Do you touch your coworkers?

[Anonymous]

It’s a strange work environment. People stated they feel intimidated when I look at their eyes (which is completely natural when you talk to someone) but seem to feel free to touch without thinking.
I better quit soon before it gets worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at a huggy work place. Men and women hug each other, we hug certain long time clients and partners. I hate it. It makes every greeting awkward - is this someone I’m supposed to hug? Is it weird if I just stick out my hand? If I know you well but my junior colleague has only met you twice, should she hug you too? It’s great that there’s camaraderie but wish we could all just shake hands.

Other than the hugging, luckily touch is pretty minimal, though it wouldn’t be out of the norm for someone of either gender to put hands on someone’s shoulders if trying to move by them in a close space or pluck a string off someone’s sleeve.

+1
I'm female and I hug now that everyone has been remote and the get-togethers are rare. It does not feel weird.
I'm also an arm toucher.
I'm also a total introvert and anxious. Am I doing it all wrong?
eek.

no, you are fine. signed Southern woman wh struggles to keep her hands to herself.

[Anonymous]

I'm a hugger by nature, but typically extend a hand because I know not everybody is down...amazingly enough (and I've been in law enforcement the bulk of my career) those special occasions like birthdays, retirement celebrations and even coming back into the office post pandemic resulted in hugs around the room.

Touching outside of that...no.