Co-worker visibly laughs when I present in Video Calls

[Anonymous]

Last week I noticed that a co-worker of mine was laughing repeatedly and very visibly during two Teams video conferences where I was presenting to high level leadership on a project I am leading (one call included C-level leadership). I called him out on it during the second call and said something to the effect of "Wow Bob, you seem to find this quite amusing and I'm not really sure why." He said it was because he found the topic I was presenting on (a newly enacted law) to be "so draconian."

This is someone who is on the same level as me and who works in basically the same exact role. Would anyone else find this to be clueless and disrespectful? I do believe his explanation, but I do think it could appear to others on the call that he was laughing at me, which could undermine my authority. I don't know if that was his intent, but it does make me question if he is consciously or unconsciously trying to undermine me.

[Anonymous]

I had someone laugh at me during a high pressure interview. I felt the same way like they were trying to undermine me and was flooded with angry emotions. I think they do it bc you’ve overstepped them somehow and it’s their way of pegging you down.

[Anonymous]

Ignore him. He isn't undermining you to upper management - he's making himself look disrespectful. This reflects poorly on HIM. Not on YOU.

[Anonymous]

Very rude and unprofessional- and to do it multiple times is wacko. Don’t take it personally, this individual clearly has an issue that extends beyond you.

[Anonymous]

He sounds nuts, so just let him flame out on his own.

[Anonymous]

"Everyone, please mute your mic when you aren't speaking to the group. Bob, your mic is on. We can't hear the movie you are watching but we can hear your reactions."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Everyone, please mute your mic when you aren't speaking to the group. Bob, your mic is on. We can't hear the movie you are watching but we can hear your reactions."

Lol

[Anonymous]

He’s weird. Hide him from your view when you are in meetings together- literally just pretend he doesn’t exist. Whatever weird antics & faces he wants to make are his issue, not yours.

[Anonymous]

Is he laughing at you or with you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Everyone, please mute your mic when you aren't speaking to the group. Bob, your mic is on. We can't hear the movie you are watching but we can hear your reactions."

I love this.

[Anonymous]

Put a post-it over his image on your screen.

[Anonymous]

Not everything is about you? He had strong feelings about the law. I would let it go. Nobody thinks it’s about you (except you).

Being paranoid about your “authority” being undermined actually does y detmine your authority.

[Anonymous]

I’d casually reference it during the chitchat before the next call kicks off. ‘Paul, I know this is your favorite new law, but try to control yourself.’

[Anonymous]

Are you a woman or a man?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not everything is about you? He had strong feelings about the law. I would let it go. Nobody thinks it’s about you (except you).

Being paranoid about your “authority” being undermined actually does y detmine your authority.

This is my take as well.

I think this person is just highly inappropriate. Some people do not understand that every expressionis magnified on video. There is someone at my work who makes faces and demonstrably shakes his head when he does not agree with someone. It's distracting and rude, but I don't think it reflects his opinion of you.