Requiring Staff to be on Camera for Teams Calls?

[Anonymous]

I am the national sales manager for decent size company. I have yet to see the benefit of having cameras on.

If someone can’t articulate or comprehend via audio they shouldn’t be employed with us. Being able to see someone or being seen adds zero benefit to the conversation.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely require cameras on for our small team meetings. Meetings with > 25 people? Fine to leave them off.

We are very productive and have high morale. I think it's hard at first and then you just get used to being on camera. There's a lot of communication that's missed when you're not on camera. Plus, the people off camera rarely speak up or get called on.

[Anonymous]

Rather than say it’s a requirement, try commenting that it’s uncomfortable being the only one on camera and suggest that “we” opt to have cameras on moving forward. Then wait for people to comply in real time.

Sidebar conversations to follow up, if necessary (for noncompliance).

Fwiw, a colleague discovered a team member had another FT job when requiring FaceTime.

It’s a job. They’re being paid. You are the boss. Just do it.

[Anonymous]

People with multiple jobs will hate it. People with no childcare will hate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rather than say it’s a requirement, try commenting that it’s uncomfortable being the only one on camera and suggest that “we” opt to have cameras on moving forward. Then wait for people to comply in real time.

Sidebar conversations to follow up, if necessary (for noncompliance).

Fwiw, a colleague discovered a team member had another FT job when requiring FaceTime.

It’s a job. They’re being paid. You are the boss. Just do it.

We don't have to coddle employees, FFS. It's a huge benefit to be able to work from home. The least they can do is be on camera for department meetings.

[Anonymous]

Our policy of cameras on was because management talked to us and people preferred it. If you have it off one day, that's fine. If it's a habit, I assume there's a conversation. Talk individually to the people you manage. Even if they don't like it and you do it anyway, you should know what the issues are.

[Anonymous]

Our company doesn’t require it but recently the higher ups have said we should try to have them on, especially if you are leading an internal meeting. I do like to have it on as it helps me read body language and engage more with the other people. And I have major social anxiety. We also have people who don’t say a word in meetings and I do wonder if they’re even listening.

[Anonymous]

A vote for ON CAMERA.

As a presenter, it's dreadful to look at a bunch of bad photos or blank boxes. Very disrespectful on the part of your colleagues to want to keep their cameras off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the national sales manager for decent size company. I have yet to see the benefit of having cameras on.

If someone can’t articulate or comprehend via audio they shouldn’t be employed with us. Being able to see someone or being seen adds zero benefit to the conversation.

Because people just listen in on mute and dont pay attentions for starters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A vote for ON CAMERA.

As a presenter, it's dreadful to look at a bunch of bad photos or blank boxes. Very disrespectful on the part of your colleagues to want to keep their cameras off.

Agree a 100%. Very disrespectful.

[Anonymous]

We require cameras on.

You should be seated at a desk paying attention when you're working, right? So it shouldn't be a problem. If you are walking your dog or picking up your kid from school or doing an errand or just doing a couple things for dinner of folding your laundry or your kids are constantly in and out of the frame or you are scrolling your phone or doing other thing on your computer during the call, I can see why it's an issue for sure to have the camera on. But of course that is NOT the reason ever. Everyone with cameras off is fully engaged, right??

Blur your background and also you can make it so you can't see yourself during the meeting.

[Anonymous]

For small group internal meetings that happen weekly or less, cameras should be on. I think it's the job of the manager to enforce that. On my team, I encourage it by always having mine on in these meetings. It definitely makes a difference to see body language. I do not expect it or require it on large conference call type meetings where you aren't interacting. But any meeting where you are expected to talk, or to acknowledge someone who is talking, yes it's normal to turn on your camera.

If an employee is sick or has something else going on, like pink eye or recent surgery or sick baby or pet or something that occurs once in awhile, but they are still working, I would proceed without camera, but would know it was a temporary unavoidable occurance.

If you don't have an appropriate work space, perhaps you shouldn't be working from home? Everything can be blurred or hidden. Dirty laundry, moving boxes, kid toys, none of that matters if you put up a background. Unless you are working from your bed or only on your phone while youre out running errands. Which I wouldn't approve. My take is if you are on the clock, your employer has a right to see you.

An exception to this is anything IT related, or anything involving extensive screen sharing. If your team is looking at your screen, maybe they dont need to look at your face.

I am 41 years old fwiw.

[Anonymous]

I would consider posing it as a goal rather than a requirement. I know camera's on is bad for women's moral - sometimes, I don't feel like getting camera ready and there is zero chance I'm turning the camera on without makeup.

Why don't you tell your team how you feel, tell them that you'd like to avoid a mandate and ask that they turn their camera's on for most meetings. Tell them that you understand that there will be moments/days where it doesn't work but you'd like people to make an effort to be on camera.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would consider posing it as a goal rather than a requirement. I know camera's on is bad for women's moral - sometimes, I don't feel like getting camera ready and there is zero chance I'm turning the camera on without makeup.

Why don't you tell your team how you feel, tell them that you'd like to avoid a mandate and ask that they turn their camera's on for most meetings. Tell them that you understand that there will be moments/days where it doesn't work but you'd like people to make an effort to be on camera.

I hope you have to go into the office since you're clearly absuing the work from home arrangement.

[Anonymous]

I hate cameras on but do it anyway. Require what you prefer, it isn’t a big deal.