Is your boss demanding hand shakes unreasonable?

[DrZoidberg]

Do you work with Muslims? Some--not all, but some--are quite strict about contact between non-related persons of the opposite sex who are not marital partners. Others are not. I've known one or two who became much more conservatively religious and who, while previously being much more open/Western in their attitudes to handshaking adopted a more strict stance, in those cases, after a serious life event that motivated a change in their religious adherence. Everyone where I worked simply accepted the change without taking any offense. At any given time, our relatively small office was staffed by people from upwards of 10 different nationalities and within nationalities, there was a variety of religious practices. Plus, our purpose was dealing with the international community which was quite large and diverse.

It is more than possible to respect other's religious or personal preferences for physical contact without taking or causing offense and to conduct fruitful, respectful professional relationships. Indeed, the international community operates this way as a matter of course.

This is exactly what I'm talking about when I mean racism of low expectations. Or liberal superiority complex, (over conservatives). The West today is multi-cultural. Monocultures are gone from the west. This means, that in the west, if you are culturally inflexible, you are an asshole. If you belong to a minority culture within the culture and demand that everybody adapt to the way you do things, you're not only an asshole, but also an idiot.

Which I totally support. I fully support anybody to behave in any way they want. But liberalism isn't a thought police. In the liberal paradigm it gives everybody the right to judge anybody for anything, are encouraged to do so, and have a right to their judgement.

Refraining from shaking hands today will communicate that they're culturally insensitive and inflexible. If that's their plan, they'd better be rich. Because I guarantee that they'll meet people who won't put up with it. Like people who want less focus on extraneous bullshit, and more focus on getting a job done. Which will be every employer we'd want to work for. Because they're more likely to stay in bussiness.

Religious people aren't retarded children whose feelings need to be doted on because of their specialness. An adult human being is capable of holding several thoughts at once in their heads. For example, that different people believe different things.

 

[DrZoidberg]

When it comes to greetings there's a hierarchy. Whoever is trying to impress the other is the one who adapts. So sales people always adapts to whatever the cultural norms of the person they are greeting. In a job interview the applicant adapts to the norms of the boss. Unless it's a headhunting situation, then the roles are reversed.

These aren't rules that I made up, nor arbitrary. These rules stem naturally from the fact that there are power imbalances in our world. If you want something from a person in a position of power and you're demanding them to adapt to you... then you've fundamentally misunderstood how power works. You want what they have. Not the other way around. This is as old as the seasons.

If you are thinking about hiring somebody for a job, it would be really great if the person, in the interview, tacitly (and explicitly) signalls that they're a team player and willing to do what it takes, and isn't going to be difficult. If they don't, you probably won't give them the job. That's not racism. Being brown is not a free pass to get away with being an idiot. Being able to show cultural sensitivity and flexibility might be one such thing you are judged on.

Handshakes is a pretty low bar to cross. If they can't even bring themselves to do that, imagine what else they're going to be a pain in the ass about?

And of course, greetings between equals mean both must be able to show they are willing to adapt to the other. Or they will both risk coming across as being a dick.

 

[Koyaanisqatsi]

When it comes to greetings there's a hierarchy.

So sayeth we all, amen.

Whoever is trying to impress the other is the one who adapts. So sales people always adapts to whatever the cultural norms of the person they are greeting.

Iow, kiss ass because they want the sale.

In a job interview the applicant adapts to the norms of the boss.

So sayeth we all, amen.

These aren't rules that I made up

They are most definitely made up. You aren't relevant.

nor arbitrary.

They are entirely arbitrary, but that's beside the point. It is the COMPANY POLICY that is at issue.

If you want something from a person in a position of power and you're demanding them to adapt to you... then you've fundamentally misunderstood how power works.

Clearly not, as the power you are referring to is in the hands of the Court, not the Company.

If you are thinking about hiring somebody for a job, it would be really great if the person, in the interview, tacitly (and explicitly) signalls that they're a team player

She did.

and willing to do what it takes, and isn't going to be difficult.

Bullshit and you know it. Again, the exact same sophistry could be applied to sexual assault/harassment.

Company's do not have the power. Courts do. Deal with it.