Microsoft says new Teams location feature isn't for 'employee tracking'

"When users connect to their organization's Wi-Fi, Teams will soon be able to automatically update their work location to reflect the building they're working from. This feature will be off by default. Tenant admins will decide whether to enable it and require end-users to opt-in."

"Everyone in the Teams organization will always know where their colleagues are in real-time as they move around from Wi-Fi access point to Wi-Fi access point. This will make it easier to drop in on a colleague unannounced or quickly arrange a physical meeting. Moreover, it also means you won't be able to retreat to a far corner of the office in hopes of remaining undetected so you can work in peace and quiet."

"This new automatic location-setting feature could be used by employers to monitor their employees. Is Employee A adhering to hybrid work guidelines like two days at home and three days in the office? Is Employee B always working from home and skipping out on in-office days? For companies pushing return-to-office on their employees, this new Teams feature might even be used for policy enforcement."

Microsoft Teams is introducing an automatic location status feature launching in April 2026 that updates user work location when connecting to organizational Wi-Fi networks. The feature will be disabled by default, with tenant administrators controlling enablement and requiring user opt-in. While presented as facilitating easier colleague meetings and coordination, the feature enables real-time tracking of employee movements throughout office spaces. This capability raises significant privacy concerns, as employers could use location data to enforce hybrid work policies, monitor attendance patterns, verify compliance with in-office requirements, and track employee tardiness. The feature supports both planned work locations and user-entered intent signals.

Read at PCWorld