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

[Anonymous]

OP when people keep their cameras off in a small meeting it really creeps me out. It’s like your not fully present.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP when people keep their cameras off in a small meeting it really creeps me out. It’s like your not fully present.

That’s because they’re not!

[Anonymous]

I feel like you could make the same argument the other way, right? Why doesn't the person with their camera off pick up on social cues?

I've been on tons of meeting like this. Usually I am the one with my camera on. I view that as professional, respectful, and engaged. If I have a meeting scheduled and can't or don't want to have my camera on I will let then other attendee know that (don't need to say why) or I will ask to shift to a phone call ahead of time (sometimes this is a relief).

I get that we are tired and all, but it is genuinely not too much to ask to turn on your camera when you are working remotely, most of the time. If it's too much, ask for a call instead?

Or if that's too much, just, deal with it and remain off while they are on?

[Anonymous]

Gosh I know right?

I mean, it's like when I go into work and everyone else is wearing pants and I'm like why are you wearing pants when I am not wearing any pants? SO WEIRD!

[Anonymous]

In my office, it is not common to put a camera on. I don't why but you would be completely out of the norm to have you camera on. Very occaissionally for something like a new employee, a manager might put "cameras on if possible" in the invite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my office, it is not common to put a camera on. I don't why but you would be completely out of the norm to have you camera on. Very occaissionally for something like a new employee, a manager might put "cameras on if possible" in the invite.

Out of curiosity, what industry do you work in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my office, it is not common to put a camera on. I don't why but you would be completely out of the norm to have you camera on. Very occaissionally for something like a new employee, a manager might put "cameras on if possible" in the invite.

This. All of our calls are teams calls anyway; no dial-in conference calls. It doesn't imply that you need to be on camera. It just means people need to speak. Sometimes the shared presentation is used. That I think is the most useful part of teams, not the video.

Commercial real estate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my office, it is not common to put a camera on. I don't why but you would be completely out of the norm to have you camera on. Very occaissionally for something like a new employee, a manager might put "cameras on if possible" in the invite.

Out of curiosity, what industry do you work in?

Non profit, We worked remotely before zoom even existed so maybe that is it. We are often just sharing screens and talking.

[Anonymous]

It just feels like basic human decency to me.

If someone is speaking to you face to face, why can't you do the same for them? In the day and age of filters and backgrounds, what is the barrier?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my office, it is not common to put a camera on. I don't why but you would be completely out of the norm to have you camera on. Very occaissionally for something like a new employee, a manager might put "cameras on if possible" in the invite.

Out of curiosity, what industry do you work in?

Non profit, We worked remotely before zoom even existed so maybe that is it. We are often just sharing screens and talking.

Yes, if you were remote prior to Covid, it makes more sense that you may not use cameras. In my office (also nonprofit), it is seen as slacking and/or unprofessional and before Covid we had a fledgling hybrid schedule but people were expected to show their faces in and out of the office.

[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.

+1

[Anonymous]

People at my office don’t use cameras much at all. - OP

[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.

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.

I don't really make eye contact on Zoom meetings, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my office, it is not common to put a camera on. I don't why but you would be completely out of the norm to have you camera on. Very occaissionally for something like a new employee, a manager might put "cameras on if possible" in the invite.

I'm sure this happens sometimes, but this is definitely not the norm.

[Anonymous]

So, back in the phone-meeting era, did you always-camera-on people require the other person to fax you photos of their face so you wouldn't feel unattended to?