Microsoft has introduced a new service called Microsoft Places to assist employees in navigating the return-to-office mandates in a more flexible manner. The service aims to help employees find co-workers and available desks to work at, making the transition back to the office smoother.

According to Jared Spataro, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President for AI at Work, Microsoft Places app ‘reimagines flexible work’ by focusing on providing employees with the opportunity for face-to-face interactions with their managers and colleagues, rather than facing empty desks upon their return to the office.

Return-to-office mandates have been a hot topic in the tech industry, with companies like Atlassian warning about potential impacts on morale. Despite concerns raised by employees and surveys indicating resistance to returning to the office, mandates from companies like IBM and Dell have been put in place.

Microsoft Places, currently in preview and set to be integrated into the Teams Premium plan, offers features such as allowing employees to share their planned office days, view co-workers’ schedules, and set ‘priority’ days. The app also includes a location finder and enables communication through Teams, facilitating interactions among nearby colleagues.

Although some may argue that these functionalities could be achieved through existing tools, Microsoft emphasizes the added value of using Places data in conjunction with Microsoft Copilot. This integration, set to roll out in the second half of 2024, will enable users to determine optimal office days based on co-workers’ schedules and adjust their plans accordingly.

Overall, Microsoft Places aims to streamline the process of returning to the office for employees and enhance collaboration and coordination within teams. As the workplace continues to evolve, tools like Microsoft Places and Copilot are designed to support a more flexible and efficient work environment.