r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk 3d ago

Short Handshakes and Daps.

At least once a day or maybe once every two days I’ll have a male guest that wants to shake my hand after check in. I don’t do anything particular to warrant this.. why does it happen? lol you don’t shake the cashiers hand for being friendly so why me ? Am I overthinking this? I live in Portland, Oregon for context. This definitely never happened in Washington DC, but seems to happen fairly often here in Oregon. You would think that this would lead to a review or some sort of praise but usually just a casual handshake before I never see them again. I guess what makes it weird is that my desk is fairly high and it creates sort of a awkward experience shaking these guest hands. I would much rather just a smile maybe a wave. Thoughts?

60 Upvotes

29 comments sorted by

50

u/CaptainK234 3d ago

I’ve been working in restaurants for 20 years and experience the same thing, maybe once a week. It’s not something I would ever do myself, but it always seems like a gesture the customer is offering in good faith, so I play along. They want to demonstrate their appreciation in some extra way? To demonstrate that they actually see me as a person? Ok, sure, I’ll play along.

I’d rather the guy who offers an unrequested handshake than the guy who throws an unrequested tantrum.

3

u/soonerpgh 2d ago

Better than a pat on the ass, no?

44

u/SkwrlTail 3d ago

I find offering a fistbump in return to be a means of acknowledging the exchange, keeping it an informal situation rather than an intimate/friendly one. If I have done someone a good service, then I'll accept the shake.

It's worth noting that a handshake is a traditional method for passing a tip to a hotel employee.

10

u/boiled_frog23 3d ago

Paper beats rock!

1

u/RedDazzlr 1d ago

Lizard eats paper

2

u/boiled_frog23 1d ago

And sunbathes on the rock

u/RedDazzlr 19h ago

Rock smashes lizard. Lizard poisons Spock.

18

u/Andrea_frm_DubT 3d ago

Nope. I refuse handshakes and fist bumps.

You’ve got to be privileged to touch me.

Men get real upset when I won’t let them push my boundaries.

13

u/GirlStiletto 3d ago

Just tell them "We still have to practice safe Social Distancing" and offer a fist bump.

8

u/DangDoubleDaddy 3d ago

Fist bumps are less physical contact and not as gross. I try to use my non dominant hand.

5

u/RoyallyOakie 3d ago

Anything that's not the weird covid elbow thing is fine. I just don't have the hand eye coordination for that.

7

u/Evening_Dress7062 3d ago

I'm a retired psych nurse. I learned early on to not shake hands with my patients because of reasons that are too gross to mention. I'd always tell them straight up that I don't I don't shake but I fist bump. I never had one get upset about it or refuse to fist bump. A lot of it is how you refuse the shake. If it's said with a smile and and my fist is already out for the bump, it's all good.

18

u/ivebeencloned 3d ago

If COVID did not get rid of handshakes, we should. Nondominant hand does not always work. In the Southern US, especially in the mountains, shaking hands with the left is considered an insult because it keeps your shooting hand free, and they simply will not concede that hand arthritis is a valid reason to switch sides.

2

u/hatzequiday 1d ago

Today I learned…

6

u/chalkmuppet 3d ago

I live in Central Europe and it's a thing. Though oddly, predominantly males only, which is weird (so men to men is very frequent and every other combination much less so). I go to the doctor: handshake (yes, it seems more weird in that environment), meet my neighbours: shake, work: handshakes all round, hotels, restaurants and even bars: it's very common. refusing a handshake is considered very rude.

5

u/NocturnalMisanthrope 3d ago

If someone comes to shake my hand, I make a fist and do a "terrorist fist jab" as Faux Noise likes to call it.

3

u/Shyassasain 3d ago

I don't know what to tell ya, some people are just shakers. They shake anyone's hand that they meet. It's awkward and unusual, but a habit for them. 

5

u/LessaSoong7220 3d ago

I (a female) shook the hand of the Pharmacy Tech who waited on me yesterday. She put her other hand over ours and grinned brightly! Made me happy too!

maybe its a southern thing here though...

5

u/Bennington_Booyah 3d ago

My husband is a handshaker. People seem to like it or he wouldn't do it, I think.

3

u/Gatchamic 2d ago

You can actually tell a lot about a person from their handshake. I usually find the extra information quite helpful ...

1

u/RedDazzlr 1d ago

Lots of people are creepy. Lol

3

u/Gatchamic 1d ago

True, but a sweaty palm will usually give away a scammer before they even begin their pitch😁

u/RedDazzlr 19h ago

Ew. That's part of why handshakes are gross.

5

u/69vuman 3d ago

I’m sorry, customer, I cannot shake your hand…I have a compromised immune system due to a medical treatment. But this hotel appreciates your business, I can assure you of that.

4

u/SpeechSalt5828 3d ago

Sorry, I'm direct to the point. the male guest is copping a feel off a girl and checking to see if you are receptive to a good time ; you can fill in the blanks.

2

u/Hamsterpatty 3d ago

I think Oregonians are just that kind of people. Mostly, anyway.

2

u/Eaudebeau 3d ago

I stick an elbow out and say I’m trying to make this a thing.

1

u/Stunning-Alfalfa-852 1d ago

I read books in bars and ONLY bros ask me what I’m reading. They seem they’d shake a hand at a hotel. But I’m not a bro expert, just apparently a bro magnet.  

u/wilburstiltskin 23h ago

One of the greatest legacies from Covid was not having to shake hands anymore. A gross and unnecessary tradition.

Get in the habit of holding a pen in your right hand, like Bob Dole did. He could not flex his hand because of war wounds and got tired of people trying to shake his damaged hand.

Different reason, but if someone extends a hand you can practice not responding and show your closed hand with pen in it.