Hugging In the Office - Physical Affection or Harassment

Ruth - Hugging (and occasional cheek kiss) isn’t illegal in the workplace, but it isn’t always welcome.

Decades ago, hugging between co-workers was unusual if not verboten. Today, physical affection can flourish in certain industries — dot-com, marketing and fashion, for instance — even as companies increasingly codify the rules of workplace touching.

Hugging is also common among employees who have been working together for years, regardless of the culture of the industry. After all, many workers spend more time at the office than with their families. Plus, co-workers are likely to have common interests, so it’s only natural for friendships to form. Link.