OT: Awkward Hugs

[geekgirldany]

Maybe this is a southern thing but several of my clients hug me. Often I only get the the half hug recently I've been getting the full hug with a pat.

I really don't like people hugging me during the flu season... or any season. It is especially awkward when a husband hugs you in front of his wife... but I don't get a hug from her.

I try to only give the half hug. Maybe it is the economic hardship people are facing but the full on hugs are getting too much. I got a welcome hug and a goodbye hug from a client on the same day.

Just thought I would share

Dany

[SueBaby]

Maybe this is a southern thing but several of my clients hug me. Often I only get the the half hug recently I've been getting the full hug with a pat.

I really don't like people hugging me during the flu season... or any season. It is especially awkward when a husband hugs you in front of his wife... but I don't get a hug from her.

I try to only give the half hug. Maybe it is the economic hardship people are facing but the full on hugs are getting too much. I got a welcome hug and a goodbye hug from a client on the same day.

Just thought I would share

Dany

I get hugs from my closest friends that I do taxes for (known them for years) but most usually get hand shakes; that I wash hands afterwards because half are sick sometimes.

[JohnH]

What's really unsettling is when you reach for someone's hand and they pull you into an unexpected hug. I've had some really awkward moments trying to get my hand away from where it doesn't belong when that happened, and not by design (don't want to sound like a dirty old man).

[geekgirldany]

Yep I've had the handshake and a sudden hug also.

Just got another hug. These are clients not friends or family. I don't know I guess I am the huggable tax preparer.

If I can I will stop the hug with an "I've been sick" they slowly backup.

[oceanlovin'ea]

good laugh

Well, I'm a hugger. So hugs don't bother me. I have known a lot of my clients for years plus this IS THE SOUTH!!!!!!
We HUG here. It is like a yankee handshake. (I don't know how to do the little faces)

But I do prefer not to hug if they are sick. If you stay behind your desk, it is harder for them to hug you.

If I saw any of you, I'd probably hug you too.

Linda, EA

[DTS]

...(don't want to sound like a dirty old man).

Well I will. I tend to shy away from that also. One gal gave me an unexpected hug and I went off-balance and before long she was trying to hold me up by my behind for an extended period of time. It would have worked out better if she had just let me fall.

[Lion]

Hugs

Our clients have bared their financial souls to us, so they feel intimate.

I get a lot of hugs. When I was in an office setting, I could stay behind my desk. That was especially helpful if the flu or colds or whatever was going around. Now, with a home-based office, I'm opening my front door to clients. Sometimes I can get into a hand shake before they start hugging; although, as has been mentioned, that doesn't always end well. Or, if they have a lot in their hands, plus a winter coat, and maybe snow on their feet, they're busy getting settled so I can turn away to lead them down the hall before they hug. I really do like the hugs. But, I don't like to get sick during tax season.

[BHoffman]

I've never been a touchy-feely type even when I was a kid. Can't imagine hugging a client, and have never had one approach me for that. Must be giving off a vibe or something.

I do like to hug hubby, family and close friends but never a client. (Message to self: do not kiss the cat after applying chapstick.)

Funny thing - I was making some calls to my Mom and my Dad and my Aunt the other morning and got their voice mails. Left the standard family message: "Love you and talk to you soon!".

Right after that, made call to client, got his voice mail and accidently left the standard family message to him.... (gahh!)

[Jiggers]

I don't like hugging someone other than my wife.

Period.

I have a couple of female clients that insist on hugging. And not gentle hugs.

Both think they are God's gift to man and they are not.