For lawyers and other professionals, a good firm handshakes is a practiced art. It may however soon be declared inappropriate with all other forms of physical contact according to a recent survey on business seeking to combat inappropriate touching in the workplace. A survey by TotalJobs found that three out of four people want all physical contact banned at work. Other employment experts have also discussed the possible ban on any contact of any kind to combat sexual harassment. Companies are considering a total ban on contact, including handshakes.
While I would think most people would object to the ban on handshakes, some argue that it would eliminate any confusion on what is appropriate and create a bright-line rule protecting employees from sexual harassment. There are also those who view handshakes as increasing the risk of contamination from germs. President Donald Trump notably did not shake hands for this reason until he ran for president.
We have already discussed how activists in various schools have banned clapping as threatening and marginalizing. However, a ban on handshakes would constitute a fundamental change in what is consider appropriate or preferred professional demeanor.
There are images of handshakes going back to Ancient Greece in the 5th Century. Some argue that the handshakes was meant to show a counterpart that you did not have a weapon in your hand.
There are even instructional videos on proper handshaking and psychological studies. There are dangers of the “probing handshakes” and the wet handshake. About 2.8% of the population suffers from hyperhidrosis – wet hands, excessive sweating — which can lead to the dreaded soaked-hand handshake.
Of course, movies would have to lose what is an array of handshaking approaches:
