UMVA has learned that Microsoft is set to roll out a highly contentious feature in its Teams platform this month, sparking concerns among employees and data protection advocates.
The feature, known as Workplace Check-in, will allow managers to track whether their employees are physically present in the office by detecting when their devices connect to the company's Wi-Fi. This move comes as many companies are pushing staff to return to office-based work after years of remote work arrangements.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Microsoft has been working on Workplace Check-in since late 2025, with several delays pushing back its launch. However, the company's current roadmap indicates that the feature will now be rolled out in June 2026.
Microsoft describes Workplace Check-in as a tool that offers "greater flexibility and user-friendliness" by allowing employees to check in at their workplace via Wi-Fi. The feature is an extension of existing check-in features for buildings or reserved workspaces, and it aims to facilitate coordination among colleagues.
Crucially, Workplace Check-in does not rely on precise location data to track employees' movements. Instead, it simply detects when a device connects to the company's office Wi-Fi. However, this has not alleviated concerns among data protection advocates and employee representatives, who have been voicing their worries for months.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Microsoft has been attempting to reassure critics that the feature will be implemented with sensitivity to employee privacy. The company has emphasized that the feature is disabled by default and that tenant administrators will have control over whether to enable it. End users will also have the option to allow or decline the sharing of their work location information.
The introduction of Workplace Check-in comes at a time when companies are grappling with the challenges of managing remote work and encouraging employees to return to the office. While Microsoft presents the feature as a tool for improving coordination and flexibility, its reception among employees and advocates remains uncertain.
