Around 7 months ago very few people had even heard of Zoom, but since the pandemic has forced many people to work from home, its users have jumped from 10 million to 300 million at its peak. A survey of 1000 people working from home due to Covid-19, commissioned by Eskenzi PR, has found that workplace etiquette is becoming more lax, with almost half of those surveyed saying that colleagues have turned up late to virtual meetings and over half have been interrupted by colleagues on calls.
The survey reveals some on the concerning habits Brits have displayed on Zoom calls:
- 91% admit they’ve been distracted by their own image on screen and can’t help looking at themselves.
- 85% have slyly worked on emails or have seen others who have. – Millennials were the highest generation slyly emailing.
- 77% are sneakily texting.
- 66% have eaten during a Zoom meeting.
- 18% have enjoyed an alcoholic drink.
- 17% have smoked or vaped.
- 12% have picked their spots and 11% have picked their teeth on video calls.
As the work environment has changed and Zoom has become the way to communicate with colleagues, many are grappling with Zoom fatigue. The survey shows that instead of concentrating during a work call, employees are distracted, finding it hard to remain engaged with only 27% of Brits claiming to be productive. However, over 40% of respondents stated that they have got to know their colleagues better in this new work environment, helping to improve colleague relationships.
Yvonne Eskenzi, Director and Founder of Eskenzi PR says “Our survey has shown that people tend to let their guard down during Zoom meetings at home, which can be detrimental to their careers as they are still being judged on these calls. Many have seen colleagues turn up late, speak over others, drink, eat and even smoke on calls. There is a certain etiquette to Zoom calls, which would be sensible to follow if you’re hoping for a promotion or want to be looked at favourably by your colleagues and superiors.”
Some of Eskenzi PR’s tips for Zoom etiquette include:
- Take calls in a quiet place or use a headset to block out background noise.
- Check your microphone and camera works properly before starting a call.
- Ensure you have a clear, work-appropriate background, with any unprofessional items tidied away.
- Limit distractions by turning off other devices and notification before calls.
