Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why hugging at the office is appropriate. It's so physically intrusive. I come from France where kisses on the cheek are the norm when greeting someone familiar or friendly, often including coworkers, but they're often air kisses, or lightly pressing cheeks together. That's way less bodily contact than a full-on hug. I was so surprised and uncomfortable when my American boss hugged me - he's a tall guy and I'm a short woman.
There are different kinds of hugs and context matters. A well-spaced and quick hug is appropriate in the United States, well-spaced meaning it's mostly arms around shoulders and not full-length body contact.
IMO, it is MUCH more intrusive in Europe where everyone wants to be kissing cheeks or putting their cheek against yours. Talk about intrusive - that is lip/skin-to-skin contact which I don't appreciate at all. Not to mention getting smeared with someone's lipstick or heavy cologne. I don't want to be smelling someone else's cologne on my face nor do I want some virtual stranger's germy lips on my cheeks, merci beaucoup.