Comments on: RIP ~ The Handshake

By: hr bartender

hr bartender — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:42:59 +0000

Thanks everyone for the comments! It looks like the handshake still has its place…but we need to allow for others under certain circumstances.

The winner of the book is Bonita! Congrats. Please send your mailing address to slauby@hrbartender.com and I’ll get the book out right away.

Have a fabulous week!

By: jkjhr

jkjhr — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:18:05 +0000

Bowing is out, look at the heat President Obama took for bowing on his recent Asian trip. Plus always a chance of bumping heads (possible concussive effects worse than H1N1).

Fist bumping might be OK but seems more apt for the stands celebrating a touchdown. However, as Bruno point out, good enough for Spicoli..Dude.
Personally, I like the handshake. None of the previous flu (including the 2 or 3 other swine flu scares I seem to recall) has wiped it out. No one (other than Pres. McKinley) has died due to a hand shake.

By: Jennifer V. Miller

Jennifer V. Miller — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:54:55 +0000

Sharlyn,

Well, you’ve shaken it up again, as evidenced by the fact that someone is asking “are you serious?” You are posing a question that asks “Is a time-honored tradition still relevant?” Given the range of responses, you’ve clearly touched a nerve. Personally, I don’t know if it’s time to abandon the handshake. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. But it’s always good to wonder if something still has value and still makes sense in our current situation.

By: Debbie Benami-Rahm

Debbie Benami-Rahm — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:09:52 +0000

As HR professionals, it is a great idea to start us all thinking about a handshake alternative for greetings in the workplace. This past week alone, in several different work environments, I was asked “not” to shake hands due to the other party being ill. Yes – first question, why are they at work while being sick? We all know that answer, people are too afraid not to go to work now. And next point: I am glad they did NOT shake my hand and were courteous enough to consider my well being. It was uncomfortable not having an alternative as we have expectations of some sort of greeting besides “Nice to meet you”. Greeting Etiquette for the 21st Century anyone?

By: hr bartender

hr bartender — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:13:50 +0000

Yes, of course it’s a joke. Or is it? In a semi-serious way, I’m just pointing out that there are many things we grow up doing and never question simply because that’s what we’ve always done. Until something about it disagrees with an every-changing society and we reexamine the need to do it.

As others mentioned above, there are many non-Western cultures that conduct very formal business greetings without any physical contact. I expect this post to generate more questions and conversation than changes to society. And the fist bump may not be the best solution – but that’s okay too.

Should we continue to walk into a room full of business executives and demonstrate that we’re not holding a weapon – the antiquated basis of the handshake? Or is it time to take a not-quite-so-joking look at this old social chestnut and, perhaps, give it a mercy killing?

By: akabruno

akabruno — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:35 +0000

if it is good enough for jeff spicoli, it is good enough for me. “awesome..
totally awesome!”

By: fran melmed

fran melmed — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:53:23 +0000

here’s another approach, brought with a sense of humor about it all: http://crumpleitup.com/b/2009/11/the-office-cure-for-cold-and-flu-season/