I Refused to Keep My Camera on for 8 Hours Just Because I Work Remotely

People
2 months ago
I Refused to Keep My Camera on for 8 Hours Just Because I Work Remotely

Remote work has shifted how we connect, collaborate, and show up, but not everyone adapts gracefully. Some managers still cling to old habits, turning flexibility into surveillance. What should be a modern, trust-based environment can quickly feel like a digital fishbowl. Recently, one of our readers wrote to us about a situation many remote employees have faced: being treated like productivity must be watched to be real.

Maya’s letter:

Hi Bright Side,

I work remotely. My boss suddenly created a new rule: cameras on all day for “productivity checks.” I said constant monitoring wasn’t healthy or necessary. He replied, “Only guilty people need privacy.” I smiled and said, “You’re absolutely right.”

I bought a silly animated looping video of myself typing and looking interested, and set it to play. One week later, IT called in a panic saying my background didn’t change for days and they believed my system “malfunctioned or was hacked.” My boss freaked out during a team meeting, telling everyone surveillance was for “team spirit.” Meanwhile, most coworkers whispered thanks for doing what they couldn’t.

Now some people think I embarrassed him and crossed a line. A few say I should’ve just followed the rule because it’s his company. Others tell me I stood up for every remote worker’s sanity. I’m not trying to start a war — I just want to do my job without feeling like I’m on a reality show. I want peace, balance, and dignity, not tension. What’s the healthiest way to move forward while keeping boundaries clear and not causing chaos at work?

Please help,
Maya

Thank you, Maya, for sharing your story — you showed calm strength in a situation many would find exhausting. Remote work should be built on trust, not pressure or surveillance. We hope the advice below gives you a grounded way to protect your balance, communicate clearly, and keep things positive.

Judy Bishop
2 months ago

I quit my remote job for this reason. If you can not trust me to do the job I'd been doing for well over a yr and a half remote for no reason I'm not staying

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Shannon Williams
2 months ago

This is about control. Most bosses are used to feeling in control of their employees and don't know how to adjust to a new way to work. It's unprofessional. If you hire a qualified person for the job and they are doing it, what's the deal? It's good she did something to stand up for herself. She set professional boundaries. The people who say she's causing trouble are those who think that a boss somehow has a right to you and all your chioces.

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Sonny Carothers
2 months ago

All the post I've read are condoning being watched. I have one question for them. Would you mind if your boss stood over you for 8 hrs a day to monitor your productivity? I think not. There are rules in place at every work place for a reason. Over stepping them by anyone wether it be a supervisor, lead person, owner or coworker is wrong.

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Damien Stewart
2 months ago

If a boss can't trust you to do your job, he shouldn't allow remote work to begin with. surveillance for " team spirit" he says, but has he asked the team how their spirit is/has been? The fact he " freaked out" over OPs stunt is whispering " Creep" to me.

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Kali Chamanes
2 months ago

Yeah, this is sick. Office culture has made people not only accepting of the resulting psychological harassment, abuse, and violations of privacy, people will defend it and coerce/shame others into its acceptance. It's a joke. As opposed to this cameras-on bullshit, how about changing the face of management to encourage pro-humane treatment? Like having goals wrapped in periodic milestones that allow people to deliver what makes the business run? I've seen too many companies where some office employees are on Facebook and YouTube, and couple of people carry the team; and quite frankly, if you are the high performer, you inherit the work of your team mates. You meet up to put the work product together T to pass it along the chain, rinse and repeat. No one is actually productive 40 hours per week. 20,if you're lucky. The rest is meetings, busy work, redundancy and corporate crap. Stop watching people. To be frank, some people are most effective at 2 am. Others have responsibilities like kids in school, ailing parents, wtv. That doesn't make them less productive. Start measuring output, not "looking" busy! But you know what? I know for a fact the people who hate that idea the most are those who like to coast, micro managers, the incompetent, and the water cooler people. Business is changing. And the industries following the model of which I speak are quietly outpacing the relics who worship Henry Ford's enslavement of workers as resources, not humans. But hey. What do I know?

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2 months ago
The comment wasn't about avocados. Sorry, we had to remove it.
Jason
2 months ago
Trey Chatman

I dont work from home and I aint jealous, working from home is a privilege not a right. You work for somebody and its their call if they want to let you work from home. Some companies did shut down office culture but its their right to be able to track what people are doing. Yes there are other ways besides using the camera 24/7 but what you're describing is entitlement not a right.

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month ago
This comment is too shy. It's hiding.
2 months ago
This comment was too good to show it to everyone.
Trey Chatman
2 months ago
Cathy F

I hope you're not a supervisor or manager because you have a very antiquated style. You need to learn a lesson because you don't like to change. The only constant in life is change

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James Campbell
2 months ago

As retired truck driver contractor they had cameras in the truck cab I got miles monitor and gps tracker because the risk of hijacked so if there no trust give it up.

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Andie
2 months ago

Honestly, I don’t see any problem with keeping your camera on if you’re honestly doing your work and have nothing to hide. But if you’re just pretending to work then sure the reasonable request to be on camera during WORKING hours is something you’re trying to avoid. Just focus on good quality work and be grateful you have the opportunity to work from home!

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Fight Hypocrites
2 months ago
Andie

There's another way to make sure that employees are actually working...check their productivity. Are their assignments being completed? Are deadlines being met? Are issues that arise unexpectedly dealt with or delegated in a timely manner? Is correspondence responded to or acknowledged daily?

Constant surveillance isn't necessary or if it is, there's a problem that is indicated elsewhere.

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Trey Chatman
2 months ago
Andie

There's something you're missing When I'm working from home it's my house not the company's house but my house. And I have a right to the expectation of privacy because again it's my house. If the company wants to monitor my house then they need to pay The mortgage here. I permanently work remote and my boss doesn't ask for this at all. He doesn't even think it's needed The only managers that do are micromanagers

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2 months ago
The comment has been disarmed.
Judy Bishop
2 months ago
Andie

Introvert here who doesn't like to be photographed or videod. Being watched on a camera all day is very anxiety inducing. I couldn't and wouldn't do it. I quit

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Paula Haskins
month ago
Judy Bishop

Totally agree. I can understand a video conference call for a morning meeting or addressing specific concerns or critical issues but to be on camera all day & have every sneeze or cough captured is a bit much.

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Suggest results over visibility. Remind your boss that outcomes matter more than constant eye contact. When work is measured by value, not screen time, everyone wins. It keeps the relationship professional and respectful. Productivity comes from trust, not tension.

Build micro-updates into your day. Offer short check-ins or progress messages instead of staring into a screen all day. It keeps communication flowing without feeling controlled. You’re showing collaboration, not compliance. Structure can protect your sanity.

Hold steady but warm boundaries. A simple, polite “camera on for meetings only” rule for yourself can go far. No drama just clarity. When you’re consistent, it becomes easier for others to respect your line. Calm firmness is powerful.

Don’t shrink yourself to comfort others. You weren’t disrespectful — you simply challenged an unhealthy demand. Respecting yourself isn’t being difficult. It’s being balanced. Showing dignity inspires others to do the same.

Love stories like this? You’ll enjoy this one too: I refuse to pay for everyone just because I’m child-free
Sometimes the strongest “yes” to ourselves begins with a simple, quiet “no” to pressure.

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