https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:54:04 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1114028 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 14:13:40 +0000 PurplePeony 1114028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes to everything @mrbee said.</p> <p>If you want to try to smooth things over with your coworker, maybe you could say something along the lines of "I'm sorry that I was rude when you were in my office yesterday, but I'm very concerned about the fact that bedbugs can be transported on clothing and shoes. I'd appreciate being able to keep my distance until you're certain all the bugs have been eradicated from your apartment, as I need to keep my own family safe from them as much as possible. Please understand my blowup had to do with the situation and not you as a person, but I would ask that you respect my personal boundaries from now on. Thanks." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1113998 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 14:01:31 +0000 mrbee 1113998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsTiz: With a few basic countermeasures for the next few weeks, I think you should be ok even if he's bringing bed bugs to work!</p> <p>I would just take off your shoes outside, and leave them in a plastic box out there (if possible). Also, rip off your clothing and put it in a sealed plastic bag in your garage... and when you can, put it in the dryer for 10-20 minutes. (We bought a PackTite, but that's overkill for most situations.) I'd also leave any bags or purses in a plastic bag.</p> <p>The Climb-Up Interceptors are also a great and cost-effective way to check that you don't have an infestation at home... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1113985 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 13:58:20 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1113985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: i'm so itchy reading that article! ahhh! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1113984 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 13:57:22 +0000 JoJoGirl 1113984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsTiz: I used to work for a state health dept, and the short answer is yes, he's allowed to be at work. I don't know if that will change given the info @Mr. Bee shared, but it hasn't yet. If you're worried, I'd actually just call your local or state health department and ask - the rules are different state to state!</p> <p>You have to have something pretty contagious to be kept home from work... even MRSA infections don't have laws about staying home. Now being polite is a different story, and often it's up to HR to make those kinds of recommendations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1113978 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 13:54:50 +0000 MrsTiz 1113978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: good to know! So I was justified in my disgust haha. He's still allowed to be at work even knowing that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1113972 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 13:52:47 +0000 JoJoGirl 1113972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Huh - I stand corrected.. this is news to me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1113955 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 13:48:02 +0000 mrbee 1113955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: @MrsTiz: One sec... you can definitely spread bed bugs through shoes and clothing! That's a big way that they spread in New York... if a cable worker or meter person treks their shoes into your house, he or she could spread bedbugs (if they have them at home, or if they've been in an infested home that day).</p> <p>When we were most paranoid about bed bugs, we kept our shoes outside. Here's an article by an entomologist where he talks a bit about shoes: </p> <p>&lt;&lt; Bed bugs are small and agile, escaping detection after crawling into suitcases, backpacks and belongings. Acquiring secondhand beds, couches and furniture is another way that the bugs are transported into buildings. Bed bugs also can be carried in on one’s clothing, shoes or wheelchair. Once bed bugs are introduced, they can crawl from room to room or floor to floor. They can also be transported throughout buildings on people and their belongings. &gt;&gt;</p> <p><a href="http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef636.asp" rel="nofollow">http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef636.asp</a></p> <p>This jibes with what we learned from the research we did when we had bed bugs a few years ago...</p> <p>It's true that bed bugs don't live on you like lice do, but they can definitely can hitch a ride on your clothing or shoes. There have been outbreaks in several offices in New York City... even the Health Department here has had an infestation!</p> <p><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/department-health-employees-bitten-bed-bug-problem-lic-office-article-1.1461820" rel="nofollow">http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/department-health-employees-bitten-bed-bug-problem-lic-office-article-1.1461820</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1112727 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 09:52:49 +0000 deerylou 1112727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsTiz: I would just apologize; "Hey, Frank, the way I acted was totally unprofessional, and I apologize. I didn't realize bedbugs weren't contagious, but none the less, I shouldn't have reacted the way I did." And then just move the coversation forward to something work related, and hopefully all is well. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1112653 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 09:34:31 +0000 MrsTiz 1112653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: See, that would have been better but I just spazzed and didn't have time to collect my thoughts and make a nicer way to ask him to get out of my bubble.</p> <p>Yikes, what do I do now?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1112645 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 09:32:51 +0000 JoJoGirl 1112645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsTiz: I would've been more straightofrward with him. "I'm a little nervous that you might be carrying bedbugs and don't want to catch them, would you mind if we continued this conversation at a later date?" or something more professional. At that point he (hopefully) would have told you they aren't contagious! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1112577 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 09:22:50 +0000 MrsTiz 1112577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Crisark: @blackbird: See, I'm torn on that simply for the fact that I asked him to leave my office and he didn't..he stepped in closer to me after he was already an arms-length away, which, if it wasn't a bedbug convo and he did that I wouldn't be too thrilled with him anyway..The first two times I asked him I wasn't rude, the last time I was, but then he went out back in the warehouse and was telling everyone who would listen about his bed bugs &amp; laughing and showing off his red bites (to a very disgusted audience lol) .. I feel like if I embarrassed him he would have kept the story to himself? I don't know..</p> <p>He's kind of an ass, so I don't think he took it too personally? I guess if he acts different or tries to avoid me i'll talk to him but I don't know how to approach him in a non-awkward way?? </p> <p>How would you suggest doing that in a way that wouldn't make it worse? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1112348 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 08:46:49 +0000 Crisark 1112348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I gotta say I agree. I'd be mortified if I was treated like that. I have a bug phobia (like had to be put on meds bc my daughters got lice last year phobia) so I get the issue of hating the idea of them. (I shared that sentiment with my first comment lol)<br /> However, he doesn't have the plague. His bed has bed bugs.<br /> I kinda feel bad for him now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1112324 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 08:42:45 +0000 blackbird 1112324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrstiz, maybe you should apologize to your coworker for being so rude to him since you now know that you can't contract bed bugs from another person? You are entitled to ask him to leave, but it's one thing to be mean about it. It's not like he had lice and was scratching his head over your desk</p> <p>I'm big on personal relations at work, though. If someone ever treated me like that, I would not forget it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1110473 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 14:07:59 +0000 JoJoGirl 1110473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can't catch bed bugs from another person!!! They live in beds, not on bodies like lice. </p> <p><a href="http://www.lcdhd.org/images/uploads/Disease/Bed%20Bugs.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.lcdhd.org/images/uploads/Disease/Bed%20Bugs.pdf</a></p> <p>He is within his right to be at work. They could travel in his luggage to a new bed, but you are fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1110434 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 13:58:42 +0000 avivoca 1110434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsTiz: I probably would have been rude too if he hadn't left my office when I first asked him to. Hopefully he understands that it's not him, it's his pest problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1110419 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 13:52:11 +0000 MrsTiz 1110419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@evansjamie: I told her how our convo went because I was pretty rude, so I didn't want him to complain later without me having told her first. She said I was well within my rights to ask him to leave my office, so that's good at least. DH is even more creeped out than I am and doesn't want him anywhere near either of us lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1110408 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 13:45:22 +0000 avivoca 1110408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsTiz: It doesn't matter if the boss thinks you're being paranoid. Bed bugs are a big deal and you shouldn't feel bad about asking him to leave your office. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1110386 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 13:37:34 +0000 MrsTiz 1110386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like a jerk, he has been out in the field most of the day but he just came back to the office and walked straight into my office. Not just into my office but into my personal space bubble and immediately said "So you remember how I was telling you how my wife had a rash?" and I said "Yes. You told me this morning. Get out of my office please." and he said "No no I know what they are! They're bedbugs!" I said "I know. Get. Out. Of. My. Office" and he said "I already called the landlord, it's taken care of!!" I said a bit too loudly to get out of my office, again.. he looked really hurt and just walked off. </p> <p>Probably could have handled that better, but holy shit. I'm already not sleeping at night, now I'm going to go home and be all paranoid about freaking bedbugs. If he JUST found out yesterday that it was really bedbugs, I REALLY doubt that they're taken care of already.</p> <p>Yuck yuck yuck my skin is crawling now. I think I hurt his feelings, but he thinks letting his landlord know and setting off a bug bomb = problem solved.</p> <p>Boss lady doesn't think it's that big of a deal (as far as not sending him home) and thinks i'm being paranoid.. she said since he's had them at least a week..if we were going to get them we would have already. Iccckkkk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1110333 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 13:19:17 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1110333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsTiz: I talked to my dad about this today when I stopped in his office. I mentioned before that he's in the hardwood floor industry, but his company sells janitorial supplies as well for commercial businesses (think hotels, colleges, air ports etc).</p> <p>He said your CW shouldn't be at work. Bed bugs can be transmitted through closing, but he also said that whoever compared them to lice was incorrect.</p> <p>He sells a product called Sterifab but said its really, really expensive.. But also the best on the market. I vaguely remember the product &amp; remember we sold it to a local college who had a bedbug outbreak a few years ago. Gross! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1109532 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:44:56 +0000 LuLu Mom 1109532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ughhhh this is so gross!! I'm so sorry, I would for sure take all the precautions you can not to bring them into your house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1109508 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:37:18 +0000 LindsayInNY 1109508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsTiz: Maybe your boss doesn't know much about it/them? Personally, I kinda relate it to lice. If you can't be somewhere because of lice, how/why should bed bugs be any different? What really concerns me is that he doesn't seem to want to try and get rid of them... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1109507 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:37:12 +0000 mrs. wagon 1109507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>oh. my gOD. EWWWW </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1109503 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:36:19 +0000 avivoca 1109503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh EWWW. I would definitely strip, put your stuff in a plastic bag, maybe change out your work chair to one that doesn't have fabric on it, and keep your purse off the floor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1109494 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:34:25 +0000 Foodnerd81 1109494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would strip before entering your house, and watch your purse and stuff. I'd be really worried too. Ew. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1109487 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:31:09 +0000 MrsTiz 1109487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: I asked my boss after he left and she didn't seem too concerned about it but I find it disgusting and really don't think he should be at work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1109418 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:08:06 +0000 LindsayInNY 1109418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I remember a bed bug epidemic in NYC and people were spreading/catching them at a movie theater. I think I would be worried about him spreading them at work... Do you have a HR department you could ask, just in case? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1109399 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:59:26 +0000 emg86 1109399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>GROSS!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1109384 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:52:26 +0000 mrbee 1109384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You should be fine as long as you take precautions! When you get home, put your clothes into a plastic bag immediately and take off your shoes too. More tips here!</p> <p><a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2012/06/29/how-to-protect-yourself-from-bed-bugs-when-traveling/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2012/06/29/how-to-protect-yourself-from-bed-bugs-when-traveling/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1109377 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:46:26 +0000 Crisark 1109377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ummm EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW Yeah that's all I've got. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/co-worker-has-bedbugs#post-1109373 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:43:24 +0000 MrsTiz 1109373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yuck. Yuck. YUCK.</p> <p>I've read the blog posts about bed bugs, but they're more aimed at what to do if YOU have bedbugs..what about if a coworker does? Are they as easily spread as I think they are?</p> <p>I sit next to this guy at lunch every day, have close interactions with him a few times a week, he's not that clean of a person so I don't feel like he's taking any precautions to make sure he's not spreading them..... late last week he was telling me how his wife was getting a rash (he's an overshare-er) and he comes in today telling my boss &amp; I that he had to put bedbug bombs in his bed and THOUSANDS of them fell out. Then he took off the bottom oh his boxspring, I guess the bottom of it is wood, and he said thousands more were in there, so they did that and just went to sleep that night. Didn't do anything else, vacuum the rest of the house, do all the laundry, etc. (I asked, lol)</p> <p>Ahhhg my skin is crawling. Should he be at work? Am I overreacting? </p> <p>gjdfgjfg bedbugs are not a common thing around here so i'm freaking out, clearly. :P </p>