Workers Are Secretly Cooking During Virtual Meetings, Survey Finds

A recent survey has found that a significant number of Americans are engaging in multitasking, including cooking, during virtual work meetings when their cameras are off. The poll of over 2,000 U.S. adults revealed that 17% have prepared meals while on a work call with their cameras off, a behavior observed at even higher rates among younger workers.

Among Generation Z, 26% reported cooking during meetings when their cameras were off. This age group also showed higher instances of other off-camera activities, with 30% admitting to falling asleep during meetings, compared to 12% overall. Additionally, 23% of respondents have used the bathroom, 14% have shopped online, and 13% have exercised during camera-off meetings.

John Coleman, co-CEO of Sovereign's Capital, shared that while he has occasionally eaten lunch or taken calls while exercising during back-to-back meetings, he draws the line at cooking. He cautioned against potential accidents and noted that multitasking could detract from full participation in a meeting. Coleman recalled an instance where a colleague unintentionally broadcasted themselves in the restroom due to a forgotten camera.

Experts suggest that the key to multitasking during remote work is maintaining engagement and the ability to contribute when needed. Catherine Fisher, LinkedIn's vice president of communications, stated, "The question isn't necessarily, 'Are you doing anything else?' It's, 'Can you still contribute when you’re needed?'" She emphasized that if multitasking hinders a person's ability to follow discussions or respond, it becomes problematic.

Kristen Hadeed, a leadership expert and author, views activities like making lunch as part of "human time," which employees should feel empowered to manage while maintaining open communication. She believes that if an employee's activities impact their availability or the team's work, it should be communicated.

Coleman suggested that meeting structure also plays a role, pointing to overcrowded and overly long meetings as potential drivers for multitasking. He advocates for brief, focused virtual calls with essential participants and questions the necessity of every meeting being conducted via video.

Fisher speculated that Gen Z's higher rates of multitasking might stem from their formative work experiences during the pandemic, a period that blurred the lines between professional and personal life for many new entrants into the workforce. She clarified that this behavior doesn't necessarily indicate a lesser commitment to work but rather a potential adaptation to evolving work-life dynamics.