Microsoft Teams is about to become a lapdog for your boss — automatically snitching on your live location when connected to the office Wi-Fi

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Microsoft Teams has faced criticism for being automatically included with Office 365 subscriptions, with competitors like Slack arguing this stifled fair competition. Due to antitrust concerns, Microsoft changed its approach in 2023. Now, customers can buy Office plans without Teams, or subscribe to Teams separately.

Microsoft recently avoided a large fine from European regulators by adjusting its pricing for Office 365 and Microsoft 365. Now, both suites are available without Teams included at a reduced price. If you want Teams, you’ll need to buy it separately for around $5.50 (€5) per user each month.

Microsoft is developing a new feature for Teams that will use Wi-Fi to determine a user’s precise location. Specifically, Teams will automatically update where someone is working when their device connects to the office Wi-Fi, according to TechRadar.

As a researcher studying workplace communication, I’m excited about a new feature designed to improve clarity around who’s in the office. It helps both managers and employees easily see each other’s location. According to Microsoft’s announcement, when someone connects to their company’s Wi-Fi, Teams will automatically update their location to show which building they’re working in.

This feature is currently being developed and is planned for release to everyone in December 2025. The specific benefits it will offer are still being determined.

Teams can help you be more productive by letting you quickly find colleagues in the office instead of having to search for them or call. It shows their location as long as they’re connected to the office Wi-Fi.

However, it can also reveal who isn’t coming into the office. This information surfaces as many companies quickly move away from remote and hybrid work models.

Microsoft revealed in September that employees living within 50 miles of a Microsoft office will need to come in to work three days a week, starting by the end of February 2026. The company believes that in-person collaboration helps employees perform at their best.

The decision to require employees to return to the office has caused worry, with some fearing it could be a disguised way to reduce the workforce.

Microsoft recently added a new feature called Benchmarks to the Copilot Dashboard within Viva Insights. This feature helps Copilot find important data so you can monitor how quickly AI is being adopted throughout your organization. Essentially, it lets leaders see how much AI your company is using.

What is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams is a communication and collaboration app for computers and mobile devices. It combines features like file sharing, group chats (called ‘channels’), direct messaging, and video calls into one platform. Like Slack, it helps teams stay connected and productive, making remote work feel more like being in the office.

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2025-10-23 14:39