M365 Changelog: (Updated) Follow up MC515531 – Pronouns on Profile Cards in Microsoft Teams and Outlook Web
MC557808 – Updated June 1, 2023: Microsoft has updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience.
This is a follow up to MC515531 (February ’23) as Microsoft continues working on rolling this out to all environments.
We’re adding a new feature to the profile card in Microsoft 365. Users in your organization will soon be able to add pronouns directly to their profile card in Outlook on the web and Teams. Pronouns are the words Microsoft uses to replace someone’s name in a sentence, such as “he,” “she,” or “they” in English.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 86382 and 115511
When this will happen:
- Targeted Release: Rollout will begin late February.
- Standard and GCC: Rollout will begin in late March (previously early March) and is expected to be complete by early April (previously late March). – Complete
- GCC-High: Rollout will begin mid-June and is expected to be complete by late June.
- DoD: Rollout will begin mid-July and is expected to be complete by late July.
How this will affect your organization:
The ability to allow people in your organization to display their pronouns on the profile card is OFF by default for your tenant. If elected, after you have turned pronouns ON, it is optional for users to add pronouns to their profile.
Pronouns will be shown next to the name in the top section of the profile card in Outlook on the web and Teams. Pronouns will be visible to everyone in your organization. If you want people in your organization to have the option of adding pronouns to their profile, you will have to turn pronouns ON for your tenant.
What you need to do to prepare:
Whether or not to share or publicly display pronouns is always up to an individual. Pronouns should never be assigned by a person to another person. It should be up to the person using them to decide when, where, and which pronouns are used – including whether to use this feature, should it be turned on.
Knowing someone’s pronouns does not always equate to knowing their gender identity. Administrators are encouraged to understand any applicable local laws, regulations, and cultural norms that may pose additional risks to employees should their pronouns be publicly displayed and take this into consideration as a decision is reached whether to or not to turn on this feature.
If the feature is utilized, it is recommended that internal and/or external subject matter experts in transgender inclusion be engaged to consider how pronoun display can complement (not substitute) more comprehensive efforts to support transgender communities in your organization.
Once pronouns roll out, you may want to notify your users about this new capability and update your training and documentation as appropriate.
See our available documentation below: