Episode #54: The Battle Over Zoom Cameras and Basecamp's Controversial Experiment

Talking Shop Podcast

It's probably happened to you: a work or school meeting held virtually over Zoom when your boss or instructor asks you to turn on the webcam. Everybody seems to have a different take on whether this is okay, but Cam and Ewan stand firmly in the camp of not wanting to turn on their cameras -- but it might not matter. Can your boss ask you to turn it on? Are there any circumstances where you might be able to defy your boss? The answer to both questions is 'yes'. Ewan breaks it down.

Then the hosts get into a topic that dominated the socials last week -- the case of productivity software maker Basecamp and its founders' decision to halt any discussion on politics or 'societal issues' from official workplace communications channels. The blowback was swift, but was it deserved? Ewan argues the founders are within their rights to run the company this way, but others also have the right to criticize them or resign (which many have). Cam looks at the PR side of things, dissecting the blog posts by each founder and what may have led to their decision to make such a public declaration. It's a fascinating case.

In Check This Out, Ewan looks at a journalism scandal at the New York Times while Cam argues Pfizer is cool and Moderna is... not.

Don't miss any future episodes and get updates about the podcast by signing up for the PR & Law Podcast newsletter. We promise: no spam. Ever.

If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend or family member. It's the best way to get the word out and we are very grateful! We also frequently post updates to the stories we discuss on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Show Notes

• When is it Necessary to Turn on Your Video in a Zoom Meeting? - Fast Company
• Behind the Controversy at Basecamp - The Verge (also syndicated on Platformer)
• Changes at Basecamp - Jason Fried, Hey Blog
• Basecamp's New Etiquette Regarding Societal Politics at Work - David Heinmeier Hansson, Hey Blog
• Trouble at Basecamp, Bezos Fights for the Moon, and a Listener Question about Dating Apps - Pivot
• An Open Letter to Jason and David - JaneYang.org
• Why Coinbase will Struggle to Ban Politics from the Workplace - The Verge
• Basecamp Implodes as Employees Flee Company, Even Senior Staff - The Verge

Check This Out

• Sign of the Times: Caliphate and the Perils of Reporting Online - Harper's
• The Hot-Person Vaccine - The Atlantic

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.