Guardian staff allowed to work from home amid bedbug infestation

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 22, 2026

The Guardian has allowed staff to work from home due to a bedbug infestation at its London office, following multiple pest control treatments and ongoing concerns from employees. This move highlights tensions as management balances pest eradication efforts with its push for increased in-office attendance after the pandemic.

Staff at The Guardian newspaper have been permitted to work from home amid an ongoing bedbug infestation at their London headquarters in King’s Cross. Management announced the move in an email on Saturday, allowing employees who feel uncomfortable coming into the office to work remotely as an exception, provided they notify their line manager in advance.

This decision follows the deployment of pest control specialists for a second time to conduct a deep clean of the building. Additional treatments are planned for the coming weeks. Bedbugs, small insects that typically inhabit furniture or bedding, are known to cause itchy bites and can spread quickly by attaching to clothing.

The Guardian previously reported carrying out a “general deep clean” earlier in September, which included pest spraying, though it did not specify the presence of bedbugs at that time. However, union representatives and staff members have expressed concerns over the newspaper’s handling of the issue. During a National Union of Journalists meeting on Monday, some employees questioned how long management had been aware of the infestation. Rumors of insect bites date back as far as January, according to one staff member.

Several employees voiced frustration, noting the disconnect between the company’s detailed coverage of the psychological and financial impacts of bedbug infestations in the media and what some perceive as a lack of urgency internally. One journalist described a prevailing sense that the situation has persisted for an extended period, with spot treatments applied rather than comprehensive measures. Some staff attending the office have resorted to sitting on newspapers or plastic bags to avoid bites.

In a subsequent email on Monday afternoon, Guardian management stated they were working closely with a professional pest control company. They indicated that until recently, the advice received was that treating areas without confirmed sightings of bedbugs was neither recommended nor necessary.

The bedbug outbreak comes amid ongoing efforts led by Katharine Viner, The Guardian’s editor-in-chief, to increase office attendance following the COVID-19 pandemic. At the start of 2024, Viner introduced a mandatory minimum of three days per week in the office for staff.

The Guardian declined to provide further comment on the matter.

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