The future of the handshake is perilous. Since the ascension of COVID in the year 2020, social distancing has become the new norm, and this means no more handshakes. What once used to be the gold standard of business salutation has now been relegated to the domain of unsanitary behaviour.

The handshake began in Ancient Greece as a symbol of peace: it showed that neither party was holding any weapons. Until six months ago, it had been used as a sign of salutary respect in most of the Western World and its use had been growing as globalization had pushed people to adopt the cultures of others as a way to strengthen ties.

Its counterpart, the bow, used as professional salutation in many Asian cultures such as Japan and China, has a much more varied history. Not solely reserved for greetings but also a way of showing respect, deference, and ceremony. Bowing is used in religious ceremonies, martial arts, theatre, the court, and many other contexts. There is no one culture that lays claim to the bow, its use is widespread and diverse. Perhaps, bowing will overtake the handshake in the Western World, it is already widely acknowledged in many international business settings.

Fast-forward to the 21st century, and we are witnessing the brutal death of the handshake. This seems only natural considering that social distancing has become so widely practised, many jobs are now undertaken remotely, and people generally feel unsafe coming into contact with others. Opportunities to meet people physically is at an all-time low, and everyone is worried about contracting the generation-defining virus or passing it on to a loved one. Shaking hands is not exactly a priority in these trying times.

So, the big question is: will the handshake disappear? I would argue that it will not. There have been similar pandemics in the past, and they have not made the handshake obsolete. We may be entering a brave new world, but once a vaccine is produced or some other solution is found, people will be enthusiastic to get back to some form of normalcy, to some form of familiarity, to some form of tradition. I predict that following the production and introduction of a vaccine en masse, things such as the handshake, wearing more formal attire (such as ties), and other formalities will come back en vigeur. I, for one, am tired of no longer being able to put on my finer wear and having to see my suits gather dust in my closet. I don’t think I’m alone either. The tried and true acts of our society give us comfort in their structure, and when we all get back to business as usual, it’s going to be a pleasure to clasp hands before getting down to work.