An employee of the company, who is testifying anonymously, claims that a UGC director asked employees to lie about the presence of bed bugs in their Parisian cinemas. The company, on the other hand, claims to be taking action to eradicate this “plague”.
All public places can be exposed to bed bugs. For several weeks now, there have been numerous testimonies from individuals and professionals claiming to be victims of bed bugs in France. In public transportation, hospitals, and even cinemas.
At the end of last August, a young woman explained that she was bitten after a screening at the UGC cinema in Bercy Village. Quickly, other cinema-goers also claimed to have had the same experience in this cinema in the 12th arrondissement of the capital.
On Friday, an employee of the company, who is testifying anonymously to BFM Paris Ile-de-France, claims that other Parisian cinemas are also facing this problem. He even states that the company is “deceiving its customers”.
“In the UGC Danton and Odéon cinemas, we know from colleagues that the director asked employees to lie to customers who asked about the presence of bed bugs. They had to tell them that there were none, even though there were,” he says.
“We also know that the director, after the intervention of the dogs, knew precisely which seats were infested. Apparently, it was not condemned or closed, and during that time, customers were allowed to go there,” the man continues.
A colleague victim of bed bugs?
According to him, a colleague has also been infested. “We know that there is a colleague who caught bed bugs at her workplace. The director informed this employee that, since she had caught bed bugs in her free time, the interventions and costs would not be covered by the company,” the employee claims.
And he bitterly adds, “This really shows how employees are treated, in addition to our customers.”
For the employee, customers should have been informed about the progress in disinfecting the cinemas. “They could have put up a notice explaining the measures they are implementing in the theaters, what has been done and what has not. That’s transparency. It’s about retaining customer loyalty and maintaining trust. But that’s not the case. It’s crisis management in urgency, in lies. It needs to stop,” he concludes.
UGC assures that it takes the issue “very seriously”
Contacted by BFM Paris Ile-de-France following this testimony, UGC company states that it takes “the issue of bed bugs very seriously by investing heavily since 2017.”
It claims to have the “best experts” in the field in France. “We are constantly accompanied by Eco-Flair3, a leader and pioneer in canine detection in France since 2010, and Rentokil4, a leader in pests throughout France,” UGC adds.
It affirms having clear and operational procedures. “We proactively treat the UGC network regularly, up to once a month for the most exposed cinemas. We also treat immediately at the slightest report thanks to an emergency procedure with canine detection,” the company reassures.
“Once the presence is noticed and confirmed, the theaters are fully treated with dry steam at 180°C, a practice that immediately eradicates bed bugs,” UGC explains, confirming the effectiveness of these interventions with a new inspection by a sniffer dog.
The company refers to it as a “plague”
According to UGC, bed bugs are a “plague” that affects all sectors accommodating the public. “These investments probably make UGC one of the most experienced and well-equipped companies against bed bugs in France, across all sectors,” the company assures. It adds that these investments will continue until the “plague is eradicated.”
Regarding cases of infestation affecting employees, UGC contradicts the version given by its employee. “That’s why as soon as a report is made by an employee, the director of the network contacts them directly to assess the situation on a case-by-case basis,” the company says.
For them, although “zero risk does not exist,” the probability “of bringing bed bugs home is low”.
“A bed bug does not attach itself to an individual and is not capable of flying or jumping. Suitcases and bags, on the other hand, are more prone to the movement of bed bugs. If it is confirmed that the employee has indeed been in contact with bed bugs at their workplace and has brought them home, UGC will cover the detection and necessary treatment at their home through its service providers,” it adds.
For employees facing such situations, the company emphasizes that a “psychological support unit” is available 24/7, free of charge and anonymous.
Martin Regley Journalist
