Saw something on the Apprentice that has me wondering....

[Disney1fan2002]

How many CEO's give their employees a peck on the cheek to greet them in an office setting?

The opening scene to the Apprentice either 3/27 or last night 4/3 shows Kendra in an office obviously at work. Donald comes in, to see how things are going, as he greets her he gives her a kiss.

This stood out to me, because, 1) I know it is a TV show, and they are hamming it up for the camera, but, 2) in this day and age of sexual harrassment bull, is it a smart thing to do?

Does Kendra really want Donald Trump kissing her?

How common is it for a male boss to greet his employee with a kiss???

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well--even though it is America..other cultures do this all the time--and in some circumstances despite sexual harrasment issues....some just do not have a problem with that type of greeting.

Though I will have to look at TIVO to see what you specific greeting you are speaking of.

 

[Jimbo]

I'd say the rules are different when you're comparing a real employee to someone who won her job on a reality show.

 

[phantom728]

I think it depends on the circumstances and the environment. I've worked in offices that you can't look at someone without worrying about harrassment, but then I've worked with smaller teams of folks where you'd see hugs or kisses on the cheek, generally for a greeting after a long absence or something good/bad happening. This was because friendships had been established, even with the manager.

I was harrassed at a job years ago and remember how uncomfortable it was to be at work with that person. I try to make a habit of not offering too much physical contact, however if there is level of friendship than quick hugs are okay.

 

[RUDisney]

Hmm... I can't say that I'd like it very much. Aside from greeting one another in a social setting, no one every says "hello" with a peck on the cheek kiss at work. The last kiss I got at work was from the CEO when I was first promoted to officer status. There were other people in the room and it was not uncomfortable. If I walked into his office now and he kissed me hello, it would make me wonder.

That being said, I do greet some vendors to whom I speak all the time on the phone with a cheek kiss when we finally meet in person.

I wouldn't want Trump kissing me in an office setting if I worked for him.

 

[True North]

I'm commenting from Montreal, so I know things are diffrent here in French-Canada, but EVERYONE greets people of the oposite sex with two pecks on the cheek.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I was just doing a search for something, and found this thread!

I thought the same thing when I saw that. Does he kiss Randal and Bill? I doubt it. I did wonder if he's kind of taken her under his wing like a father figure and not just an employer (altho, his next wife will probably be younger than her )...but still, I wouldn't find it appropriate for me. It seemed natural to her tho.

In those cultures that do double-kissing...don't they kiss both men and women?? Anyway, if it were a natural part of the culture, it would be different.

 

[Honu]

I rarely (to never) come into physical contact with the people I work with every day. When peers and/or bosses from other offices visit though, kisses and hugs are pretty common. It's been that way in every firm I've worked in.

 

[azgal81]

I saw that too and thought the same thing! That whole segment with her and him just seemed overly awkward and forced. But it was probably staged for his comment of the week segment.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Kendra has never had a relaxed appearance about her that makes her look warm and fuzzy and accepting of any affection. So I wouldn't put too much credence on that as a reliable observation of her comfort level. She has always seemed very mechanical to me.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

Eeewwwwww! The only Donald I want a kiss from is Duck!

I've had plenty of office friendships that resulted in hugs when a person was down, or celebrating something, or back from a long absence, but never a kiss, that just seems a little too personal, in my circles. Well, except my one former boss, who kissed me on the cheek at my wedding! He wasn't the CEO, but close, he was the CFO. I was so completely grossed out by it. At my wedding was bad enough, I can't imagine him doing it in the office.

 

[RUDisney]

Why would you invite someone to your wedding from whom you didn't expect to receive a congratulatory peck? If the thought of it was that vexing, you shouldn't have invited him.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

Why would you invite someone to your wedding from whom you didn't expect to receive a congratulatory peck? If the thought of it was that vexing, you shouldn't have invited him.

I didn't expect a congratulatory peck from anyone. He was one of only about 2 or 3 who did that (other than close relatives). Like I said, in my circles, hugs are common, kisses are not.

 

[RUDisney]

That makes sense. If someone didn't kiss me at my wedding, I'd wonder more about them. We are a kissy bunch in our area.

 

[phantom728]

RUDisney -
We are also from NEPA as well and it seems that everyone in this area are close knit. My family is not from this area, but DH's is and everyone is huggy and kissy. Many of the local employers are small family-owned operations where things are different than in other cities. So I know where you are coming from.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

It still surprises me sometimes, how different things can be in different parts of the country.

I remember one of the few who kissed me saying "I've got to kiss the bride", or something like that, and I was thinking, "I thought the groom was supposed to do that". But then I realized my old boss and one other guy who kissed me were both from the east coast, so I figured it must be more common there. Still freaked me out, though!

 

[phantom728]

One of the most common traditions in our area (besides the chicken dance at every wedding - however not at mine...not a fan) is the bridal dance (again, small wedding didn't do this either), where everyone basically pays a $1 or more to take a whirl around the dance floor with the bride. I've been to weddings with 300 people were this can take 2 hours. They usually hug and kiss the bride before departing to gather around the bride. At the end everyone is surrounding the bride and the groom has to find his way through to the bride, which the crowd doesn't make easy.

I've been told this can be quite exhausting, so it's usually down towards the end of the evening.

 

[RUDisney]

RUDisney -
We are also from NEPA as well and it seems that everyone in this area are close knit. My family is not from this area, but DH's is and everyone is huggy and kissy. Many of the local employers are small family-owned operations where things are different than in other cities. So I know where you are coming from.

You're absolutely right about this area. My DH and I work for the same company. DH's uncle is chairman. My MIL works with her brother and several neices and nephews at another company uncle owns. My DS works at another one with many of the cousins and 2 other uncles. DS wants to have another job at a golf course that his uncle owns and his cousin operates this summer. I need to call another cousin who has an ice cream stand to see if he'll let my sister work for him this summer.

I was on a cruise once with DH. There was a guy in the pool who had a Penn State tatoo. I asked if he went there. He didn't, but he said that he had family from our home town. I asked who they were because everyone knows everybody else around here. Turns out that his cousin graduated with my DH from HS and then he worked with both of us for a while. My DH was his boss. Last year and this year, that guy's DS is in the same class as my DD. IASW, after all.

 

[RUDisney]

I like the bridal dance. I didn't care if anyone tossed any money into the apron. It was a nice way to say goodbye and thank you to all of our guests. Hugs and kisses and all.