Many employees now engage in online meetings as part of their daily routine due to remote and hybrid work becoming more prevalent. However, a recent survey reveals that young people, in particular, have concerns about this practice.
Despite hopes that the Covid-19 pandemic would diminish the excessive number of meetings, this has not been the case. From Zoom to Meet to Skype, companies offer various tools to facilitate virtual “face-to-face” interactions. However, the 2023 edition of Jabra’s annual report confirms that not everyone embraces these video meetings.
Surprisingly, members of younger generations are less comfortable with videoconferences compared to their older colleagues, contrary to the assumption that young people are more inclined towards new technologies.
The quality of exchanges between employees is crucial for effective meetings, whether conducted remotely or not. Developing a climate of psychological safety is essential to encourage the expression of opinions, especially from newcomers or inexperienced employees.
Nevertheless, Millennials and Generation Z often feel that their contributions are not taken as seriously as those of their older counterparts, leading them to feel more excluded during video meetings than Baby Boomers and Gen Xers.
Another area of contention is whether cameras should be used during videoconferences, causing issues and debates in the workplace. Some managers strongly advocate for camera usage to enhance visual communication and counteract the dehumanization of work relationships, while others are content without it.
While several employees perceive no harm in utilizing video during meetings, younger employees tend to be more hesitant. Moreover, they report feeling pressured by their superiors to turn on their cameras.
Millennials experience such pressure to a greater extent, with 24% indicating they feel obligated to activate their camera during remote meetings. Surprisingly, Baby Boomers are less influenced by this pressure, as 47% never turn on their cameras compared to only 22% of Gen Zers. Although, a small percentage of Baby Boomers (15%) are willing to activate their cameras when active participation is necessary.
An interesting finding is that although the use of cameras during remote meetings is controversial, it is highly appreciated by employees. While some individuals prefer not to use their camera, colleagues with video on are perceived as more engaged and involved in the meeting by 46% of respondents. Furthermore, 39% believe that appearing on camera during a videoconference creates an impression of competence and professionalism.
To accommodate the increasing reliance on video in the workplace, companies are establishing dedicated meeting rooms. However, a significant portion of surveyed employees express reluctance to utilize these spaces because they feel less comfortable compared to using their own laptops.
The survey, conducted by Toluna on behalf of Jabra, involved 1,845 “knowledge workers” residing in the USA, UK, France, Japan, Germany, and Poland. Data was collected online between April 13 and 21, 2023.
