New research suggests the standard of workplace manners has fallen during the pandemic as meetings have increasingly shifted online.
The survey of 1,000 people working remotely as a result of the pandemic was commissioned by tech PR firm Eskenzi PR. It found that over half of respondents have been interrupted by colleagues during video calls, while just under half reported colleagues turning up late. Meanwhile, a similar proportion said colleagues had appeared distracted during virtual meetings.
Yvonne Eskenzi, founder of Eskenzi PR, said the findings confirm that “people tend to let their guard down during Zoom meetings at home.” However, she warned that being too casual on a work call could damage career prospects as employees are increasingly being judged on their conduct during these calls.
In response to the findings, Eskenzi PR suggest a number of simple rules for Zoom call etiquette. These include: check microphone and camera are working properly before a call; turn up on time; take calls in a quiet place; ensure a work-appropriate background; limit distractions by turning off devices and notifications; look at the camera when talking; and don’t eat, drink, text or complete other work during calls.