Zoom question

[JediBonas]

I had never heard of it before now, either. At work we recently switched from WebEx to Teams, never used/use Zoom.

 

[RangerPooh]

We use it for work and have for years. We have a business account that we use so the time limit doesn't apply. We also use it for scout meetings but require a password. Our daughters BSA troop uses Webx but I don't care for that as much.

 

[Simba's Mom]

https://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/2020/05/07/40-minute-limit-lifted-mothers-day-weekend-zoom-with-mom/
For Mothers day weekend you could start a meeting at 7 a.m. EST Saturday, May 9, and talk until 7 a.m. EST Monday, May 11.

Thanks!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Just heard today that there are millions of Zoom passwords for sale on the black market. It also has ties to China.

 

[Heather07438]

I think that was a brilliant marketing move on Zoom's part. Same way Slack has gotten a lot of customers. Got our company to sign up for pay accounts. Not sure WHAT people are doing on Zoom that security would be a concern. We'd welcome someone hacking in our calls. However, I can see for school use where porn popping in a school lesson would be a problem.

Never underestimate the imagination or tenacity of adolescents, lol.

 

[Tiggr88]

I've always used Google Duo for personal family and friends calls.

I'm curious. Have you been able to use it for multiple people on a non-mobile device, like a laptop? My understanding is that the multi-person only works on mobile devices. I tried doing this for Mothers day yesterday and it wouldn't work. I don't think they are supposed to be rolling this out for a few weeks yet but if there is a way I would be interested.

My daughter already had a Google Meets account so we just used that instead.

I'm still hesitant to use Zoom until I have more confidence in their privacy and security. In addition to the security, I was really concerned with them sharing data with Facebook. I know they've said they stopped but its really a trust thing.

Have to be worried about that with most apps/programs these days though. Google is probably not immune either.

 

[Skippy918]

I'm curious. Have you been able to use it for multiple people on a non-mobile device, like a laptop? My understanding is that the multi-person only works on mobile devices. I tried doing this for Mothers day yesterday and it wouldn't work. I don't think they are supposed to be rolling this out for a few weeks yet but if there is a way I would be interested.

My daughter already had a Google Meets account so we just used that instead.

I'm still hesitant to use Zoom until I have more confidence in their privacy and security. In addition to the security, I was really concerned with them sharing data with Facebook. I know they've said they stopped but its really a trust thing.

Have to be worried about that with most apps/programs these days though. Google is probably not immune either.

I’ve used zoom on my work laptop and I can see everyone. The only thing I can’t do is change my background. Laptop is old and running windows 7. Says I need a green screen.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I'm curious. Have you been able to use it for multiple people on a non-mobile device, like a laptop? My understanding is that the multi-person only works on mobile devices. I tried doing this for Mothers day yesterday and it wouldn't work. I don't think they are supposed to be rolling this out for a few weeks yet but if there is a way I would be interested.

My daughter already had a Google Meets account so we just used that instead.

I'm still hesitant to use Zoom until I have more confidence in their privacy and security. In addition to the security, I was really concerned with them sharing data with Facebook. I know they've said they stopped but its really a trust thing.

Have to be worried about that with most apps/programs these days though. Google is probably not immune either.

I did find these....

https://mashable.com/article/google-duo-web-group-calls/

https://www.zdnet.com/article/chrome-users-this-is-google-duos-group-video-chat-and-its-coming-soon/

 

[Tiggr88]

I did find these....

https://mashable.com/article/google-duo-web-group-calls/

https://www.zdnet.com/article/chrome-users-this-is-google-duos-group-video-chat-and-its-coming-soon/

Thanks. I may have seen one or both of these. Basically the answer seems to be "not yet". I was hoping I missed something and I was just too incompetent to figure it out.

 

[JimMIA]

FWIW, Uber fired 3,500 regular full-time employees (not drivers) in one Zoom call. The employees apparently tuned in to hear what the company's plans were and were told, "We hate to say this, but today is your last day with Uber!"

So, I guess it's efficient at least...

 

[tvguy]

FWIW, Uber fired 3,500 regular full-time employees (not drivers) in one Zoom call. The employees apparently tuned in to hear what the company's plans were and were told, "We hate to say this, but today is your last day with Uber!"

So, I guess it's efficient at least...

They are in a huge legal battle in California over whether their drivers are employees or contractors. Pretty good arguments on both sides IMHO.

 

[tvguy]

Zoom does give you what sometimes can be an amusing, and other times alarming look into co-workers home lives.
Lots of cats and dogs and kids. And one co-worker is always discovering a child has made off with a piece of equipment need for them to work. Usually something expensive, and as far as we can tell, never involves punishment for the child.

 

[JimMIA]

They are in a huge legal battle in California over whether their drivers are employees or contractors. Pretty good arguments on both sides IMHO.

Yeah. This is off-topic so I'll keep it short, but the implications of that lawsuit will have vast effects far beyond rideshare in CA. The decision, if any, will affect the tech industry way more than it will affect gig apps like Uber, Door Dash, etc. It will affect any company who hires independent contractors to work significant numbers of hours, regardless of the importance of their work.

 

[tvguy]

Yeah. This is off-topic so I'll keep it short, but the implications of that lawsuit will have vast effects far beyond rideshare in CA. The decision, if any, will affect the tech industry way more than it will affect gig apps like Uber, Door Dash, etc. It will affect any company who hires independent contractors to work significant numbers of hours, regardless of the importance of their work.

Yes. And I think that workers in that industry may be just as divided over that law.

 

[_19disnA]

When you schedule a meeting on Zoom, you can set your own random password. Only those invited to attend would know what that password is and it would only be good for that meeting.

 

[bcla]

Yes. And I think that workers in that industry may be just as divided over that law.

I've dealt with contractors in my industry. In many ways I'm kind of surprised that this can happen, although legally most contractors in my industry are legally employees of "staffing" companies. I'm told that it actually costs these companies more, but there's some arcane reason for doing it.

I know a few people who worked as "consultants" who legally didn't have a employer-employee relationship. They were however expected to work regular hours at the direction of the company's management and had regular reviews like their full time employees. They didn't pay into unemployment insurance or disability, and didn't have to account for paying taxes or SSI. I guess that's what Uber and other businesses are trying to get around.

 

[greg9x]

Our company uses RingCentral.... When my son's scout troop had their first virtual meeting on Zoom, I was like "Hey, this is RingCentral"... so obviously they outsource the video portion of the product to Zoom.

 

[greg9x]

I've dealt with contractors in my industry. In many ways I'm kind of surprised that this can happen, although legally most contractors in my industry are legally employees of "staffing" companies. I'm told that it actually costs these companies more, but there's some arcane reason for doing it.

Contractors actually cost companies less, even though the salary may be more. Companies don't have to pay contractors SS taxes, benefits, retirement, etc. If you made $100K at a company, it probably costs them $180K to employ you. They can pay a contractor $120K and come out ahead. As well as they can only hire contractors when they need them for only the amount of time they need them.

 

[bcla]

Contractors actually cost companies less, even though the salary may be more. Companies don't have to pay contractors SS taxes, benefits, retirement, etc. If you made $100K at a company, it probably costs them $180K to employ you. They can pay a contractor $120K and come out ahead. As well as they can only hire contractors when they need them for only the amount of time they need them.

In my experience there are a few things that are different, besides just lack of benefits. The staffing agency gets a cut. In some cases it's two staffing companies for whatever reason, with both getting a cut. I've been told it gives them flexibility with the ability to just let the contract expire, rather than having to hire someone and then fire them. I've even heard of a few companies that just being someone aboard as an independent contractor.

But there's no hard and fast rule. Some contractors get vacation time from their legal employer. A few clients even require this of their staffing companies. I've heard of a few that will also offer employer sponsored health insurance.

 

[tvguy]

I've dealt with contractors in my industry. In many ways I'm kind of surprised that this can happen, although legally most contractors in my industry are legally employees of "staffing" companies. I'm told that it actually costs these companies more, but there's some arcane reason for doing it.

I know a few people who worked as "consultants" who legally didn't have a employer-employee relationship. They were however expected to work regular hours at the direction of the company's management and had regular reviews like their full time employees. They didn't pay into unemployment insurance or disability, and didn't have to account for paying taxes or SSI. I guess that's what Uber and other businesses are trying to get around.

Two bills adding exemptions to the law.......authored by the same Lawmaker who authored the original bill.......passed unanimously yesterday. During the debate on the original law the need for exemptions was brought up but dismissed. I think supporters of the bill were genuinely surprised at how many people were hurt by the bill when it became law. Thus, the RAPID moves to address those issues