A simple Microsoft 365 Roadmap update will now generate a raft of unhappy headlines. The idea is simple. “When users connect to their organization’s Wi-Fi, Teams will automatically set their work location to reflect the building they are working in.”
Forget the locational anonymity of a Teams virtual background. Teams will update your location when connected to your company’s WiFi. On video, you may have your usual background complete with company logo. But your boss will know you’re not in work.
I actually wouldn’t mind this at all. Where I work, we have an office but most people are only in one or two days a week. I try to keep to a schedule, but some weeks I have to move my office days around. When my schedule changes, I update my Teams location so people know where I am, but I wouldn’t mind opting in to do it automatically.
But then again, my boss doesn’t really care where I do my work, as long as it gets done. Not everyone has the luxury of a boss who isn’t an asshat. If you are working in a place where you have to hide your work-from-home time, you should be looking for a new job.