Community Chat

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Guilty of "do other work" But how does one discretely go to the bathroom during a conference call

http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014/08/20/what-really-happens-during-conference-calls/?mod=e2fb

Your suspicions have been confirmed: no one really pays attention on conference calls.

More than a quarter of respondents in a new survey admitted to falling asleep during a virtual meeting. Other respondents admitted to making other phone calls, snacking, exercising or playing videogames during their conference calls.

And here’s something to visualize next time you’re stuck on the line: 47% of respondents said they have used the bathroom during a conference call.

The survey was conducted by InterCall, a company that makes services for conference calls. InterCall asked more than 500 full-time workers what they’re really doing when they hit that mute button.

Trips to the bathroom may be happening more frequently thanks to the rise of mobile phones. InterCall found that 21.2% of conference-call minutes in 2013 were on cellphones, up from 19.4% two years prior.

Survey respondents said they have previously joined conversations from such locales as a “truck stop bathroom,” “a pool in Las Vegas” and the “closet of a friend’s house during a party.”

The large numbers of people phoning it in on conference calls suggests the calls may not accomplish as much as organizers hope. In a 2012 survey by RW3, a New York culture and leadership training company, 71% of participants cited the lack of input from others as a problem with virtual meetings. And the InterCall survey found that 13% of respondents had been “outed” for taking a call from somewhere other than they claimed to be.

Time spent on audio conferences in the U.S. will grow at a pace of 9.6% per year for the next several years, according to Wainhouse Research, a Boston market-research firm. InterCall alone has logged more than 20 billion conference call minutes since it was founded in 1991, according to the company.

[brewhaha]

Take a nap.

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[WenGirl42]

On 8/20/2014 ------ said:

Guilty of ""do other work"" But how does one discretely go to the bathroom during a conference call

Mute button

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[straykatz]

Generally do other work and try really hard not to fall asleep.

[DoneTryin]

The only time I was ever involved with a conference call, it was video (pre-Skype) so we all had to sit at the table & at least look like we were paying attention. Sure glad I don't have to do that in my current job, but I hate meetings to begin with.

I wonder how many "other" activities are going on during conference calls?

[GCR18]

I spend a couple hours a day on conference calls. I put the phone on mute and do the top 3 things on the list - other work, email, eat. Unless I'm hosting the call, I probably pay attention 50% of the call.

[Lynnj]

I am on conference calls 5-6 hours per day, daily. I've done everything listed above except play video games, only because thats not my thing. My phone is on mute so no one can hear me. As a matter of fact, I just went to the bathroom during a conference call today, lol. Since I work from home, I will also add unloading the dishwasher and folding clothes to the list. Most of the meetings I attend sends out notes after the call, or have them posted in a central location online. Other meetings will also include a copy of the PowerPoint presentation.

[azterry!]

If I was working from home, I did everything on the chart except play video games while on a conference call. I had t o do them on my cell phone, so it was on mute unless I had to speak.

I also rolled my eyes a lot