BGC airs concerns over social media backlash

BGC is concerned its employees could be targeted by abusive behaviour on social media after an aggrieved customer uploaded a parody video about building delays.

The company's comments come in response to a disgruntled customer who posted a parody on social media made from one of BGC’s YouTube videos depicting a senior staffer addressing building delays across the industry.

The Piara Waters customer claimed a BGC representative informed him that his build was put on hold in response to the parody video. He claims the "hold" was later backtracked. 

“BGC confirms it has not placed this build on hold,” a company spokesman told Business News.

BGC also requested the parody video - about building delays- be taken down and that the customer issue an apology. The customer declined to remove the video or apologise.  

The spokesperson said BGC’s actions were taken based on concerns about the impact of social media posts singling out its employees.

It comes against a backdrop of a looming class action lawsuit undertaken by Morgan Alteruthemeyer Legal Group and nationwide building delays brought on by stimulus packages and skills shortages.  

“We have no difficulty with clients posting genuine feedback online, be it positive or negative,” a BGC spokesman told Business News.

“However, we are concerned about the effect social media postings can have on our employees where they are singled out.

“While individual postings may seem harmless to the people posting them, BGC has real concerns for its people being identified in postings, as it can lead to a ‘pile-on’ mentality, that incites people to engage in abusive behaviour.”

Social media posts about builders and building delays are not limited to BGC, with several popular Facebook group pages running for the purpose of discussing builds in Western Australia.