Venting...we were forced back into the office and are still required to have our cameras on for all meetings and calls.

39 Comments

1. KatJune 7,2022 at 2:01PM UTC

   Unless the leader is going to get another job soon, leaving is the only option. Many businesses equate being in the office with being productive and that wanting to work remotely means you're lazy. This seems to be what you're running into. Any company that wants to police my time (cam always on, recording my calls, mouse click trackers, etc.) is not the kind of company I want to work for. It doesn't sound like it's worth it for you to try to work in this environment, so see what else is out there.

2. AnonymousJune 7,2022 at 3:25PM UTC

   Time to start job hunting. Good remote jobs are available.

3. AnonymousJune 7,2022 at 3:27PM UTC

   Nope, this is a function of culture nothing else. So this is where you work.

4. Anne KrookJune 7,2022 at 4:19PM UTC

   This is a sign of a boss who doesn't trust his employees. Update your resume and start looking; it is a good market for job-seekers, and many people are looking for remote work. Look for remote-work policies in ads and ask employees how the remote-work policy plays out in practice. Good luck!!

5. S.June 7,2022 at 4:32PM UTC

   If the leader feels this way, I don't see it changing anytime soon unless a new leader steps in to make change. If you're feeling really miserable working this way, I would recommend you start searching for a new job. Not all companies operate this way. Hope this helps.

6. AnonymousJune 7,2022 at 4:37PM UTC

   This is insane, it's micro management as voice calls are more focused. Ewwww.

7. Audrey KirschJune 7,2022 at 5:08PM UTC

   Is this outside of meetings? Are you being watched while you are at your desk working? If so, that's just creepy. I couldn't handle that. Closest I've ever come is being in an office where everyone had their monitors facing the room so the boss could see what you were working on if she ever came through. She didn't come through often so it didn't really bother me, but camera watching, keystroke counting and other odd means of trying to measure productivity don't really tell you anything about an employee. A paycheck is important, but you should look for another job if you can afford to. Camera monitoring is not normal.

8. TeenieJune 7,2022 at 5:55PM UTC

   That's interesting, did HR have a logic to this ? Haven't come across this unless you have a rotating "in office " schedule // so the camera on allows folks at home to feel connected during meetings.

9. Crystal HowellJune 7,2022 at 6:25PM UTC

   If its not a bank, move on. Invasion of privacy?

10. AnonymousJune 7,2022 at 8:05PM UTC

    This is micromanagement.

    Apparently someone at the top of your company felt work wasn't getting done effectively so this is the result. Your only options here are to start looking for a new position with another company or stick it out and hope things change. The good news is though there are a lot of companies out there who are not like this.

11. Arlene Frances Gottardo (Bryak)June 8,2022 at 4:13AM UTC

    Can you pretend the camera is not there? Or, is it disruptive, hard to work?

12. AnonymousJune 8,2022 at 12:33PM UTC

    Being in front of a camera all day is exhausting. It’s easy for fuzzy or small screen facial expressions, or lack thereof, to be misinterpreted and, therefore, you have to keep up a false level of engagement. In person, we can appear engaged without the theatrics.

    A lot of organizations are managed by folks that are not particularly tuned into this stuff.

    I, especially in the afternoons, frequently suggest we go

    sound only “so that those that like to pace can do so” fully knowing that people are just camera-burnt, and pacing is an acceptable practice for any old school management types I may have on the call.

    This person sounds like old-school, butt-in-seat, management, and if it hasn’t changed over the past two years, it likely will not.

13. AnonymousJune 8,2022 at 10:44PM UTC

    There are people who take selfies of themselves and set that as their background and it really looks like they have their cameras on.

    I guess you can experiment with that and see if you get caught (at your own risk).

    If you want to get technical, you could ask HR if there it is written policy requiring you to keep your camera on all day. I doubt there is, bc it sounds pretty invasive. But even if there isnt, your leader(s) can make your life a living hell.

    My advice: Being required to turn a camera on should not be the only reason why you leave a company. The reason is what if you leave the company and even if you don't have to keep your camera on all day, your boss is too toxic to work with. Ive had friends and even myself had left positions and ended up in worse environments that I would give anything to go back to in efforts to avoid the latter choice.

    So really think things through. If you can list atleast 5 bonafide reasons to leave, then sure go ahead and apply. Whereever you do decide to land be sure to ask the upfront questions to determine whether the environment is ideal for you.

14. Milissa JacobsJune 9,2022 at 12:32PM UTC

    Unfortunately, enough people abused working from home, and now many bosses and supervisors are skittish. The good news is that there seem to be many job openings . Take a look around at your job market and see if there is a company that is more accommodating.

15. AnonymousJune 9,2022 at 12:42PM UTC

    No... the honest answer is no. They have the right to make such decisions and you have the right to stay or go. Regardless of what people keep saying companies do have the ability to make us do things for a paycheck.

16. Joycelyn M. SiameJune 9,2022 at 1:03PM UTC

    What in the heck! That is control and micromanaging in the worst way... No thanks, I'd pass, haha.

17. Martha YoungbloodJune 9,2022 at 1:06PM UTC

    I'd be telling that boss if he needs to see me working, to get up from behind his desk and take a stroll to my cubicle. Makes me wonder how much work he's actually doing himself.

18. JYJJune 9,2022 at 1:53PM UTC

    LOVE this reply!

19. AnonymousJune 11,2022 at 4:20PM UTC

    Make sure you dust off your resumé before you say something like this to your direct supervisor. In my company, this is considered disrespectful and insubordinate.

20. Brenda CrawshawJune 9,2022 at 1:11PM UTC

    Wow - totally invasive.

    I'd make sure my camera lens got SO filthy - put some hand lotion on there, dab up the dust from your desk and get it in there....... while you look for another position.

    Because this to me is not the *problem* but a SYMPTOM of a larger issue.

21. AnonymousJune 9,2022 at 1:25PM UTC

    Agreed!!! And sometimes a camera policy can be weaponized.

22. Milissa JacobsJune 11,2022 at 4:16PM UTC

    A filthy camera is a red flag. Also, there is a program that can run the videos and detect if a selfie pic or background program is being used instead of a live feed. Don't blame the employers, blame the people that took advantage of the situation and ruined it for everyone else.

23. AnonymousJune 9,2022 at 1:12PM UTC

    Are the cameras really on all the time? As in green light on? Or just available. In Microsoft Teams you can see who's in or out or unavailable, I think most organizations use that as their tool.

24. AnonymousJune 9,2022 at 1:22PM UTC

    I see the benefits in a video policy but I have concerns about “edicts”.

    I had an exec that made an edict of video for ALL meetings. Usually I’m on video but I get migraines and sometimes my face shows the pain and others would comment if I was reacting negatively to the content. Also, sometimes is just painful to see bright lights and screens. I really shouldn’t have been working with a migraine but at the time I didn’t think I could prioritize my health. I was afraid that they’d hold it against me.

    The big boss would send me emails documenting when I wasn’t on camera noting the policy and the date/meeting when I had the camera off linking me to the policy. Almost like a catholic school demerit. It was clearly being documented.

    She was a bully who would not hesitate to demoralize.

    Finally I said—- I like being on video and adhere to the policy when I’m in good health, however, when I am in pain and have to work anyway to meet a deadline I have to made small adjustments to accommodate for my health. are you asking me to jeopardize my health and my performance in favor of a video policy? And she stopped.

    I doubt you want to escalate it to that level but— just an example. It was a simple and dumb situation that she escalated to a level that wasn’t necessary.

    A bigger question is why I had to keep working amid migraines and that, my friends, is why I left. No job is worth your health.

25. AyianJune 9,2022 at 1:57PM UTC

    I used to suffer from daily migraines, but at the time I didn't realize it - I was accustomed to the "low" level background pressure and pain as compared to the rip roaring episodes that made work nearly impossible.

    I found and routinely use an electro stimulation device called Cefaly that interrupts the signals in your brain that precipitate and are active during a migraine. It was only after using it for a few weeks that I realized that I felt relief every day, not just when I was having a major migraine. It's been life-changing and doesn't require a medication. As an added benefit, it's removed the slight scowl wrinkles from between my eyebrows. I hope you check it out, it's a real game changer and often goes on sale, so you can put yourself on their mailing list and wait for a price you're happier with. If you get it, I recommend the package that has extra electrodes. Those never go on sale and they're proprietary.

26. Jason LeeJune 9,2022 at 2:00PM UTC

    If the bright monitor screen bothers you, try inverting colors using the Windows magnifier took.

    Once I got used to it i never Turned back.

27. Nicolette ThompsonJune 9,2022 at 1:27PM UTC

    My former employer tried the same. Ridiculous arbitrary day in the office each week that was beyond not productive. I pointed out the reasons why, they said live with it, I made a post on LinkedIn, being careful to not violate policy. (I even sent it to a friend in HR to check.) my boss freaked, said HR was going to have a fit (I knew they weren’t) … and the policy changed.

    i also had a job offer In hand, so that helps.

    I did leave the company completely. I suggest you do the same.

28. JYJJune 9,2022 at 1:54PM UTC

    Time to go. The market is still hot. Stop wasting your time being miserable with these ridiculous mandates. You need to work with people that treat you like a human being.

29. RiaJune 9,2022 at 7:16PM UTC

    Agree 100%

30. Valerie RiegerJune 9,2022 at 2:23PM UTC

    If I understand the OP, the requirement is for the camera to be on for calls and meetings? If you're not engaged in either of those,the camera can be off? If that is the case, the requirement doesn't seem to be an unreasonable request. There is something to be said for being able to see the person that you're meeting with. I learn a great deal from body language and facial expressions that I wouldn't get if the camera was off. Knowing that others can see me also keeps me engaged and focused in the meeting as opposed to me doing 10 other things and missing half of what was said.

    If there are physical reasons why you can't stare at a screen for that long (migraines, eye strain, etc) let your manager know and request an accommodation.

    If however, it's an "all cameras on all the time" so that the manager can monitor your work type thing, I would find someplace else to work.

31. AnonymousJune 9,2022 at 2:39PM UTC

    Forget all that! I'd setup my camera so u can see my eyes and up. Also, i foresee a lot of PC issues do to all the additional bandwidth being used unnecessarily!

32. AnonymousJune 9,2022 at 2:46PM UTC

    I just got off a call, and we were told the same thing. After working remotely for two years and being more productive than we were in the office we’re forced to go in as the company entered into a new lease and needs people in the office to fill seats.

    Are we being compensated for the increased costs of gas etc? No.

    Not sure what I’ll do, still trying to process what would be my best options.

33. AnonymousJune 9,2022 at 3:02PM UTC

    I have to chime in and vent here, as I've been working remote long before the pandemic.

    I work for a global company and we always had a lot of conference calls with a lot of remote employees calling in from anywhere from offices and client sites to home offices, all of which were no-camera. In fact, if someone accidentally had their camera on, someone would typically alert them so they could turn it off lol. Somehow even though people are back in the office, the cameras have stayed on. Makes me wonder how we possibly functioned without our cameras on before [sarcasm]! Okay, rant over.

34. Karen GongawareJune 9,2022 at 6:11PM UTC

    get another job that values and respects people. See people working, what a load of BS. That is one insecure puppy you have for a boss (not a leader or manager or supervisor).

35. Nicola BanksJune 10,2022 at 1:25AM UTC

    I'm sorry? Pardon me... but this is micromanaging at its finest.

    Turn it off or to the side... see what happens...

36. AnonymousJune 10,2022 at 2:50AM UTC

    I'm unclear on the issue. Is it that you're in the office but meeting virtually instead of around a conference table? I don't see how a camera itself is disruptive. I sense there's a bigger issue that is causing your frustration.

37. JJJune 10,2022 at 6:46PM UTC

    I would turn it off. If my boss wants to stalk me they can do it in real life. The rebound from covid WFH will be massive micromanaging.

38. Liz MilneJune 10,2022 at 9:28PM UTC

    Why isn't your leader in the office to see you working? Sounds like a micromanager trying to flex his puny muscles: raise it as a concern (especially if your co-workers agree) and see how quickly he backs down!

39. AnonymousJune 13,2022 at 3:38AM UTC

    If it is hybrid environment and some people are working from home then I don't see the problem. I always have my camera on if I am in a meeting and there are people not in the room. I don't understand what the problem is.