What’s your webcam policy?

No one gives a shit if it's on or off. This is isn't a preschool

My boss hates cameras so we don’t use them. He has no idea what I look like and I’ve been working for him over 4 years. Just got promoted. I met the CEO last year cause he was visiting my city and he was floored that my boss has never seen what I look like. He really doesn’t understand how we function without having cameras on for meetings. I asked how he thought it affected our deliverables. He didn’t answer cause he knows it doesn’t. Later that week he sent a pic of us to my boss. With my face blacked out. lol

No policy.

My personal policy is 6 people and under, I have it on.

Over 6 people, or if I’m eating to doing something as we are all on different timezones, it’s off.

It’s always okay to have it off if needed, no one babysits

We only have to have it on for the weekly meeting.

If you’re the host, you have to be on camera. Otherwise no one cares. Bonus: we can wear whatever we want. My boss joins in tank tops, an HR person literally had a “fuck cancer” tee on, and a guy in another dept wore a fishnet tank for a training video.

We don’t have a policy but I personally hate it. I’m never the first to turn mine on but if the other person has it on I’ll turn mine on.

Daily 10 min check in, cameras on. Any other meeting/call is optional

Always on 🥲

However, during company meetings or trainings, I definitely turn mine off lol.

Camera on for all meetings

Had to have it on during initial training. After that, NEVER.

No official policy but highly encouraged by management during meetings.

let's be honest, we all look at our own video feed anyway.

No cameras

Organizationally, there is no policy. Some people prefer it some don’t. I never turn the camera on for a work thing unless I’m doing a presentation that’s recorded and public.

Just go on cam during our regular team meeting and that’s it

Always on every call. I prefer that

No policy, thank god

We don’t need to have it on but if the other person turns it on, I’ll do the same. I’ll also turn it on when we talk to vendors.

I’ve been at my job for over a year now and have yet to see what some of the people on my team look like. Lol

Off

No official policy but I was told that the webcams actually slow down Teams functionality so we are often asked to turn them off for large meetings with the whole team. If I have a 1-1 meeting or a small group meeting it’s always on.

Every place I work has always been webcam on. It helps with communication as you lose non verbal communication with out a webcam. Also I can read your lips so I can understand better with my blown out ear drums.    I hate when people don't use thier web cam. 

 Also when we first went remote for covid google meetings had a bug where sometime all the audio from random people wouldn't be received. So if I couldn't see you talking I wouldn't know it wasn't working.  I spent months not knowing people were talking , that the meeting started because people refused to have their cam on. 

When it's just our team, usually no cameras. Inter- department maybe 50/50. If we're on a call with anyone from Europe or Asia, cameras are usually on.

My webcam policy is I turn it on when I know I need to pay attention to the meeting and turn it off when I don't. If my web cam is off, there is a very high probability that I am not paying attention at all.

The company's webcam policy is non-existent. I encourage my team to turn them on, but never insist on it.

We mainly just use it during training or meetings. They’d like to have it on, and during training that was more pressed. But they were understanding when we didn’t, etc. as far as meetings they seem to not care at all if you’re on camera or not. Aside from that, we’re not on camera.

I’m a manager of a fully remote team and my policy is for everyone to turn it on for team meetings (weekly) and 1:1’s (monthly), but i’m very lax if people either have technical issues preventing them from being on camera or basically any reason to not want to be on camera, as long as it’s not literally every time we meet that they aren’t on it.

I don't even have one

and I never will

My boss and the sales team will turn theirs on occasionally but the rest of us rarely turn it on. I never ever do. Have my first in person one day work trip this week and the amount of dread I feel having to "look presentable" in front of these guys I boss around all the time from the comfort of my no makeup, ball cap, yoga pants look is stresssssssing me out hahaha

Nobody cares about it except the boss. Leadership is expected to have it on at all times, people don't get promoted unless they do too. There is no "formal" policy, just an expectation and constant reminders. 😵‍💫

We only have to have ours on for the monthly meeting with everyone.

At my last company, we never turned it on. At my new company, you are required to be on camera during meetings. You are supposed to dress nice too.

Not required for anything.

I turn it on when I have a 1-on-1 with my boss. Sometimes I'll turn it on for social meetups.

I don't turn it on for anything else.

Official policy is on for certain meetings, but my supervisor and grand boss both don't care and don't use their cameras.

It is mostly optional but my boss likes to push for it being on which is just stupid, I don’t need to see these people or stare at each other. I leave mine off as much as I can but the boss says our daily standup is the only team interaction we get so get on camera like any of her direct reports give a shit

Some people use it, some don’t. When we interact with clients, it’s on about 50% of the time, but i also think it depends on the client too.

Up to the customer. Internal calls is mostly no

No official policy.

Team meetings, we usually pop it on to say hi and then switch off.

Small groups or informal meetings, If anyone else has it on, I'll go on camera.

Project kickoffs and report outs, I'm always on

Camera on only if I speak with my direct supervisor one on one, or if I am presenting. Off for everything else.

on for all hands and team meetings but it's not enforced. most of us turn it on anyway. we like connecting with our colleagues

My job doesn’t require cameras on, but my team is encouraged when we’re meeting with each other to have them on. When I meet with other people I usually follow the other person’s lead.

I turn it on for 1-1s and when I’m running a meeting. Off otherwise

Always on for meetings. Though I keep it unplugged (usb) all the time outside of meetings

My boss says he can't make faces if his camera is on. That's a good boss.

No official policy on paper.
I was told by my manager we didn't need to be on camera unless a client requests that we do for their meetings.
There were some upper management changes and I have seen a few mid level managers having theirs on in company meetings.
I had a coworker in another department suggest I should have my camera on in client meetings for ... reasons?
I'm hoping this isn't some unwritten official shift that direction.
I like not having to spend 30 minutes putting on make up, doing my hair and making sure my shirt doesn't have something potentially offensive to someone on it. It made me realize what a pink tax it is to expect people to be on camera when there isn't a valid reason.

We use ours if our leadership has theirs on and it’s a a smaller meeting. Big meetings with someone presenting, we leave them off.

No policy.

Cameras on as a courtesy but it’s not really required internally. For external meetings it’s required. I’m basically always on though unless it’s after my official hours

internal calls no, with clients only if they have theirs on.

I very very rarely turn mine on. During company-wide meetings 1/2 the people have them on for some reason…it’s just hundreds of faces pretending to look interested

Mine is on for all internal meetings. For meetings with vendors. It’s off unless I am addressing an issue.

My company claims it's optional ... but then it gets brought as "not being engaged" if it's off.

If it's a call where I'll actually participate? I'll have it on as long as I don't look a mess. Otherwise, off

Except for a few specific meetings, there's no pressure about cameras on. I greatly prefer off.

I use my camera for 1:1 meetings with my employees but there’s no need to look “professional” in the meetings. We are just discussing priorities and I’m giving people talks

Don't have one

On for client meetings, of client has their camera on On for meetings that have high level exec's and certain trainings

Most people are pissed about it. It's unnecessary and for some trainings, there are 100+ people in the call and the quality goes to shit. But hey I can see your face 🤪

No official policy but we are off. Executives will turn on cameras for Townhall Meetings and some client calls.

No one has told is to keep cameras off bit I think it's preferred. That way we can multitask, finish tasks quicker and bill more.

I have mine off if I'm running the meeting or there are just a few of us (I'm a project manager). Otherwise, it's usually ofg.

If others have it on, I’ll turn it on …. If not, I’ll leave it off…. I know others are trying to multitask or not showered / fresh as I am … all good

Generally internal meetings no camera…with clients/prospects always camera on.

Only needed during team meetings and coachings.

I keep it covered otherwise.

No policy that I’m aware of. But being in sales I always feel obligated to have it on & feel a bit awkward when I don’t. Unless it’s a big meeting. I sort of follow what other teammates do.

My days are spent meeting clients who pay us big bucks to help them. Cameras always on.

No policy, it's encouraged by our boss on a weekly call, but not required. I like having mine on anyways because I like being seen as a person, and I'm a bit animated when I speak, so I think them seeing the body language helps.

Now, for town halls with 300+ attendees, I turn my camera off. I prefer to remain invisible there.

If I have the ability to come off mute and talk I’m likely gonna stay on cam. Keeps me in the game.

Moderated group meetings with no discussion is cam off for me.

At my job (which is for a small company) we have a “virtual office” where we are all on camera during the day. I have my laptop screen tilted way back so I’m not visible but I think it’s a dumb policy. Nobody is actually monitoring it so I don’t know why we have to do it. They said it was to provide an in person type environment where you can just ask questions to someone in the meeting by just unmuting yourself but nobody does it. If we have questions, we’ll call the person individually

I leave mine on because my background is my bookshelves. But I'll turn it off if I need to get up to use the washroom or if I get a call. We are always in mute unless asked a question

always on

It’s not required thankfully. Plus I control a computer in the office remotely so I wouldn’t even be able to use a webcam.

Old job with the micromanager, camera on all the time for all meetings.

Current job, on when you feel like it. I haven't seen some of my coworkers' faces in over 6 months.

Only people who turn it on are the higher ups at my company during a town hall or something like that. 99.9% of the time we have web cams off during meetings

I wouldn’t work from home if someone watching me all day. F that. Lucky I work at a pretty small firm-if your talking about on zoom, I always appear since it’s only about 10 mins a week

No policy.

On if you're actually engaging in the conversation. Off if you're working on something else - so anytime its a long meeting my camera is off.

I went from a company that required it on all the time to a company with no policy, so most of the time everyone's is off. At the old company I'd start at 6am and hated being on camera. But I will say it's harder to know how people are feeling/ thinking etc during some meetings with the cameras off. Like I'd you have to deliver dicey news to your team I'd much rather have cameras on to gauge reactions but overall having the freedom to "hide" is nice.

We have to have it on all first calls and meetings

For training only

They only ask it be on for one weekly meeting, I turn it on until my teams starts slowing down and then I go off camera. But I am on long enough for them to know I’m present and paying attention.

It's on all the time, but it's a video job, and I have something similar to a lowkey in-home studio. They sent me the backdrop and computer and everything.

We are not obligated to turn our cameras on. If they wanted our cameras on, they would tell us in advance, and I would prepare myself appropriately.

We have maybe one meeting per quarter where we are asked turn them on, and whenever we hire someone new for their introduction meeting. That’s it.

My manager requires the camera on when you have 1:1 meetings with her or team meetings that she leads. She needs to be able to see people’s faces because she said it helps her with people’s “tone”. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Off, with tape over it, and Webex doesn’t have permission to access it

Off for all engineering and creative meetings. Usually multiple times a week.

On for all meetings that include higher-ups and others. Usually once or twice a week.

Only during one on ones with my boss and once in a while during team meetings like if we have to introduce ourselves to a new colleague.

always off but I work in gov and, at least in my agency, there isn't a webcam policy.

The only time I have my camera on is Zoom meetings with my boss, or someone else from my department. That’s it.

No one cares but small internal calls I’ll leave it on. Bigger group, off unless the meeting is relevant to me. Customer calls, on until I present then it’s off until my demos are over.

I turn my camera on but keep the shutter closed. I set my background to the old color TV test pattern stating "Technical Difficulties"

I turn it on when possible because out of sight is out of mind and you can’t build your personal brand with a black box and a name.

Also, I’m not an AI and I like to remind people of that.

No one across my entire IT org uses a webcam. Our team did on cam meetings a few times in 2020 and 2021. Not since then.

I remember for my 1 on 1's or small groups, unless I excuse myself (eating, not at my desk), I always have it on. If in a group of more than 10, I have it off. I don't mind either way.

All meetings camera must be off unless you're showing something specific. All the cameras on causes bandwidth problems for some people.

No webcam whatsoever or monitoring. My boss is really cool. Plus it’s a commission job so if I’m not working then I don’t get paid so

Don’t have one thankfully. It’s a No for me.

They gave me a laptop that has a physical switch on the side to turn the camera off. This switch was flipped in the office within the first 3 mins of touching the computer. I’ve turned it on a couple of times. But mostly, it’s a super strong no. It’s not required for anything.

New people and senior leaders it's on, otherwise don't care.

Only people who want cameras are the boomers

Cameras on all the time.

We don't have a formal policy but the norm is that cameras are on when in smaller meetings and then for large meetings with a lot participants who aren't active more cameras are off. It's really a read the room kind of thing, and people usually sort of fall in line with what the majority are doing.

If anyone ever needs to turn a cam off for any reason no one really cares.

I will say as a project manager who hosts and facilitates a lot of meetings I personally prefer when people have their cameras on. I found that early on when we switched to remote the majority had cameras off and it was a struggle to get people to participate in meetings. A few people would contribute but I invite representatives from many departments looking for their input and would get nothing. I think hiding behind a profile photo or a black circle with your initials gave people the freedom to feel like they didn't need to participate.

When cameras on became the norm meeting participation went up and meetings became more productive.

With them on i am also able to read body language which can be helpful. I can see when someone reacts to a statement or if they look unsure and then I can respond as needed. I can also tell when people are totally checked out.

Im sure cameras off work fine for some people and teams but in my personal experience meeting quality suffered and actually resulted in more work and more meetings since I couldn't alwaya get what I needed out of each meeting.

No official policies but I’ve seen a variety of org cultures around this. Two jobs ago, it was mostly camera off when we first went remote during 2020 lockdowns. The job after that, camera on most of the time for internal team meetings, off for any larger group meetings or external meetings. Current job, unfortunately, culture dictates camera on most of the time for most meeting types. For really large meetings/trainings it’s camera-off, especially when they’re minimal interaction meetings. But camera on for almost any other meeting, turning off when needed (spotty wifi, eating, getting up to let my dog in/out, etc) but turning it back on afterward.

We have to have it on, but I usually leave it off for 1:1s with coworkers. But yeah everything else, on. I do not enjoy.

If I’m leading the call, camera on (internal or external…doesn’t matter).

If I’m playing a key role on the call, camera on.

If I’m a fly on the wall, camera off.

If it’s a formal team call, and ELT is on, camera on.

If it’s just my work bros…camera on.

If I’m only in my underwear, camera off.

Simple as that.

If it’s a big team call, camera off.

Depends on the setting of the meeting. I had one last week where we all had ours on. My team meetings the upper management folks will get upset if you have it off. If you tell them why you have it off they tend to not care if you’re not feeling well or something crazy happened. They’re not totally unreasonable. Meeting days I try and wear something semiprofessional.

My company has no policy. On top of that any meetings. I have with my boss or coworkers, no one has their cameras on. Same for when I have meetings with my clients, no cameras. And I personally like it that way.

Only for quarterly department meetings, biweekly team meetings, and weekly one on ones with my boss. Otherwise it’s whatever and that’s usually off camera cause ain’t nobody got the time to look presentable every day.

Always on.

I flip it on for first time client engagement. Face to a name and all.. after that, it's off unless someone demands it. Which never happens.

I can't always see that great and so i often end up with an eyeball as my image. I hate cameras but I also understand the value. Sometimes I have no idea if people are following/paying attn without it.

Unofficial policy is you have to turn it if we hear pets or small children so we can see the cuteness

We are strongly encouraged to have our cameras on

Employer doesn’t require camera on for zoom meetings but I do it. Just a personal preference but as far as my team I am all for backgrounds and avatars. Sometimes I will show up in something super ridiculous for fun and one meeting everyone had printed out masks of me and wore them. Needless to say we keep it fun

Edited to add: if it’s a training or a meeting with upper management I encourage it but don’t require it. No one has commented.

I never turn on my webcam.

Overall i prefer using cameras. I hate talking to a screen of just names. It’s so impersonal. I like being able to see people.

Where i work - i feel that most people tend to put their cameras on.

But my boss’s bi weekly staff meeting - no one goes on camera and it is nice to have that one meeting where i don’t have to worry about how i look!

No policy, just whatever you’re comfortable with, only at informal biweekly meetings with my team everyone had their camera on cz we wanted to see each other while talking about random stuff in a casual setting but that was, again, everyone’s choice and no obligation whatsoever

Mandatory for cams to be on I get bitched at quite often for not wanting to be happy on cam. I do work a social media company so that plays a small role but I’m an hourly ticket pusher so I see no reason to want to get to know anyone really.

We don’t use it. Ever.

For our daily we usually have it on, for spontaneous calls it's usually off. If I have meetings with clients I turn it always on and try to wear a shirt. Sometimes I even shave only the beard stays... 😜

My webcam is unplugged from my computer unless a meeting requires it be connected. And they rarely ever do.

Company I’m at prefers they are on but doesn’t pry if it is off.

We don’t use it either. We are brains in a jar (software development).

No policy. I even plug in my own monitor that doesn't have a webcam into my work laptop and close the laptop lid. No one can see me.

We are highly encouraged to keep them on. I always keep mine on. I figure the more I comply, the less reason they have to make us RTO.

We never have cameras on at all, for anything. We have to do too much screen sharing anyway, so it doesn’t matter 95% of the time.

Daily 15 min meeting on, otherwise off because my supervisor now hates them.

My last supervisor was a stickler for it and had to be on the entire freaking day. Malicious compliance and mine was either pointed at the ceiling, I was cooking, painting or cleaning while handling business. He hated that.

If I’m in a meeting, it’s on because I’m an adult and I show up to work with the other adults. If I’m not in a meeting, I leave the physical blocker on it so tech can’t spy. Be responsible, not stupid. 💯

Camera is always on. ALWAYS. I wish we could turn it off but that's the culture here.

On for 1x1s, whatever you want for meetings

For larger meetings, off. And for you boomers/early Xers, that means in the system settings not sliding the cover. The reason is bandwidth and nobody can look at 15 people. The presenter/speaker may have theirs on.

For smaller meetings, on. Facial expressions matter in conversation. I changed companies late pandemic and am fully convinced some of the cultural issues are because of the strict enforcement of the COVID policy with no enforcement of the camera policy.

35m - 25 employees. We are hybrid with no in-office requirements. Most live out of state. So the culture is basically “idc when, where or how long you work, just get it done and be available 24/7” (leadership doesn’t abuse this and employees are responsible enough to abide by this). That being said, we use webcams for every call. Kind of like a way of proving/showing you are available and working and not at the beach or shopping or something. And honestly it’s fine if you are but I personally want to save those cards for when I need them. So if I’m at my desk, I’m on camera. Perception is reality in a digital/WFH environment

For the most part its off. Once in a while well have a team meeting with my immediate team (like 10 of us) where well go on cam, but were more just shooting the shit than meeting.

My problem lies in people who think saying “cameras are mandatory” during a meeting is a good idea. Hey, how bout you fuck all the way off? 90% of the time im not even wearing a shirt, it aint happening.

No policy and everyone just does what works for them (you get a lot of “hey, my camera’s off cause I’m grabbing something to eat” or whatever). However, I’ve never been made to feel like I’m judged for my casual appearance, and tbh, because I’ve never met any of my coworkers in person, I don’t mind having cameras on.

The rule I’ve been told (that is largely unenforced) is “if someone else on the call has their camera on, yours should be on as well.”

We’re IT and business casual anyway. As long as I wear a suitable shirt and comb my hair I’m good.

There is one guy I know in finance who has to be ready to look extremely professional on camera. He puts on a proper shirt and tie every day, with a coat hanging in the room to put on for certain occasions. But he’s been rotating through the same four pair of sweat pants for the past several years.

They’re basically always off unless business development is on the line. That dept LOVES cameras on lol why

I had it off by telling work I was remoting into the laptop from my basement computer. That allowed me to use the laptop without turning it on. Eventually I set up everything in my basement where I COULD do that and now work down there, so I CAN'T be seen. No cameras down there anyway.

Hardly anybody turned them on anyway, so I never saw the point.

I e never once turned it on and I don’t think I’ve ever been asked to. If someone did ask I’d say it’s broken.

I work at a startup and our president insists on camera on unless you’re in your car or something.

I don’t make anyone on my team use theirs….

But I have one team member that always 100% of the time turns his on. I always turn incoming video off because I find him distracting and no one the team cares. I have told him multiple times I think he thinks I am joking.

Gov CTR here.... cameras / mics disabled by policy.

I turn mine on which often times gets other people to turn theirs on... I'm on a small team and its cool to see each other but no one has to do it and I've never asked anyone to do it..

Some people do and some don't there is no policy and no one cares.

Technically we have a policy to have it on during morning stand-ups. But no one follows it. So if it's not followed, or enforced is it really a policy? I turn it on when I have my one-on-ones with my boss OR I'm in a meeting with upper management AND everyone else has it on.

I don’t like it on. Gives me very bad camera fatigue

If I'm meeting with a student I turn it on. In regular meetings (most have 20+ people) I leave it off.

This is timely. In my last WFH role the company culture was big into being on camera and you were frowned upon for not being on camera. For this new role I started at a different company I noticed that most people are rarely on camera so I asked about it. Apparently no one cares about camera being on or off. I never liked being on camera in the first place, BUT I can see where in certain cases it's beneficial.

For smaller meetings and client meetings I have it on. It’s encouraged by our company but no one cares if you’re having a day where you just don’t feel like being on cam. For larger company meetings I never have it on.

No policy. For my 1:1s with my employees and my boss, no cameras. For weekly team meetings, cameras on. Meetings with executive members, cameras on. This is really just how I approach it though. I prefer no camera majority of the time, but for team meetings and meetings with leadership, I find it good practice to use cameras.

I am at a big open source software company. We have a "cameras on" culture, but nobody cares if you say "I'm leaving my camera off to eat/because I slept badly/whatever".

No policy but I know the CEO likes them. He once asked me to turn it on and I was calling from the car lol. I don't mind, conversations are easier when I can see faces. Generally 1-1 are just phone calls while meetings are on camera. Large meetings of more than like 10 individual streams, I'll turn it off unless I'm actively participating. I don't have that many meetings for it to be an issue.

I've actually been WFH since 2017 and I never used a webcam until like COVID probably. Used my actual phone until then.

My boss makes us use our camera which I and most of the team hate. The only consistent camera users is the international remote engineer who kind of has to for face value (or get laid off because no one knows him otherwise) and someone who obeys any order without question

My vp was pushing for return to office or on camera so I opted for on camera.

Now individual contributors have to be in one day and anyone with direct reports 3, so cameras are back off.

Off for internal meetings and check ins with longterm clients, on for prospective and new clients or for more important discussions.

Typically everyone has them on. It's okay to have them off if someone is delivering a presentation.

I had a WFH gig where no one turned their cameras on. I had people working for me that I never met in real life and I had no idea what they looked like. Personally I hated it.

Cameras on for team and customer facing meetings. Otherwise, it doesn't matter.

No one wants to see my ugly mug. Besides, I got work to do.

I don’t care what others do. I turn mine on to keep myself from screwing around on my phone.

nobody cares.. I find them extremely distracting. I can't focus on what someone is saying when they have a wall of different books behind them or they have a blurred background that pixelates anytime they move one millimeter.