I have a coworker who is always sick whenever she comes in. I've never seen her healthy..she's always coughing and complaining about some illness she got. Then she gives people hugs and we all get it. I'm not sure if she's doing it on purpose or is just being "friendly" with no regard for other people's health. I've tried a lot of things to get her to get the message that I don't like being hugged without coming off as mean, but she just comes up and hugs people without warning.
Be blunt. Tell her, "If you hug me one more time, I am going to knock your front teeth out!" OK, maybe that is too blunt.
How have you been asking her to stop?
Tell her to not hug you. Every time she hugs you, you get sick. You don't want anymore of her germs.
If she is special needs, you will need to get a manager involved sooner. If not a special needs, try above approach first, then get the store manager involved. It borders on harassment if she doesn't stop after you have told her to.
Hugging is not appropriate in the work place unless it is for something special. A daily hug is not appropriate.
As for getting sick, the best places to get sick is where a lot of sick people visit. Hospital, school and a grocery store. Her immune system might be out of whack if she is catching everything that comes in the door. If she touches the time clock, then everyone afterwards has a chance to catch the virus. All you can do is try to keep hands clean and hope for best.
I wouldn't be mean to her. I had a courtesy clerk that always used to hug me. In the summer. When it was over 100 degrees outside. He was covered in sweat. Gross. I said "Roy, don't you dare hug me while you're all sweaty" and I smiled. He was fine with it. Just tell her YOU are afraid you are coming down with something and you don't want HER to catch it. Or just politely say "I don't like being hugged, nothing personal, I'm just not a touchy feely kinda guy".
