Google employees battle bugs in New York office and these are not in the computers

Google

Google employees at the Chelsea campus in New York City were in for an unpleasant surprise over the weekend. On Sunday, they received an email warning about a possible bed bug outbreak in the office, according to a Wired report. According to the notice, exterminators had arrived with a sniffer dog and found credible evidence of bed bugs on the premises.

Employees were asked to avoid the office until treatment was completed. By Monday morning, staff were allowed to return, but Google is taking extra precautions. Inspections are being carried out at other New York offices, including the Hudson Square campus, “out of an abundance of caution,” the email said.

The company also asked employees to report any symptoms they believe may be linked to bed bug exposure. Staff were encouraged to notify the facilities team if they spotted any bed bugs at work. Those who found bed bugs at home were advised to contact professional exterminators immediately.

Interestingly, sources suggest that some of the large stuffed animals in Google’s New York offices might have been involved in the outbreak, though this hasn’t been confirmed. Google declined to comment on these claims.

This isn’t the first time Google has dealt with bed bugs in its New York offices. In 2010, the company’s 9th Avenue office experienced a similar outbreak during a wider infestation across the city.

Bed bugs may be tiny, but they can cause major disruption. Even tech giants like Google aren’t immune to these persistent pests. While employees briefly had to stay away from the office, it seems the only bugs Google wants now are the ones in their software.

For New Yorkers and Google employees alike, this serves as a reminder that bed bugs can appear anywhere—even in the offices of one of the world’s most high-tech companies.