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My wife, newly hired, was asked to un-blur her camera during a routine meeting to confirm her I9 information. This seems like a violation to me? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by shalafi@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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She had interviewed and met both remotely and in person, this guy was merely an HR drone confirming her documentation. I was a little bent when she told me he had asked her to remove her blur filter "to have a look at her working environment, make sure it's not cluttered" (something along those lines). No one else at this company requested such. Was he way out of line?

I should note, this is my PC in our living room and not where she will be working from. And this guy wants a look around our home?! Told my wife to bring this up once she's settled in, ask HR if this is policy. She started today!

She thinks it's a racism thing. I'm not so sure, but I don't have any other explanation.

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[–] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 223 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Uh, I hire a lot of remote people, and have been remote for a long time. That is absolutely not fucking normal. I'm not going to say racism/poor/or anything, but I will say asshole behavior and huge red flag.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 92 points 3 months ago (3 children)

I've been remote the past 5 years as well. I've never heard of anyone, anywhere, for any reason being asked to un-blur video. Customers, vendors, coworkers, everyone does it. In fact, I consider it more professional, and certainly less distracting to do so unless you background is 100% work dedicated. Hence my post.

[–] primrosepathspeedrun@lemmy.world 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

okay but consider that you don't have as much surveilance of your employees, and without that, how are you supposed to discipline them?

[–] shapesandstuff 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Just checking, youre being sarcastic right?

[–] primrosepathspeedrun@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

I was riffing on the original and translated titles of foucault's most well known work. whether it was sarcasm or not; 🤷‍♀️

[–] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 6 points 3 months ago

I agree! I brought this up with my team and they all laughed at it, and brought up too that "Wouldn't it look more professional having it on?"

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Even in a 100% work dedicated office, there is no background that looks as professional and uncluttered as a blurred one.

I only unblur if I'm showing off my bookshelf or video game posters

[–] Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I only leave my stuff unblurred cuz my cats like to be on cam.

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 4 points 3 months ago

My cat will get in front of me on camera, so blurring wouldn't even do anything