They create an application to escape from meetings by Zoom 2:04
(CNN Business) -
The last battle in office life may or may not be to keep the camera on during virtual meetings.
A woman who works at a New York-based nonprofit told CNN Business that in August she received a complaint from Human Resources for the first time in her career because she kept the camera turned off during virtual business meetings.
Shortly after, he said he received another complaint for the same reason.
"I was on a call with about 15 employees and [the interlocutor] said that everyone should have the camera on because it is the policy of the company and it is part of our culture," said the woman, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation from the company.
She mentioned that she has not liked being in front of a camera for a long time, whether for photos or videos, and the meetings only added to that discomfort.
“I told them that being in front of a camera made me anxious and I didn't turn it on.
In the end I got the doctor to write me a note ”.
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Although he is still required to keep the camera on, he now almost always sits out of frame, showing only his shoulder, something his company says is acceptable. But she feels that this makes things even more uncomfortable. Currently looking for a new job.
You're not the only one facing the new normal of constant video calling.
In interviews with CNN Business, several workers described how leaving the camera on in meetings made it difficult to focus on their work, caused feelings of frustration at having to stay in one place for long periods of time, and created some discomfort from transmit your family environment to others.
However, workers may also feel pressure to leave the camera on, either because of an explicit request from the company or because of the perception, refuted by a recent study, that they are less productive and less engaged if they have it turned off.
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Los Angeles-based corporate and brand copywriter Lydia Mack says she keeps her webcam turned off during calls with clients and coworkers so she can better focus.
But you've also found that this approach has its drawbacks.
"If it's a team meeting and I'm the only one with the camera off for a long period of time, it can also be a distraction [for others] and make them wonder if I'm there, if I heard the whole conversation, etc. . ".
Lydia Mack, a copywriter, says she can focus more on work calls if her camera is off.
The rise of camera meetings and the misconceptions about it
Due to the pandemic, the use of videoconferencing services such as Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Teams and Skype increased, not only for virtual meetings and classes in the classroom, but also for
happy hours
, costume parties, religious services, lunches, reading clubs and quotes.
But as the lockdown continued, more people began to experience virtual meeting burnout, a phenomenon often called "Zoom fatigue."
Allison Gabriel, a professor at the University of Arizona, is a co-author of a study suggesting that appearing on camera may contribute to Zoom's feeling of fatigue.
The study also found that more women experience webcam fatigue.
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"Women tend to have higher self-introduction costs than men and are likely to feel more pressure to demonstrate their competence by appearing more vigilant on camera," says Gabriel. "In addition, as women assumed a disproportionate demand for childcare compared to men during the pandemic, they are more likely to have their children in the background, which unfortunately could put their ability to commit to their work in question. and their ability to concentrate. We also tend to put a higher level of physical demands on women. Being on camera can exacerbate all of these things. "
Newer employees also feel more pressure to show their competence and commitment because they feel the need to show they deserve to be there, Gabriel said.
Contrary to the common assumption that someone with their webcam turned off may be distracted, multitasking or noncommittal, Gabriel's research found that turning off webcams during meetings can make employees more productive, They can focus more on the content and less on how they look or how others are.
Checking for solutions
Some organizations are realizing that change is necessary, but compromises must be made.
90% of employers say remote work has not affected productivity
Companies such as Citigroup, Dell, and New York University have responded to Zoom's increased fatigue by enforcing policies such as "Zoom-free Fridays," encouraging people to hold meetings by email or phone.
And some colleges made it optional for instructors or students to keep webcams on during classes.
“Students have to connect to Zoom from a variety of settings, and requiring the cameras to be on unfairly magnifies the socioeconomic and ability differences,” said Julia Raz, a communications professor at two California universities. “I wouldn't say it's distracting. have the webcams turned off.
It's just pretty daunting and lonely talking to a screen full of black rectangles. "
At the same time, some people may feel more engaged and connected with their colleagues when on camera.
That is why solutions must be established that adapt to all levels of comfort.
Zoom, for example, recently released new tools that help the hybrid work environment, but could also ease video calling fatigue.
This includes a collaborative whiteboard tool that puts the focus on content and less on people's faces.
Jeremy Bailenson, a professor of communication at Stanford University and founding director of the Virtual Human Interaction Lab, advises managers to classify their meetings into two types: those in which it is essential to see faces and others in which it is enough to share the face. screen and participate with audio. "When executives sit down and go through this process, they realize that there are only a handful of meetings where you absolutely have to see each other."
While making webcam meetings optional may also seem like an effective solution, Bailenson argues otherwise.
"This is similar to asking someone if they want to help out on a big project over the weekend," he said.
"Many people will prefer not to, but they will all feel pressured to say yes. The best solution is to make cameras mandatory from time to time, and ban them elsewhere."
He added that managers, especially men, should turn off the cameras at such times, otherwise employees will feel pressured to show their faces.
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