I am between junior and mid level in my team and new to my company. Everyone works from home all the time and our meetings are on video chat due to the covid pandemic. I often feel that some teammates are hardly attentive or not fully involved during important meetings with me. So, I often have to repeat simple things. Its not always due to mic and bandwidth problems!
Sometimes, it appears that they are far away from the mic, possibly doing something else during the meeting. Sometimes, I hear sounds of chores quite loud in the background. So, they are either doing their chores or are working very close to the area of chores. For example, one time, I heard frying pan noises and the other person was asking me to repeat things too many times. Moreover, their volume went up and down a lot. I repeatedly asked them if they are away from the mic and they said no. But, next moment they sounded like they came closer. Anyway, I don't have a problem with kids coming in occasionally and talking in the background. They are kids after all.
Unfortunately, my current company does not require the camera to be turned on during meetings. So, people NEVER turn it on. In my previous company, camera was mandatory in video meetings, unless there were obvious network bandwidth issues during the meeting or if too many people were present.
How do I ask my manager to make camera mandatory in video meetings without making it look like a complaint? I don't want to be direct and take names, but I'd like to say that videos might make people more disciplined. But, it seems pragmatic to be indirect and use excuses like team bonding etc. to justify video meetings.
PS - I am okay with reasonable exceptions, for example, mothers who need to nurse a needy baby during meetings etc. But, I'd like my team and maybe even the whole company to have their cameras on in meetings.
For example, one time, I heard frying pan noises and the other person was asking me to repeat things too many times
- Yes, people have families, and when everyone has to be at home because there's a global pandemic, that means that their home "office" is full of other members of their family trying to get everything done that they all need to survive. Don't assume it's your coworkers making that noise - everyone's trying to make do in a tough situation. Being draconian won't help.