How Employees Are Tricking Their Bosses On Zoom To Appear More Domineering And Busy Online

Few had heard of Zoom before the outbreak began, but employees seem quick to learn how to use the video conferencing tool to their advantage.

Researchers discovered that staff working from home use clever tricks to make themselves look good on zoom in front of their bosses. Two-thirds of employees surveyed admit that they set their laptop cameras at a certain angle to make them appear more authoritative in business meetings. Nearly a quarter (23 percent) participate in Zoom searches to look disciplined, healthy and dynamic on an indoor exercise bike, while 82 percent wear something comfortable underneath, while trying to make a good impression by wearing formal office attire from the waist up. 86 percent of respondents admit to thinking carefully about their screen background and decor, and just over half (54 percent) said they have developed a habit of saying something in Zoom meetings to appear more relevant. Meanwhile, 56 percent try to make themselves look busier than they are by regularly dropping their Zoom calls to attend another business meeting that doesn't really exist. More than two-thirds have scheduled meetings on their office's online calendars to make themselves look busier. And six out of ten people say they post positive statements about their company on social media to look like a loyal staff member. In addition, 45 percent of employees set their emails to be sent automatically late at night to make a good impression. Similarly, 22 percent use the same trick in a different way, by setting their emails to be sent early the next day to look like they started work early. However, the survey also revealed that people who work from home use Zoom and online tools to lead an easier life. The rate of those who say they work from home for seven or eight hours a day is 26 percent, while 20 percent of employees say they work only five to six hours, 15 percent say they work four to five hours, and 8 percent say they work three to four hours. The rate of respondents who say that a working day lasts longer than eight hours is 2%. The 2,000-person survey was conducted by online marketing specialist XLMedia plc. Company Spokesperson Dominic Celica said: "We were amazed at how far people would go to create the wrong impression on their bosses and colleagues."