Tired of video calls? You’re not alone, survey finds

Menlo Park, CA — More than six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 2 out of 5 employees have grown tired of video calls, results of a recent survey show.

Researchers, on behalf of staffing firm Robert Half, conducted an online survey between Oct. 27 and Nov. 2 of more than 1,000 U.S. adult workers who typically work in office environments. Results show 76% of the workers have participated in virtual meetings. Of this group, 38% said they’ve experienced video call fatigue, while 26% indicated its novelty has worn off. Further, 30% reported spending at least a third of their workday on camera, while 24% indicated virtual meetings are inefficient and exhausting and they prefer to communicate via email or phone.

Other findings:

• Women (47%) were more likely than men (32%) to say they’re tired of virtual meetings.
• The most common complaints: technical issues (28%) and too many people in meetings/participants talking over each other (19%).
• Among parents, 25% reported spending most of their workday in virtual meetings.

Robert Half provides the following tips to help make virtual meetings more productive:
Test the technology: Check your computer’s internet connection, camera and microphone. Close out unused programs to increase bandwidth and avoid multitasking.
Check the guest list: Smaller meetings are typically more effective and engaging. Make sure “everyone you invited has something valuable to offer and a stake in the outcome.”
Set expectations early: Send agendas and other materials in advance to help participants prepare. Share notes and action items in recaps.

“Workers are busier than ever and strapped for time,” Robert Half Senior Executive Director Paul McDonald said in a Nov. 12 press release. “Before setting up a video call, always determine the goal and if it can be accomplished via other means.”