As Britain’s workforce adjusts to an ongoing mix of remote and hybrid roles, the irritations of virtual meetings persist. A recent study by Currys, surveying 1,000 office workers, has highlighted the nation’s top video call pet peeves, offering insight into the behaviours most likely to annoy colleagues during online meetings.
The findings suggest that online calls are as much of a battleground for workplace etiquette as physical offices once were. The survey found that the single most aggravating habit for nearly half (49%) of respondents is eating on camera. In fact, a prior 2021 Currys study revealed chewing sounds topped the list of most hated noises, indicating that it’s not merely the act of eating but the sounds associated with it that cause frustration.
Following close behind, 37% of workers reported that colleagues’ burping and farting on calls were particularly bothersome, hinting that some have grown overly comfortable in the home-office setup. Other irritations included inappropriate comments (35%), constant interruptions (33%), and mumbling (33%), with background noise frustrating 30% of respondents.
The study delved into what employees are up to when their cameras go dark during meetings, with results showing that camera-off time is far from idle. While 27% claim they stay fully engaged with the call, 73% admit to shifting their attention to other activities. Among this group, 30% use this time to focus on other work tasks, taking advantage of the meeting’s more passive nature. However, another 27% are often texting, and nearly one in five (18%) confessed to scrolling through social media or, in some cases, even using the bathroom during calls.
The survey highlights that, for many, online meetings are more than just an opportunity to work remotely—they’re a chance to multi-task, though sometimes at the expense of decorum. The findings reveal how these seemingly small habits, amplified by the remote work setting, can affect team dynamics and, for some, serve as a growing source of daily annoyance.
