Google employees working at the company’s Chelsea campus in New York City were alerted over the weekend to a potential bed bug outbreak inside the office. On Sunday, Google’s Environmental, Health, and Safety team sent an email to all staff notifying them of the situation. According to the email, exterminators arrived with a specially trained sniffer dog and found credible evidence of bed bugs in the building.
Following the discovery, employees were advised not to enter the office until proper treatment had been completed. By Monday morning, Google confirmed that extermination measures had been taken, allowing staff to return to the Chelsea campus.
To prevent further spread, the company has also launched additional inspections at other Google buildings in New York, including its Hudson Square campus. This step was described as being taken “out of an abundance of caution.”
Employees have been asked to immediately report any signs or symptoms that may be connected to possible bed bug exposure. They were also encouraged to notify the facilities team if they spotted any suspicious activity in the workplace. Google additionally advised staff to contact professional exterminators if they discovered bed bugs in their homes.
Sources familiar with the situation claim that large stuffed animals, commonly found in Google’s offices, could be playing a role in the outbreak. These popular office decorations may have inadvertently contributed to the problem.
This isn’t the first time Google has faced such a situation in New York. Back in 2010, the company’s 9th Avenue office experienced a similar infestation during a widespread bed bug crisis across the city. Bed bugs have been a persistent problem in urban environments like New York, often requiring intensive pest control to fully eradicate.
Google has assured employees that it is taking proactive steps to address the situation swiftly and maintain a safe and clean work environment.
