BuzzFeed employees will be working from home thanks to a newly discovered infestation of bedbugs, according to an email to the staff this morning from Carole Robinson, chief communications officer of the company:
“We are acting out of an abundance of caution and asking you to work from home tomorrow to give facilities the chance to deal with this in the fastest and environmentally safest manner,” the email reads. “Fumigation will take place as soon as possible tomorrow.”
The office will be open until 11 a.m. today to give employees the chance to grab their laptops and anything else they need from their desks, according to the note. Staffers have been asked to avoid picking up items that are currently on the floor.
“We have every expectation that it will be all clear to re-enter the office and resume normal course of business by Friday morning,” Robinson wrote.
Here’s the note:
Dear BuzzFeeders,
Please be advised that bed bugs have been detected at BuzzFeed HQ at 111 East 18th Street. We are acting out of an abundance of caution and asking you to work from home tomorrow to give facilities the chance to deal with this in the fastest and environmentally safest manner. Fumigation will take place as soon as possible tomorrow.
The office will be open until 11AM/ET to give you the opportunity to grab a laptop and anything else you need from your desk. To be safe, please don’t bring home items that are currently on the floor in the office. If you don’t need anything from the office, please stay home.
We want to make sure that you are aware of the signs of bed bugs in the office or home, please consult the information about bed bugs and their eradication available here. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Facilities at nyfacilities@buzzfeed.com.
We have every expectation that it will be all clear to re-enter the office and resume normal course of business by Friday morning.
Thank you so much for your cooperation,
Carole
