Online meetings have become a staple for many workers.
- A recent survey of 1,000 UK desk workers reveals common annoyances during online calls.
- Eating during meetings tops the list, irritating nearly half of the participants.
- Other bothersome behaviors include burping, inappropriate comments, and interruptions.
- Most workers remain productive with cameras off, though some admit to being distracted.
Online meetings continue to be an integral part of the workday for the majority of UK desk workers, with more than 60% working remotely at least part-time. A survey involving 1,000 workers highlighted significant annoyances encountered during these calls. The most common irritant, identified by 49% of participants, is eating during meetings. This behavior echoes findings from a 2021 study, where chewing noises were overwhelmingly cited as bothersome.
Remote work brings comfort, but it also gives rise to lax behaviors that disturb others. Burping and farting during calls were highlighted by 37% of respondents as particularly annoying. Similarly, 36% found inappropriate comments during meetings to be disruptive, while interruptions and mumbling were each noted by 33% of participants. Background noise was another common complaint, underscored by 30% of those surveyed.
As for what happens when cameras are off, only a minority of 12% find it annoying. Interestingly, 27% of workers remain engaged without extra distractions during these times. However, for the other 73%, offline camera time translates to various non-meeting related activities. Notably, 30% use this time to focus on other work tasks, 27% text on their phones, and 18% even find opportunities to scroll or attend to personal needs.
Understanding these habits can help improve the virtual meeting experience for everyone.
