Workers Getting Tired of Video Calls

A new study shows video calls may be wearing on workers. More than three-quarters of professionals surveyed (76%) by professional staffing firm Robert Half said they participate in virtual meetings. Those respondents reported spending nearly one-third of their workday (30%) on camera with business contacts or colleagues. In addition:

• 38% said they’ve experienced video call fatigue since the start of the pandemic.
• 26% noted that the practicality and novelty of videoconferencing has worn off over the past 8 months.
• 24% confirmed they find virtual meetings inefficient and exhausting and prefer to communicate via other channels, like email or phone.
• The most common video call pet peeves were dealing with technical issues (28%) and too many meeting participants and people talking over each other (19%).
• 1 in 4 working parents (25%) reported spending more than half of their on-the-job hours in virtual meetings.
• More women (47%) than men (32%) said they’re tired of videoconferencing.

“Video calls became the go-to way for professionals to connect, collaborate and build rapport at the start of the pandemic,” said Paul McDonald, senior executive director of Robert Half. “While effective in some instances, they can be draining in others and are best used in moderation.”