Presumably the coworkers want to hug him or her but they don't want to be hugged. I've never been in a position to have to turn down a coworker's hug (thankful

Presumably the coworkers want to hug him or her but they don't want to be hugged. I've never been in a position to have to turn down a coworker's hug (thankfully), it seems very odd indeed. Like the GP, I woudln't engage in that sort of physical contact with coworkers.