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 workers will likely despise, threatening to end a sneaky tactic beloved by many.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many Australians have lavished in a new work-from-home (WFH) era.

Now, as Microsoft shares new details in a Microsoft 365 road map, the IT powerhouse has confirmed an update will share details about exactly where an employee is.

“When users connect to their organisation’s Wi-Fi, Teams will automatically set their work location to reflect the building they are working in,” a Microsoft update says.

The new feature is expected to be introduced in December 2025.

Currently, Teams does have a way of informing employers where staff are actually working.

Those using Teams’ background tool to display an AI background, a company logo or another image will no longer be able to use the feature to hide where they are working from.

Microsoft added that the new feature will “be off by default”, however, it says admins will have the power to decide if it is in enabled.

The update comes as businesses battle with the complex, contentious issue of WFH expectations.

Many Australians, and workers worldwide, feel the COVID-19 pandemic proved that many office jobs can be adequately performed while working from home, something businesses have had to confront through varying techniques.

Some businesses demanded employees return to the office full-time, or for a mandated set number of days.

Online, users have claimed Teams will now “snitch” on workers, claiming the update gives employers the ability to investigate lack of trust in employees.

Some on X joke that it would rob them of the ability to squeeze in a midday nap while working from home.

“Who asked for this feature?” one person asked online.

“Ah yes, the future of work — where your Wi-Fi snitches on you,” wrote another.

Debate over WFH rights in Australia continues to divide those who have the luxury to indulge in the flexible setup.

Those working customer facing roles, or in key front line lines, will likely have little sympathy for Australians worried about being caught out by the new update.

If organisations take up the feature remains to be seen. However, many businesses will likely now be considering the feature, potentially adding it to their arsenal in the WFH vs. in office battle, whilst balancing the dilemma of how to communicate uptake to staff, if they enable the update, without sparking outrage.