Ask HN: How to stop my manager asking enable camera in meetings during WFH

- My company does not add "Face on" in meeting as a policy.

- I don't expect to see people faces in the meeting, rather than their voice and their screen sharing or their notes/chatting.

- The meeting platform is Google Meet and my development works on the laptop Mac Pro 13'' 2017 is quite slower than normal when I being on (VSCode + Go + Browser Tabs + Postman + etc.). Sometimes, all sharing camera from others hung up in the meeting. My laptop fan seems working too hard when being in the meeting. I have to use a stand slot for the laptop, then use external keyboard and mouse.

- I've been WFH for almost a month. No hair salons opening now due to they're following government policy due to pandemic. You can understand how shabby my face is.

Additionally, I don't know why a lot of articles try to push the point that enable camera in meetings can help people work smoothly than.

In above, I shared my points would make me feel like I don't really want to be enabled in meeting as face-to-face. Also feel like my manager is not true to ask people for that, not even me.

How do you guys think? Any people have the same feeling during WFH? Is this a valid expectation from my side? Any other points? If this is a true, then how to convince my manager with high confident that I will win?

I would like to hear opinions further. Thanks!

If I had to address your points:

- I don't suppose they had a policy for 'global pandemic, everyone works from home' either. But actually seeing people does make a difference.

- That's fine, but I expect some people would like to see you, to know they have your attention and to make it feel more like they're in a room with you (when they can't be in real life).

- Yeah, my 2020 Mac and fan struggles as well. So be it. Close some apps.

- Does that matter? No one else has had a haircut either. In the same way 2 years ago very few people would dream of having a video call in their bedroom, times have changed. No one expects you to put on a suit, but have a shower and brush you hair and nobody will care.

It probably won't be forever, I'd just get on with it. I have a friend (who, to be fair rather likes it) is in a team that leaves the video on all day so it feels like they're in the office together. Just be thankful you're not working with them!