'My boss forces us to turn our cameras on for every meeting': Fully remote team rebels against new boss's camera mandate by using eyebrow-raising filters and backgrounds

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Sep 4, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

Everyone has differing opinions about how remote work calls should be conducted. Oftentimes, it depends on what the situation calls for. In this instance, a hybrid employee who works for a tech company started to feel pressure about having his camera on at all times on the days he worked from home.

The employee believed this new policy to be essentially a power play, as there was zero evidence of work not being completed or workers slacking off on their remote days. Instead, this new micromanager merely wanted to flex his false sense of authority and remind his employees who their boss was. 

I could understand if cameras were requested to be turned on during certain meetings, especially formal ones involving guests or clients. However, if it's a routine 5-minute update and an employee does not want to show their background because of the state of their apartment, that is their right. After all, these were hybrid employees anyway. Everyone knew what they looked like. 

Still, this manager couldn't be bothered by the occasional need to have cameras turned off during these check-ins. So, this author decided to let him have what he wanted… well, sort of. Keep scrolling below to see what he and his fellow coworkers started to do during those Zoom meetings.

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  • "Boss forces us to turn on cameras during meetings..."

    Man in a blue dress shirt smiling on a Zoom call with.a woman in a black and red floral dress
    via visuals

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The tech employee opened up the floor to members of the online community for tips and advice, and these folks did not disappoint. Clearly, several remote workers have found themselves in similar positions where they are pressured to show their apartments during work meetings. However, no one said anything about using funky filters and backgrounds!

  • My job is hybrid and I work some of the week from home, different co-workers have different days in the office so basically all of our team meetings, stand-ups, or one-on-ones are done digitally through Google Meet.
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • For some unkown reason, suddenly having the camera off is an issue and my boss forces us to turn our camera on for every meeting. Some coworkers are already protesting by using Google Meet's built in "funny" filters and backgrounds.
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • I want to do something extra, any ideas? Edit: Thank you for everyone who gave actual ideas! And for the rest here's some more context:
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • I work in tech, and I am not American. I have been working at this company for thing, the years and WFH is not a c company hires people from all over the country so some people come to the office twice a week and some twice a month. Please don't try to lecture me about RTO or being thankful for having a job, I like my job in general, and unemployment/RTO is not an issue here.
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • Cameras have never been an issue, requiring turning them on is in my opinion just someone trying to assert their power, they don't increase productivity or "professionalism", and I just don't want to turn mine on.
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • Senorpapell • 4h ago Have your background be a greenscreen showing your bosses own camera feed.
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • Antriciapation • 5h ago Is there a way to make it so it's constantly shaking? That would be annoying as h I for them to see.
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • XyRabbit 5h ago Point it absurdly like at the top right part of your head so just one eye and the top of your head is showing and when they say it's too high, point it at your chin. Keep doing this then "give up" and keep it where ever is ridiculous enough to drive them crazy. Blame the Webcam.
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • Q-Kat 4h ago • OBS virtual Camera and a VTuber set up? Nvidia broadcast has a filter that corrects eye contact too. So you could look anywhere and the image makes it look like you're looking into the camera all the time. Its actually super creepy. Edit: I love the cam shake suggestion though, that's diabolical
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • p CatReptileFishKeeper •4h ago So i work remote. Hired during nic never had camera on. Suddenly they wanted them on after years of being off. I wore a sailor costume, hat, name tag. Everything. Made no mention of it at all. Acted like I had no idea when they asked. Cameras came off later unless important. Fun costumes
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • Macbook Pro displaying a group of people on a Zoom call with a coffee mug beside the laptop.
    via Chris Montgomery

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • asdonne 4h ago • Bright lights in the background that blow out the image. Better if it's above your head. Low camera so it's constantly looking up your nose.
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • CountPacula • 5h ago I think I saw somebody build a little Lego version of their WFH room and put that in front of the camera.
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • El_Cartografo • 5h ago Angle the camera so it only shows your forehead and the ceiling. Deny any attempt to correct. "It is centered on me.'
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • QuikThinx_AllThots 2h ago So during the p • mic. We had these big company-wide meetings, and because they were work from home, they made us turn cameras on.
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • Using OBS, during an actual meeting, I recorded myself paying attention, nodding along, sipping coffee, occasionally squinting at slides, etc. Now, every meeting, I listen along and play the recording using a virtual cam, while doing my actual job (or gaming if nothing is pressing, or whatever).
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • It's been over 3 years and nobody has ever said anything. The only flaw is that I set it up so if a meeting runs long, the recording plays in reverse which does mean a keen-eyed observer may notice my coffee cup slowly refill.
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • I was called on to talk once in 3 years, and just hit the teams disconnect button and then reconnected. "Sorry I meant to unmute".
    via TechnicallyCant5083
  • It's never come up, but in the video, I'm wearing a blue shirt, so I make sure to keep it on the back of my chair "just in case".
    via TechnicallyCant5083

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boss work stories toxic-workplace malicious compliance work toxic-boss Horrible Bosses funny work stories workplace malicious compliance
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