Have you ever worked for a company that had a rule where you had to turn the camera on during a virtual meeting?

What would you do if you had a good reason to keep your camera off? Would you turn it on anyway, or would you keep the camera off no matter what?

In today’s story, one new mom has recently returned to work after maternity leave. She wants to keep her camera off, but when she receives push back, she decides to prove a point.

Let’s read the whole story.

Cameras have to be on….NO MATTER WHAT! Fine by me, don’t mind the pump

I am a project manager and data scientist. I manage lots of different public health related projects.

There is one project in particular that includes a really demanding team from a federal government department.

I recently returned back to work from maternity leave.

I work in my office three days a week; on those days, I have to pump breastmilk at regular intervals for my baby.

She is able to pump while she works.

Luckily, I have my own private office and can usually just keep on working (emails, reports, etc) while I pump.

I have a hands-free, wearable pump which is convenient….but still definitely obvious if I am wearing it (it pokes out about my shirt and is not exactly silent).

Recently we have a Zoom call scheduled during one of the times I needed to pump.

Instead of missing the meeting, I figured I would just keep my camera off so I could wear my pump and still participate and listen. Heck, I was even IN my office and not working from home; I felt like I was being a pretty committed employee!

The Lead wants the cameras on.

Meeting starts, a few people have their cameras off.

The Lead makes the announcement: “I just want to remind everyone that our expectation is that you will have your cameras on because this is not a virtual meeting, it is a simulated in person meeting” (….whatever that means)

I sent a quick private message to explain I was paying attention, but pumping; no response to me, just instead, a, “Again, the expectation is that all cameras will be on.”

They asked for it!

So fine. I turn my camera on for this meeting of about 20 people.

The camera isn’t aimed at my chest but certainly the top of my pump is CLEARLY visible.

I unmuted myself, so you could also clearly HEAR the pump, and just said, “Thank you for your patience, I was adjusting my breast pump.”

She could’ve turned the camera off but didn’t.

The meeting continued awkwardly, with several other team managers letting me know privately it was fine to turn my camera off, but at that point, there really was no point in turning it off.

At the most recent meeting, the announcement was, “Please turn on your cameras if you are comfortable doing so.”

Sometimes there are good reasons to have the camera off during a meeting.

Let’s see how Reddit reacted to this story.

She is the office hero!

Same!

Oh the hypocrisy!

This person applauds her.

She should totally do this!

Talk about an awkward meeting!

If you liked that story, check out this post about a group of employees who got together and why working from home was a good financial decision.