Google just sent employees home from its Chelsea office after exterminators discovered what they're calling "credible evidence" of a bed bug infestation. The tech giant's environmental, health, and safety team alerted all NYC staff Sunday night, marking the second time in 15 years that Google's New York operations have faced this particular workplace hazard.
Google employees got an unwelcome surprise Sunday evening when company officials sent an urgent email about bed bugs infiltrating the Chelsea campus. According to internal communications obtained by WIRED, exterminators arrived with trained sniffer dogs and "found credible evidence of their presence."
The discovery prompted Google's environmental, health, and safety team to immediately advise staff to stay away from the office until treatment wrapped up. By Monday morning, employees were cleared to return, but the company isn't taking chances - they're now conducting additional inspections across other NYC locations, including buildings at the Hudson Square campus.
"Out of an abundance of caution," the email explained, Google is expanding its search beyond the initial outbreak site. The company has asked employees to report any symptoms they believe might be linked to bed bug exposure and to flag any sightings to the facilities team.
But here's where things get interesting. Sources tell WIRED that Google's New York offices house numerous large stuffed animals that might be connected to the outbreak. While the company declined to comment on this detail, it adds an unexpected twist to what's already an unusual corporate crisis.
This isn't Google's first rodeo with these particular pests. Back in 2010, the company's 9th Avenue Manhattan offices dealt with a similar infestation during what was a citywide bed bug surge. That earlier incident serves as a reminder that even tech giants with unlimited resources aren't immune to basic urban workplace challenges.
The timing couldn't be more awkward for Google, which has been pushing hard for return-to-office policies across its global workforce. The company has invested heavily in making its physical spaces attractive to employees, with elaborate amenities and collaborative environments designed to draw people back from remote work.
Google's Chelsea campus has long been one of its showcase New York locations, housing significant portions of the company's advertising and business operations teams. The building represents a major investment in the company's East Coast presence, making this outbreak more than just a facilities headache.
