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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
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.

I assume you’re The Whale.

[Anonymous]

I attend several small group meetings every week (3-6 people). I have never attended one where anybody has turned off their camera. And for 1:1 we always have cameras on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Why not?

Are you able to talk and look at the camera lens or do you need to look at your own image when you talk? Or away entirely?

[Anonymous]

Probably depends largely on culture; ours varies pretty widely with some teams/groups being more camera-on than others. If it's a 1:1 and the other person is on video, it's courteous to do the same (regardless of level, which seems a weird distinction in the OP) - if for some reason you can't be on camera, you should quickly mention it before moving on to the topic.

[Anonymous]

I almost always have my camera on. Except for in my 1-1s with my team. They are introverts and feel more comfortable talking to me with their cameras off. I’m fine with it. They know if they call people outside of our office that they should have cameras on.

There’s a monthly meeting that I’m forced to attend monthly. We can’t stand the group running the meeting so we all keep our cameras off. It’s definitely passive aggressive on our parts but we don’t care and like that. Honestly if I had my camera on, I’d make an annoyed face while I listen to them and get myself in trouble.

My very large org doesn’t have any phones whatsoever. It’s all voice over IP calling.

[Anonymous]

Actually OP, you are in the wrong here. If someone turns their camera on, you need to turn YOUR camera on. Not the other way around.

[Anonymous]

It’s our office policy to have cameras on for meetings where you have a speaking role, including 1:1s. I have a really hard time with not being able to read body language so I do the courtesy of leaving my camera on for others to read my language even if their camera is broken or they choose to go against policy. My manager somehow was surprised recently when someone told him his was the expectation / policy. I’m glad they did because I wasn’t comfortable telling him and find meetings much easier with us both on camera.

[Anonymous]

I do sometimes to show I am paying attention. I am the vendor. I am expected to be on camera. They aren't.

[Anonymous]

There is not need or value to the camera being on.

[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?

NP, I work in IT ... no cameras unless it's the cyber team who is very paranoid so...

[Anonymous]

There's a divide here between people who create something for a living, and people who schmooze for a living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your on a 1:1 video call, your camera is on. Otherwise, pick up the phone and make an actual telephone call

We do not have phones anymore! It all goes through Teams. That does not mean I need to see your blouse.

[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?

NP, I work in IT ... no cameras unless it's the cyber team who is very paranoid so...

Oh you gotta put one of those AI generated characters in a video chat with the cybersecurity team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a divide here between people who create something for a living, and people who schmooze for a living.

^^^ this

[Anonymous]

This is wild. So not only do you work remotely from home but you don’t want anything to do with looking at other people not even having your camera on in a one on one meeting? what would you do if you worked in person? Stick your head in a paper bag?