Watch CBS News

Boston Offices Urged To Prep For Bed Bugs

BOSTON (Boston Business Journal) - Bed bugs don't just live in beds. With more frequency they are turning up in office buildings, and apparently are partial to filing cabinets.

A survey by the National Pest Management Association found that twenty percent of their exterminators found bed bugs inside commercial office buildings. One of the most high profile cases is inside the Brooklyn District Attorney's office.

While bed bugs have not yet surfaced inside any Boston office buildings, a local law firm is urging companies to prepare now.

Lisa Van Der Pool of the Boston Business Journal reports

Bed bug infestation in the office place, they say, can lead to legal claims including workers compensation, discrimination – if the employee who transported the bugs is ostracized, and potential lawsuits from third parties if a client brings the critters back to his or her home or office.

The legal experts say companies should be proactive with employees, educating them on bed bug bites, and how not to transport the pests to the office.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.