
- they’re doing something else they don’t want you to see
- despite no commute, they haven’t showered, dressed and prepared themselves for a professional workday
- they have little respect for their peers and company and are chronic complainers and slackers, because doing the minimum is their version of winning.

[Anonymous]

I don’t get the camera off people. If you weren’t working from home, you would have gotten up, showered, dressed, and attended every meeting in the office, face-to-face. And, when you met with your fellow meeting folks, you wouldn’t have thought they were conducting a power play, seeking attention, or something else obnoxious. Instead, they were just attending a work meeting and acting professional. Why don’t in-office assumptions and behaviors translate to WFH? Maybe that’s why employers hate it.

[Anonymous]

I like to walk around. I'm fidgety, and sitting still in a meeting is torture for me. I like walking around with my laptop. Yes, I'm paying attention, but I don't want people in the meeting to go on a tour of my house.
If I'm talking, I turn my camera on. I think it's rude otherwise.


You can blur your background and walk around

Please don't. I had a client who liked to walk around with her laptop while on Zoom calls. Even though she had a fake background up, the movement was incredibly distracting to everyone. Learn to sit still or talk to your doc about medicating your ADHD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to see me, let me in the office. Otherwise, you get a black screen.

Loves it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Camera on people fall within 3 buckets in my experience:
- company culture requires it
- power play
- people who don't have enough work

Busy people don't like to have cameras on.

Camera off people fall into these buckets:
- they’re doing something else they don’t want you to see
- despite no commute, they haven’t showered, dressed and prepared themselves for a professional workday
- they have little respect for their peers and company and are chronic complainers and slackers, because doing the minimum is their version of winning.

I was on a call in which a couple was bathing their cat and forgot to turn the volume off. But there were many people on the call so I don’t think anyone knew who it was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is this, 3rd grade? Who cares if I “pay attention”?? Mind your own business and do your work, and I’ll worry about mine. I’m not obligated to “pay attention” to you. And I’m certainly not obligated to show you my face on video.

Ironic that most of the people who were obsessed with masks are the same people now obsessed with seeing my face.

Loves it. It’s not school. Right? Whatevs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means they are normal.

Cameras on is some oddly bizarre thing expected post 2020 because bosses are old and antiquated and don’t know how to treat people like adults.

Really don’t wanna look at your big fat face and see the hair in your nose. Please turn off your camera.

Lol. "Bosses" "don't know how to treat people like adults." I'll treat people like adults when they act like adults. Or when they get their work done. Whichever comes first.

Wow, just wow. The poor people that work with this former nasty Catholic school teacher are resigning soon.
It’s hard to believe this thing is actually employed.