Rogue Squirrel Briefly Takes Over Meta Office in Bangkok
A squirrel that escaped from a package caused a 20-minute commotion at Meta's Bangkok office, minorly injuring a janitor before being caught. The incident provided a moment of levity for employees amid ongoing morale issues at the tech giant.
Meta's Bangkok office experienced an unexpected disruption this week when a squirrel got loose inside the building. According to an internal memo seen by WIRED, the rodent spent at least 20 minutes darting past staff before being captured. During the chase, the squirrel scratched a janitor's finger, requiring first aid and a subsequent hospital visit for a medical examination.
The squirrel arrived at the office inside a package, but managed to escape. The janitor who accepted the delivery acknowledged their misconduct and committed to following office regulations to prevent future incidents. Meta declined to comment on the matter.
The incident comes at a time when Meta employees globally are dealing with low morale due to recent restructurings, mass layoffs, and a controversial AI training initiative that uses employee data without initial consent. Meta executives have acknowledged the morale crisis and have been trying to improve the atmosphere by funding social outings and promising better office food.
New York Times journalist Mike Isaac first reported the incident on social media, noting that employees were having fun with it internally. One person even created an AI-generated video parodying an HR training course on squirrel-related office best practices. The memo did not reveal why the squirrel was delivered or where it ended up.
