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Jan 1, 2021
Brenda Smyth
I guess we can officially say “hugs are back.” But before we get hasty on this Hug Holiday 2021 (Yep, it’s a day encouraging people to hug.), let’s review the etiquette when it comes to hugging at work.
First, science tells us that hugs have positive health effects. Hugging offers a buffer to stress and can lessen conflict. When a hug is good, the brain releases oxytocin, which lowers blood pressure and improves the immune system.
But hugs can be awkward. We’ve all been on either the giving or receiving end of an uncomfortable embrace. And it happens easily because we don’t all feel the same about hugging. You’ve got huggers and non-huggers, a variety of business situations, industries and cultures as well as varying degrees of familiarity or rank with the people around us. In many situations, a hug can seem out of place.
“To be any good, an embrace must be mutual,” writes author Garrison Keillor. But the trouble is, how do you know in advance if someone wants a hug?
Clearly there are people who declare themselves “huggers” and just go for the embrace every time, regardless of the recipient’s anticipated reciprocation. In addition to possibly making the other person uncomfortable , this can be risky for you as well, the legal community warns.
Hugs are back. But they’re not always appropriate at work. Consider carefully before you embrace.
Brenda Smyth
Brenda Smyth is supervisor of content creation at SkillPath. Drawing from 20-plus years of business and management experience, her writings have appeared on Forbes.com, Entrepreneur.com and Training Industry Magazine.
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