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We put a norm that non 1-1 meetings don’t need camera to be on, but if one person switches it on then it’ll be nice if someone gives company. But 1-1s without c

We put a norm that non 1-1 meetings don’t need camera to be on, but if one person switches it on then it’ll be nice if someone gives company. But 1-1s without cameras are acceptable if they at least alternate with camera sessions. You’re being paid to work. Zoom can cover backgrounds. Get on the camera or don’t complain if you never get a promotion.

samus 5y ago
So, not willing to turn on camera = lazy worker?
- ramraj07 5y ago
  Not lazy, but unwilling to expose anything other than your code to others? It’s hard enough to understand who your team is when you’ve never met them in person, now you don’t want to even show your face? Why even bother with a meeting then.
  - samus 5y ago
    How is this exactly an issue if the general consensus of the team is to mostly not turn the camera on? Meetings are there to enforce synchronous responses and to quickly clarify issues and arrive at decisions. If the meeting has so many participants that people cannot communicate without visual responses, then the meeting size and scope should probably be reconsidered. It is tiring for minimally involved participants to maintain presence, both in real life and on camera. Now, I admit that it makes sense to request camera time or meetings in real life once in a while, to maintain that human connection. But I'd argue that it should be mandatory only in contexts where it is reasonable to expect deception or where the stakes are especially high. For example in performance meetings, job interviews or negotiations.
silicon2401 5y ago
This is quite a hostile attitude. "My way or the highway." I hope other employers can start learning to accommodate different personalities/comforts/anxieties, not to mention the huge environmental cost to video chatting.
- ramraj07 5y ago
  If an employee is never comfortable showing their face in a video chat and I’ve never met them ever, it definitely is weird for me and I’m sure I’m not alone. No one in my team had any issues with the norms I mentioned above, and this was agreed upon among people without any managers giving pressure. So perhaps we have self selected among ourselves people who like to talk to actual faces then? Glad to stay in this bubble then.
  - Mandelmus 5y ago
    I’d also much prefer to work in such a team than one where people keep their cameras off.

samus 5y ago

So, not willing to turn on camera = lazy worker?

ramraj07 5y ago
Not lazy, but unwilling to expose anything other than your code to others? It’s hard enough to understand who your team is when you’ve never met them in person, now you don’t want to even show your face? Why even bother with a meeting then.
- samus 5y ago
  How is this exactly an issue if the general consensus of the team is to mostly not turn the camera on? Meetings are there to enforce synchronous responses and to quickly clarify issues and arrive at decisions. If the meeting has so many participants that people cannot communicate without visual responses, then the meeting size and scope should probably be reconsidered. It is tiring for minimally involved participants to maintain presence, both in real life and on camera. Now, I admit that it makes sense to request camera time or meetings in real life once in a while, to maintain that human connection. But I'd argue that it should be mandatory only in contexts where it is reasonable to expect deception or where the stakes are especially high. For example in performance meetings, job interviews or negotiations.

silicon2401 5y ago

This is quite a hostile attitude. "My way or the highway." I hope other employers can start learning to accommodate different personalities/comforts/anxieties, not to mention the huge environmental cost to video chatting.

ramraj07 5y ago
If an employee is never comfortable showing their face in a video chat and I’ve never met them ever, it definitely is weird for me and I’m sure I’m not alone. No one in my team had any issues with the norms I mentioned above, and this was agreed upon among people without any managers giving pressure. So perhaps we have self selected among ourselves people who like to talk to actual faces then? Glad to stay in this bubble then.
- Mandelmus 5y ago
  I’d also much prefer to work in such a team than one where people keep their cameras off.