That time when you forgot the remote meeting is supposed to involve your webcam

[Exterous]

And quickly shower, dry your hair and put on something more appropriate than the shirt you slept in.

Since we're 99% remote work now I've been working out at lunch and waiting to shower until after that but I almost completely forgot I had a webcam meeting today...

 

[Fritzo]

So you're saying I have to wear a shirt and everything?

WHAT'S THE POINT OF WORKING AT HOME???

 

[rh71]

I've been working from home since maybe 2005. Not once have I ever had to go on the camera for calls. Nobody does across the 2 large corporations I've been with including with vendors. We presume everyone's in pajamas.

When I switched over to this company, they told me it would be a Skype interview with multiple people. I was hella nervous and showered and dressed up and everything just beforehand, making sure the background was all professional. The call starts and not a single person had a camera going and I realized mine wasn't required. I've not seen a single work person's face in at least a decade. All I know them by are their profile pictures, presumably from when they were 10 years younger.

 

[Exterous]

So you're saying I have to wear a shirt and everything?

WHAT'S THE POINT OF WORKING AT HOME???

Right?! Well not 'everything'. But if you're naked from the waist down just be aware where your webcam is pointing and how far away from it you are

As an aside I know there is a professor who puts a reminder for their live, remote classes to "Please remember that this class is a virtual class and people can see what you are wearing so please remember to put on a shirt."

I don't know the backstory but I assume the reminder is there in response to something

 

[Stopsignhank]

Last year my wife's company was having an all employee meeting. They have many sites so it was a video conference across all the sites. One guy signed in from his desk and his camera was on. So the entire time the CEO was talking she said there was a little square on the screen with this little chinese man looking out at everyone.

 

[LikeLinus]

Late in 2018, we had a team meeting for our group. Another manager joined the call and he didn't realize his web cam was on. He was standing around and then sat down while the meeting started. The problem? He was rocking only boxers and had no clue. I messaged him immediately to let him know. I probably wasn't the only one, but he left the meeting and never re-joined It was hilarious.

 

[snoopy7548]

Just print out a picture of yourself and tape it to the webcam. Problem solved.

 

[vi edit]

Why would a webcam be "mandatory"? First thing I do when entering a conference call is making sure the camera function is disabled. We've gone to total remote work this month and there are a ton of people in tshirts and disheveled looking states of personal care on video feeds. I'm no different. No need to broadcast that. It's even easier because my docking station at home only supports two monitors at a time so I close my laptop. Can't display video if my laptop is closed.

 

[Exterous]

Why would a webcam be "mandatory"? First thing I do when entering a conference call is making sure the camera function is disabled. We've gone to total remote work this month and there are a ton of people in tshirts and disheveled looking states of personal care on video feeds. I'm no different. No need to broadcast that. It's even easier because my docking station at home only supports two monitors at a time so I close my laptop. Can't display video if my laptop is closed.

Because we're a service company and we like to be able to read body language of our customers when pitching sales\ideas\solutions. We give them the option but if they select 'conference with video' then we join with video. And, for the personality types that tend to make it to Dean, Director, etc in Higher Ed, that builds a better connection than voice only

 

[Brainonska511]

I've been remote for over a year and a half. I only use a webcam for 1:1 meetings. Most of the time, I keep it off.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I've been working from home since maybe 2005. Not once have I ever had to go on the camera for calls. Nobody does across the 2 large corporations I've been with including with vendors. We presume everyone's in pajamas.

When I switched over to this company, they told me it would be a Skype interview with multiple people. I was hella nervous and showered and dressed up and everything just beforehand, making sure the background was all professional. The call starts and not a single person had a camera going and I realized mine wasn't required. I've not seen a single work person's face in at least a decade. All I know them by are their profile pictures, presumably from when they were 10 years younger.

I installed Webex on the wife's computers last night for calls today and going forward. She's in front working on one computer in a cute Victoria's Secret outfit. LOL So I can't blame her coworkers for wanting to see her in her bedtime wardrobe.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I've been working from home since maybe 2005. Not once have I ever had to go on the camera for calls. Nobody does across the 2 large corporations I've been with including with vendors. We presume everyone's in pajamas.

This. I work from home full-time now and have for 5 of the past 7 years. I NEVER use a webcam. My "uniform" is basketball shorts and any shirt I can find.

My wife's manager makes them use webcams though - so, so stupid. Such a tremendously efficient use of resources.

 

[rh71]

Why would a webcam be "mandatory"? First thing I do when entering a conference call is making sure the camera function is disabled. We've gone to total remote work this month and there are a ton of people in tshirts and disheveled looking states of personal care on video feeds. I'm no different. No need to broadcast that. It's even easier because my docking station at home only supports two monitors at a time so I close my laptop. Can't display video if my laptop is closed.

First thing I did after receiving my work laptop was put a strip of electrical tape over the camera.

 

[snoopy7548]

First thing I did after receiving my work laptop was put a strip of electrical tape over the camera.

Did you remember to cover the microphone?

 

[rh71]

Did you remember to cover the microphone?

Disabled, the second thing I did. Webex & Skype will report no mic found. I use an actual phone to dial in, but the few times that didn't work, I just tell them I can only listen and not talk. Mic on a laptop has always been flaky for me regardless.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

First thing I did after receiving my work laptop was put a strip of electrical tape over the camera.

That is exactly what I did too. I‘m a senior consultant and manage other consultants in addition to my client-facing duties. I’m in meetings with clients, sales, and management all the time. I never use my webcam and am annoyed when someone does.

 

[Brainonska511]

Disabled, the second thing I did. Webex & Skype will report no mic found. I use an actual phone to dial in, but the few times that didn't work, I just tell them I can only listen and not talk. Mic on a laptop has always been flaky for me regardless.

I almost never use my phone to dial in to calls - I just stick to a USB headset. Much cleaner connection and better headset overall for calls compared to my crappy wired headset for my phone. The only time I use my phone is for a long call where I just need to listen - I'll hook up my Oonz speaker to use as a speaker phone, so I can walk around unimpeded by cords.

 

[sdifox]

And quickly shower, dry your hair and put on something more appropriate than the shirt you slept in.

Since we're 99% remote work now I've been working out at lunch and waiting to shower until after that but I almost completely forgot I had a webcam meeting today...

Lol we don't do video, we share screens, much more important than mugshots.

And everyone on my team taped over the camera on the laptop anyway.

 

[zinfamous]

Oh, I thought this was about an unauthorized dong appearance.