We’ve launched the world’s first “Cuddle a Co-worker” event to provide a unique alternative to the standard team building exercises you’ll normally find…the event lasts an entire working day and involves co-workers cuddling in a “relaxation tent” designed to reduce stress and encourage team bonding…skin on skin contact…promotes Oxytocin and Serotonin release. Oxytocin has physical and psychological effects on the brain, including influencing social behaviour and emotion, whilst Serotonin is the hormone which allows humans to feel happiness…co-workers will be required to cuddle each other in a variety of different positions and will need to switch partners every two hours – so that you have a chance to bond with everyone…there will also be a group cuddling session, as well as a conflict resolution cuddle session…
https://www.teamtactics.co.uk/blog/2018/08/13/cuddle-a-co-worker-team-building-fancy-it/
Sexual harassment
Sure, being forced to do this is gender neutral and “not because of sex” but how can this not encourage sexual harassment? “It’s okay to spend two hours (TWO HOURS!) cuddling with Stacy in accounting, but other than that, it’s not okay to touch her!” No, no, no. But Stacy gave consent, you say! Well, her boss told her to, which changes the whole dynamic. No.
Pressure
Maybe someone’s been sexually harassed in the past. Maybe someone doesn’t like to be touched. Maybe, just maybe, no one in their right mind would want to do this at work, but there’s pressure to participate. You should never, ever pressure anyone to cuddle with anyone else. Heck, I even support this Swedish court decision that said you couldn’t force someone to shake hands. And speaking of that, up next…
Religion
There are plenty of people whose religious beliefs prohibit them from cuddling with members of the opposite sex to whom they are not married. It would make me uncomfortable as heck, and I would say no, even though there is no specific “thou shalt not cuddle with a co-worker” commandment. Other religions may (and do) have prohibitions against even touching members of the opposite sex. And you do not want to get into a discussion “Gee, Bob, you’re saying this is against your religion, but you go to the same church Steve does, and he’s already cuddling!”
And if you limited it to same-sex cuddling, you’ve got discrimination problems, and it doesn’t take the sexual harassment potential away. I’m getting twitchy just thinking about all these problems.
Save your cuddling for date night–with your non-co-worker date. Let’s stick to team building activities that don’t make people feel icky.
