To resist hugging people at work??

I work in corporate law. No hugging, ever. Which i am grateful for as I am not a hugger

I like to hug my DH and a few other select people. Otherwise I'm very much not a hugger.

My tactic when some hugger is coming at me and I can't avoid is to get hold of one of their upper arms and do a slight sway whilst keeping them away with my hand. So it looks like a very loose embrace but it really isn't.
Do a "mwah" noise at the same time for effect. Mostly works.

At the risk of sounding like a misery guts (I like a hug too!) Workplace hugging is a bad idea. I mean, creepy Colin from IT might be 'a hugger' too and the last thing we want us to give him a defence when someone makes a complaint that 'everyone does it'.

Huggers should keep their distance in the workplace. A lot of people don't want coworkers in their personal space much less touching them. I hold my arm out to stop them.

I'm not a fan of handshakes either after a manager squeezed too hard.

Rule no 1 - no hugging in the workplace during work hours.

Rule no 2 - outside the workplace, hug colleagues only if they come in for a hug first and you are happy to hug them back (except for Rule 3 below).

Rule no 3 - never hug your boss. If you are the boss, do not hug your subordinates.

😁

My position on work place hugging...

(Handshake or wave only thanks. Wish the bow was more culturally normalised. Or perhaps the hat tip)

At work - no. After night out together - yes. Back in work after that - no.

Awful. The workplace is not for hugs. And I’m not that keen on handshakes, either, just makes me want to go and wash my hands. I would never say “I’m not a hugger,” but a swift step back and asking the hugger a question (however random) usually does the trick.

I find this very tricky to navigate. I spent 15 years in a professional services firm and hugging was never a thing. Now I work in the NPO sector and it’s extremely tricky to navigate, especially as a woman. I feel like a handshake is quite formal (but doesn’t appear so when men share one) but if still feels weird hugging at the start or end of a meeting, for example. And if there are several people and you only know one well, do you just hug them and not the others? I’ve started doing a cheery wave these days but I don’t think that’s an ideal compromise.

You’re unlikely to upset someone by not hugging them. You could well upset them if you do hug them. “I’m a hugger” can be shorthand for “I disregard others’ personal boundaries”.

For this reason, I quite liked the elbow touch during lockdown. It seemed a nice 'in the middle' between hugging and handshaking.
But back in the real world at work, I either hug against my will because I don't want to be rude, or give that person a very short wave, and don't step too close to them for them to instigate a hug. Alternatively, there are always excuses (a cold, or something?). I know this comment isn't very helpful, but you're not alone!

I was hugged at work once when my colleague had been on a long overseas trip. I told him directly to never hug me again, he never did and no one else ever did. I worked with a few French and Dutch people who were very huggy but I made it very plain I was not to be hugged.

If someone tried to justify with I’m a hugger I would reply I’m not. Inside I would really want to say WTF do you think it’s ok to want to be in such close proximity especially if a bloke as a full on hug you feel bodies pressed together.

I don't see any reason to hug people at work. I'm not a natural hugger though.

I hate hugging work friends. I enjoy hugging my family. I understand some people "are huggers" but they make me want to roll my eyes. I don't want to be rude - I allow the hug. It just feels so odd though, so fake. Arms round shoulders, maybe a pat on the back or a short squeeze. But no body contact (not that I want body contact from friends!) but it's just akward, doing the lean forward hug, keeping separate, yet being too close. A hug should feel natural and comfortable and make you feel happy with that oxytocin.

So if I was your colleague you would be making me uncomfortable. So long as you don't try for air kisses... That is next level awful

YANBU to want to hug people, I also work in a huggy environment.

But I think I would err on the side of caution and only hug those that you know well and that you know like a hug.

The people you don't hug won't mind. Or if they do, they can initiate the hug!