People who stay on camera in 1:1 meetings when the other person is OFF camera...why?

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why people do this / why they can't pick up on social cues. Feels like someone is aggressively staring at me the entire call.

Obviously, when I have a 1:1 with a manager/leader, am presenting, etc., I'm prepared to be on camera if the others do. But I always follow the person's lead!

[Anonymous]

So you stay on camera and "Feels like someone is aggressively staring at me the entire call"?

[Anonymous]

Are you sure they know camera is on? Some views don't show your image eg on phone.

[Anonymous]

It's rude to call/attend a video meeting and then stay off camera. Get your act together and be a professional.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s unprofessional to be off camera. Why? You’re having a conversation with someone. If it were in person would you just be covering your face the whole time? I have more meaningful conversations when cameras are on.

But in general I don’t care if the other person has theirs off. I’m not picking my nose or doing something inappropriate

[Anonymous]

The expectation at my office is that your camera is on for any small/medium sized meeting. (Large meetings with 40/50 people everyone has cameras off unless speaking). So I would have mine on to shame you into falling in line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's rude to call/attend a video meeting and then stay off camera. Get your act together and be a professional.

This! When you are in person, do you wear a bag on your head in meetings? I get if it's a surprise call and you did not shower or change into presentable clothing or whatever, but for a scheduled meeting? Yes, camera on. Eye contact.

[Anonymous]

They're the only courteous person on the call.

You know you're in the wrong, OP, which is why you want to call them out for their (perfectly good) behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why people do this / why they can't pick up on social cues. Feels like someone is aggressively staring at me the entire call.

Obviously, when I have a 1:1 with a manager/leader, am presenting, etc., I'm prepared to be on camera if the others do. But I always follow the person's lead!

Otoh, you should pick up on social cue and turn on your camera. Otherwise looks like you are multi-tasking, not at your remote office, or other non-work related tasks.

[Anonymous]

I think you have the social cues backwards. If the other person has their camera on you need to turn yours on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's rude to call/attend a video meeting and then stay off camera. Get your act together and be a professional.

PP here - I would add that if it is a large meeting (like entire staff, more than 10 people) and the purpose of the call is for only a few people to talk, then it's fine to have the camera off. But if it's a 2 person call, you should either be on camera or give them a phone number and have an actual phone call if you don't want to show your face.

[Anonymous]

If it's a video chat, I always have my camera on, as does the other person, unless the camera is broken. Turn your video on, OP.

[Anonymous]

Usually in that situation, the person whose camera is off says something like, sorry I’m not able to be on camera now or some explanation. I do work with some people who are never on camera but they do excellent work and so I don’t care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's rude to call/attend a video meeting and then stay off camera. Get your act together and be a professional.

PP here - I would add that if it is a large meeting (like entire staff, more than 10 people) and the purpose of the call is for only a few people to talk, then it's fine to have the camera off. But if it's a 2 person call, you should either be on camera or give them a phone number and have an actual phone call if you don't want to show your face.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you have the social cues backwards. If the other person has their camera on you need to turn yours on.

This seems right to me. When in doubt, turn it on.