With companies increasingly adopting hybrid and fully remote work environments, video conferencing and meetings are becoming more commonplace. However, as this is still somewhat new territory, there are a lot of questions about work-related video etiquette and what is and is not okay. One particularly problematic issue for some is the “camera on” requirement that some employers are enforcing.
Some workers think that requiring their video to be on is an invasion of privacy, especially if they don’t have a private or designated office space in their home. Others believe this requirement is perfectly reasonable as it’s no different than having to be presentable and attentive during in-office meetings.
Understandably, employers may worry that their employees might not be paying attention if cameras are off. Additionally, it’s more difficult to communicate when cameras are off, as you can’t see the person’s face and pick up on body language and facial expression cues. The problem is that not all employees may have access to a professional-looking, distraction-free home environment, and requiring them to have their camera on or enforcing other requirements may make them feel uncomfortable or put out.
Can Employers Enforce a “Camera On” Policy?
Many employees who live with others or have children at home may feel that requiring their camera to be on invades their privacy and the privacy of others in the home with them. While this issue could be solved in theory by requiring employees to have a private designated workspace in their home, this is not an option for everyone. Furthermore, employees may not want their employers and co-workers to see where they live. These concerns are reasonable, yet, many employers continue to enforce camera-on policies.
So, is this legal? Can employers force their workers to keep their cameras on? Laws and regulations about video recording, privacy, and consent vary from state to state. However, these laws and regulations were created with in-office work settings in mind; they do not particularly apply to employees working from home. So, the legality of camera-on policies in work-from-home settings is somewhat unclear. No law prohibits employers from requiring cameras to be on, but there is also nothing that legally says employees have to comply.
How to Address These Concerns
The wisest course of action is for employers and employees to sit down with HR individually to address their concerns. Simply demanding employees turn their cameras on or face termination is a little unreasonable, but it is also not wise for employees to simply refuse without an explanation.
If an employee can have their video on but simply doesn’t want to so they can slack off, it is reasonable for them to face consequences. However, if an employee doesn’t have a private office and feels uncomfortable having their camera on but they are still present and attentive and getting their work done, a simple explanation of this to HR can potentially help them avoid being fired or forced into an awkward situation.
Challenges Employees and Employers Face When Requiring Cameras to Be On During a Video Meeting
The problem, again, with requiring cameras to be on during meetings is that not all employees may have access to a private and distraction-free home environment. Employees who work from home might have pets, kids, roommates, or partners that they don’t want to be on camera. Furthermore, those other individuals in the home themselves may feel uncomfortable having their privacy invaded. It is also not okay for employers to demand employees make space for a private office or move into a home with more room for one unless they compensate the employee for these requirements.
Video Conferencing Tips For Employees
While not everyone may have access to quiet, distraction-free environments, there are video tips both employers and employees can follow to make meetings and conferences more enjoyable and professional in the work-from-home setting.
- Schedule calls and meetings ahead of time: Understandably, sometimes things come up last minute that may require a meeting or a call. However, if the employee does not have time to prepare and the meeting or call may potentially cause a problem with others in the home, they should not be punished for being unable to attend. It’s always best to plan for calls or meetings ahead as much as possible, so remote employees have time to make preparations.
- Keep pets away: While some employers enjoy seeing their employees’ pets, others find them distracting to meetings and calls. It’s reasonable to ask employees to at least try to keep pets somewhere where they won’t be a distraction. This might require putting up a temporary gate or putting the pet in the other room, at least until the video call is over.
- Work in a clean space or use a digital background: If possible, try to sit in an area that is quiet and looks clean and professional. If this is not an option, you can use a digital background. Most video conferencing apps these days offer settings where you can virtually change your background so everyone can’t see what is actually going on behind you. You can opt for a virtual office background, or you can even simply have the background blurred.
- Dress professionally: With remote work, it’s easy to stay in your pajamas or loungewear all day and skip the morning shower, but if you know ahead of time that a call or meeting is scheduled, it’s important to make the same effort you would if you were going into the office. Good impressions are still key, even in remote work settings.
- Maintain a professional attitude: Not only should you try to dress appropriately for video meetings, but you should remember to speak professionally and respectfully as well. People tend to feel more comfortable acting out when they are behind a screen, which can lead to poor manners and microaggressions. But even if you are working from home, you should still address everyone respectfully and speak with them as you would in person.
Final Thoughts
Video collaboration and remote calls and meetings may one day become the norm over in-person conferences. So, it’s important to take steps now to address concerns and be mindful of policies and requirements that are set. While employers cannot technically require employees to have their cameras on legally, they can take steps to make video calls more manageable and enjoyable for their employees. In return, employees can also make an effort to be more professional while “attending” video meetings to ensure they are being respectful and considerate of others.
