Microsoft Teams tracking: App to track users’ locations as work-from-home debate rages
Microsoft Teams will soon introduce a new feature that businesses will love but employees will likely despise, threatening to put an end to the sneaky tactic beloved by many.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many Australians have splurged on a new era of working from home (WFH).
Now, as Microsoft shares new details in its Microsoft 365 roadmap, the IT center has also confirmed that an update will share details on where an employee is exactly.
“When users connect to their organization’s Wi-Fi network, Teams will automatically adjust their work location to reflect the building in which they work,” a Microsoft update says.
The new feature is expected to be introduced in December 2025.
Currently, Teams has a way to let employers know where staff actually work.
Those who use Teams’ background tool to display an AI background, company logo, or other image will no longer be able to hide where they are working.
Microsoft added that the new feature will be “off by default” but administrators will have the ability to decide whether the feature is enabled or not.
The update comes as businesses grapple with the complex and controversial issue of WFH expectations.
Many Australians and workers around the world believe the COVID-19 pandemic has proven that many office jobs can be adequately performed while working from home; This is a situation that businesses have to face with various techniques.
Some businesses have required employees to return to the office full-time or for a designated number of days on a mandatory basis.
Online, users claimed that Teams would now “snitch” on workers, claiming that the update allowed employers to investigate lack of trust in employees.
Some of X joke that this will eliminate their ability to squeeze in an afternoon nap while working from home.
“Who asked for this feature?” one person asked online.
“Ah yes, the future of work; where your Wi-Fi rats out on you,” wrote another.
Debates over WFH rights in Australia continue to divide those who have the luxury of taking advantage of the flexible setup.
Those in customer-facing roles or frontline workers are likely to have little sympathy for Australians worried about being caught by the new update.
It remains to be seen if organizations will adopt this feature. However, many businesses will now consider the feature and potentially add it to their arsenal in the WFH vs. office war, while balancing the dilemma of how to communicate onboarding to staff without sparking outrage if they activate the update.
