Microsoft Teams' New Feature Might Track Work Start and End Times

Overview of the New Location Feature

For organizations offering flexible work arrangements, knowing if and where employees are active can be complex. Microsoft is addressing this with a Teams feature that monitors user locations by detecting their internet connectivity.

On Tuesday, an update was introduced announcing that this new Teams functionality will show your location when connected to an employment-related Wi-Fi. The system will specify your workplace's physical location whenever you log into the network on either Windows or Mac devices, with deployment set for February 2026.

Visibility and Privacy Concerns

Microsoft has not clarified who exactly will have access to employee location data. Potentially, any colleague using Teams might know your attendance and connectivity status. Plus, it's unclear how the feature handles connections from home or alternative work sites.

While tracking work site presence might be beneficial for spontaneous meetings, it could raise surveillance concerns. Managers might misuse the feature to scrutinize employee comings and goings, particularly if office attendance quotas are set.

Opt-in Mechanisms and Administrator Control

There's no immediate cause for concern since this function comes disabled by default. It's up to the administrator of each organization to activate it, and users may need to consent to participation.

Currently, Teams allows location setting but grants individuals control. Users can indicate their workplace by selecting the profile icon, accessing the Location menu, and choosing among existing or manually-added areas.