Stupid question re work Zoom and headphones

[happywife]

Do you think these headphones are appropriate for a professional (board) Zoom meeting? I have a hard time processing sound and these headphones help me hear so much better/clearer. I'm sure I'm over thinking it (maybe?), but are these too big and prominent? Other people use headsets (smaller ones), earbuds, corded buds. Sorry in advance if the pic is huge.

[jlt19]

I think as long as they don’t have a sticker saying “Fuck You” on them, you wear whatever you damn well please!

[litasail]

I would not wear those to a meeting with the higher ups in my company.

[lilypad1126]

People at my org wear these all the time. Along with ear pods, corded headphone/earbuds of all colors, and one guy has a full on gaming headset. None of it phases me. Most of us are attorneys (though we don’t go to court), and no one has batted an eye.

[RoxMonster]

Those would be 100% fine to wear at my job and I do see all types of headsets/headphones/earbuds when I'm on calls.

[ellipses84]

Maybe it depends on what type of board? Like Board of Directors for a Fortune 500 with a suit and tie dress code I’d care more than the Board of a non-profit co-op pre-school. I think your position in this matters too. Ultimately the important thing is that you can hear and people can hear you. I wear an old school AT&T customer service looking headset with the mic because that is what I can hear best with and find it more reliable than wireless.

[mysteriouswife]

Not an issue for me. If they want you to look a certain way they should provide adequate headphones. I’ll even go a step further and say if they want a specific appearance they should meet with you in person at your location.

I say wear them

[wanderingback]

I see people wearing those type of headphones in work settings/meetings all the time. I can’t see why it would matter. It’s not like the size of your headphones signals that you’re not paying attention to the meeting. If it did matter that much then they should provide headphones to all employees.

[livinitup]

Yes, completely appropriate. People only care about hearing and being heard. If they are high quality and allow you to participate seamlessly with the Zoom call, the board members will be happy to see you in them.

[deadwing]

I would consider this a tool that helps you to do your job well and not think twice about it.

[emilyinchile]

Sept 23, 2024 21:03:03 GMT -5 jlt19 said:

I think as long as they don’t have a sticker saying “Fuck You” on them, you wear whatever you damn well please!

This. Honestly when people have big headphones the only thing I think - if I notice at all - is "wow, those are serious!" in a positive way vs my cheapo super basic ones. Like the person might be really into music or gaming or just having nice things if they've actually invested in big, comfy headphones. It's not a negative for me.

[dontlook]

My H wears his all the time. They are noise cancelling and help him focus on work. I vote no big deal.

[leahcar]

I vote no big deal. I see all sorts of headphones in Zoom calls. I wear a call-center looking headset that has noise cancelling in it.

[glw]

Totally fine. The work-provided pair I have are just as big (but black).

[sent]

I would because I can't deal with any kind of headphone device that involves going in my ear. The ones in the photo don't look cheap either.

I don't work in a Zoom-heavy industry. My layman interpretation of it is that if your business is going to rely on Zoom to conduct important meetings, then you need to ease up on the looks of technology your participants utilize to participate.

[dutchgirl678]

Just make sure they have a good microphone. One time I got some really fancy Bose wireless headphones but when I tried in a Zoom meeting the microphone kept crackling and would cut in and out.

I use a Microsoft Lifechat LX-3000 headset for work.

[circa1978]

I think it's fine but the biggest problem we have with any headphones people wear is the microphone. As long as that works, you'd be fine for our calls.

[eddy]

I wear a janky office version all the time and have never considered it not to be professional. They do wonders to drown out outside noise and give you better audio.

[meanie]

Seems fine to me! Most people I am on calls with use the Jabra headphones but those are loaned out by our company - they do work really well though

[lavenderblue]

I would not even bat an eye at someone wearing those, I'm pretty sure that I've been in meetings with folks wearing something similar. The headphones I wear when I'm in the office basically look like the old Walkman headphones with the foam covers over the ear pieces, it just has a microphone attached and I give no shits if others are judging the way that they look.

[wanderingback]

Just in a meeting with someone wearing those

[brooke77]

These are totally fine in my professional setting (legal). It is far less professional to not be able to hear or have people not be able to hear you. I say wear them!

[AdaraMarie]

I don't care what people are wearing as long as I can hear you and you can hear me.

[arielroux]

I mean, i work in tech and my company sells VERY expensive headphones that look just like those, so I vote perfectly acceptable.

[tiki]

I think those are absolutely fine. It's the people with no headphones or headset I don't prefer, because it almost always means their audio is lower quality and they're harder to hear or understand. The absolute worst are the execs calling in from their car.

[mrsukyankee]

I wear them all the time in therapy sessions online.

[sadlebred]

They look fine.

[twilightmv]

I wear something similar and I’m in the C suite of a conservative industry. Never even crossed my mind that they would be unprofessional. I’d say all headphones are fine unless they have animal ears, fuzz or fluff, or flashing led lights.