That’s So Rude! Perceptions of Eating and Drinking During Virtual Meetings

Abstract

The increased prevalence of virtual work in light of the COIVD-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the amount of time that employees are spending in virtual meetings. This shift has blurred the lines of home and work, catapulting workers into uncharted territory with regards to proper etiquette. In this study, we aim to better understand the impact that engaging in certain behaviors during virtual meetings may have on perception formation of colleagues and referent others, as well as on subsequent outcomes. Drawing on signaling and attribution theories, we propose a model where observable consumption in virtual meetings (eating/drinking during a meeting versus not eat/drinking) signaled rudeness to coworkers and subsequently led to negative behavioral attributions. The results of an experimental vignette methodology (EVM) with a between-person design using 419 individuals partially supported our model, with supplemental analyses suggesting that coworkers’ knowledge of an employee’s health concern that requires eating or drinking influences perceptions of rudeness and cyber incivility. Our study provides key insights for organizations and managers as we move towards the “new normal” of remote work.