Germans Say Nein to Kissing at Work

It may be common in France, but a kiss on the cheek has no place in Germany, says the Knigge Society, a group that advises on social behavior and etiquette. It says it has received numerous complaints on the subject, and wants to remind Germans to stick with a handshake—and observe a "social distance zone" of 23 inches, reports the BBC. "We can't forbid [kissing in the workplace]," said the Knigge Society chairman. "But we have to protect people who don't want to be kissed."

The group, which has already given its recommendations on how to react to a runny nose in public, also suggests "that if people don't mind it, they announce it with a little paper message placed on their desk." (More Germany stories.)