http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40580986

Neither, really. The idea of a hug from someone in a professional situation is horrible. I remember on my early morning walks around Watford seeing the Disney Store open up, with the staff having a group hug. I wondered how people who hated that idea would be treated. Possibly shamed into doing it, or being ostracised, I expect. Keep the American luvvie stuff the other side of the Atlantic, thanks.

There's just no need for any of it, it's as fake as an eBay item from Hong Kong.

Yeah, not keen on a hug in work environment generally speaking. He says having given/recieved a hug at work last Friday (it was their last day and they're that sort of person). Context is everything. If it's someone you know well and have a good relationship with and you're both comfortable with it then fine but any sort of expectation to do so is right out.

A couple of years ago we had a new senior bod at work, I forget where she was from originally but she had what I would characterise as a very American gung ho, yay the company sort of attitude. This was demonstrated at an All Staff briefing where she tried to get the people in the room to cheer about things. You could feel the resentment coming off people in waves. Suffice to say, she didn't last terribly long.

I don't mind a hand shake most of the time although any sort of stupid power play type crap will mark a person down as a [LIFTED] in my book. Equally, a really insipid wet flannel type shake is also unpleasant. It a minefield!

Situations I have hugged at work:
1. Colleague who had bad news and broke down into tears in front of me
2. Patients whose husbands have died from cancer and I've been the support and care in the dying phase.

I have never hugged anyone else. I don't shake hands with colleagues because it's a bit formal (though I have done on first introduction eg with new trainees) but I will shake hands with patients. Everyone else gets a wave.

Never been an issue for me. No one ever hugs.

I'm a hugger, it's never been an issue for me, I ask people if they are huggers before I hug them, if they're not, then I don't.
One of my colleagues and I exchange shoulder-pats when we see each other

The only people I hug and would accept a hug from are family members.

Being hugged at work would be frikkin weird.

There’s a kid in Code Club who is autistic, and wants hugs from teachers. I’ve told my wife that there is no way I’m hugging him, or having him hug me (one of us will leave Code Club if that happens, BTW - it’ll be me or the kid). Apart from the fact that it’s just plain wrong, the kid’ll be in year six next year (I get the year 6 kids), and he should be being steered out of that kind of behaviour.

I know that‘s a bit of an odd one, but it’s a bleeding minefield.

My nephew is autistic and likes to hug people, I can only assume it makes up for the lack of connection otherwise. But yeah, I can see the associated problems there!

I shake hands when I meet people for the 1st time (or not seen them for some time) but day to day colleagues a "Hi" is enough

Here it is usual to shake hands.

I hug and kiss (both cheeks) family and good friends - although most males only get the hug, as many freak if you try and kiss them on the cheek; mainly my Italian male friends are comfortable with it, as that is normal. I have a few Russian friends, but I've never kissed them on the lips, that would be too intimate for me.