Have You Hugged Someone Today?

January 16, 2012 by dkeithoden

People ask me all the time what makes Camden different than other companies. There are a lot of answers, but a big one is that we are huggers. Yes, that’s right. Camden employees hug each other.

Hugging at Camden didn’t start on a particular day – It has always happened. When we see a coworker from another community, city, or office our natural response is to go up to each other and hug. And I’m not talking about the “Hey, I haven’t seen you in 6 months, oh how I’ve missed you” hug. I’m talking about “Hey, I’m glad you’re back from lunch, give me a hug,” hugging. It’s something ingrained in our company’s culture and is an important part of who we are. We have “embraced” our hugging culture in many ways over the years. One example, from our 2001 Management Conference, features Natalie Byars and Bill Sengleman demonstrating how various Departments apply their hugging instincts.

If you are a Camden employee who does not hug that’s okay too, we have remedial hugging classes available. So, on January 21^st, National Hug Day, go out and hug. But remember – only hug the willing!

Posted in Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Corpus Christi, Dallas, DC Metro, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Orange County/Long Beach, Orlando, Phoenix Metro Area, Raleigh/Triangle Area, San Diego, Southeast Florida, St. Louis, Tampa Bay Area | Tagged best place to work, Camden, Hugging, Keith Oden, National Hug Day | 41 Comments

41 Responses

on January 16, 2012 at 4:23 pm | Reply Amanda Dempsey

LOVE IT!! SO FUNNY!!!
on January 16, 2012 at 4:55 pm | Reply Carol Wayne

Let’s get a company-wide group hug going, Camden!
on January 16, 2012 at 5:58 pm | Reply dellajones

So glad you’re blogging! I could just hug you!…
on January 16, 2012 at 8:10 pm | Reply Tonya

Hugging is proven to help you live longer and happier.. Dont be Non-hugger, hug everyone you can.. All you need is a hug!!
on January 16, 2012 at 8:11 pm | Reply Dilcia Perez

So true! We love to hug! Send you a BIG HUG from Las Vegas!
on January 16, 2012 at 8:11 pm | Reply Lynn O

Great blog!! Hugging neds to be int he top 5 initiatives for 2012!
on January 16, 2012 at 8:15 pm | Reply Mike Reece

Got to love the huggin!!!!!!!
on January 16, 2012 at 8:25 pm | Reply Chandria W

Really love this about Camden, Yeah for hugs!!
on January 16, 2012 at 8:35 pm | Reply Randi Teube

Camden is such an awesome and fun place to work!
on January 16, 2012 at 8:36 pm | Reply Mila Sanchez

Priceless!
on January 16, 2012 at 8:38 pm | Reply Tabby

Love it!! Way to go Camden!
on January 16, 2012 at 8:45 pm | Reply Elisa Frankert

Hugging is the best!
on January 16, 2012 at 9:05 pm | Reply Anita

Love this part of our culture in Camden and it’s proven that hugs are contagiious because it’s not just employees who love hugging but our residents come in for hugs and expect them when they come in to pick up mail or just for conversation and coffee what a wonderful “community of people” we are surrounded in Camden nationwide!!!!!”

Thank you Keith for blogging about one of the best parts of Camden Caring People!!!!!
on January 16, 2012 at 9:08 pm | Reply paul parson

” A hug is a great gift – one size fits all, and it’s easy to exchange.”
on January 16, 2012 at 9:09 pm | Reply Yvette Garcia

That’s awesome, I love it!
on January 16, 2012 at 9:25 pm | Reply Mary Wells

I just hugged a prior employee who came by to see me….she loved the hug!!
on January 16, 2012 at 9:29 pm | Reply Valerie Benevidez

My New Leasing Consultant walked in this morning and gave me a hug! It was perfect! I know I hired the right person.
on January 16, 2012 at 10:40 pm | Reply Are “Huggers” Happier? « Simply Camden

[...] ‘hugging’, at least not until we had our own Keith Oden, President at Camden do a guest blog (click here to view) this week. Anyone who works for Camden knows we “break the normal HR [...]
on January 16, 2012 at 10:43 pm | Reply Cindy Fredlund

Great idea, pre-employment hugs – Woohoo!
on January 16, 2012 at 11:00 pm | Reply Shelly Humphreys

Hugalicious!
on January 16, 2012 at 11:09 pm | Reply Rekkita

Virtual hugs to all from the Camden Cove Staff!
on January 16, 2012 at 11:15 pm | Reply Bobbie Davis

Hugs all around. Hugging is how we say Hello, How we say farewell, and how we say everything inbetween.
on January 16, 2012 at 11:22 pm | Reply Patty Mingis

Hugging is Great!!!
on January 17, 2012 at 12:00 am | Reply jess.marmurowski

I love hugs and I love this blog post!
on January 17, 2012 at 12:39 am | Reply Deanna Radulescu

I got my “I love hugs” button on. I love to hug.
on January 17, 2012 at 12:42 am | Reply Elisa Laufmann

If I had a dime for every hug I received at Camden, I would be driving an aston martin! Go Camden!
on January 17, 2012 at 1:15 am | Reply Cindy

WOOHOO!! LOVE IT!!!
on January 17, 2012 at 1:32 am | Reply Laura Baylis

Camden is the best!!!
on January 17, 2012 at 3:08 am | Reply Myra Rega

I love this part of the Camden Culture and thankful to be a part of such a great team!
on January 17, 2012 at 1:57 pm | Reply Blinda Williams

So cute and so true!!
on January 17, 2012 at 2:11 pm | Reply marco carvajal

CAN WE ALL JUST HUG EACH OTHER IT MAKES MY DAY HUGS TOO ALL OF CAMDEN……
on January 17, 2012 at 3:38 pm | Reply Douglas Lombardo

I hugged Rania and then we hugged Sarah. And yes, I will hug more.
on January 17, 2012 at 3:59 pm | Reply Karen Mordue

Four days and counting until “National Hug Day” but for those of us in the regional offices or onsite offices that are closed on Saturday, I propose that we make Friday the “National Day BEFORE National Hug Day” so that we don’t miss out! Thanks Keith & Ric and all our leadership teams for leading by example as great huggers!
on January 17, 2012 at 4:05 pm | Reply mwalker6

I LOVE IT!! Hugs for everyone!!!
on January 17, 2012 at 7:34 pm | Reply Kris

Sending “air hugs” out to everyone!
on January 17, 2012 at 7:40 pm | Reply Heather Beam

Love working for a company that loves to hug!! Camden Rocks!
on January 17, 2012 at 10:47 pm | Reply t keck

Thank, love the blog! i just got my first hug for the day from my CSS after he watched the video!
on January 18, 2012 at 4:13 am | Reply prod2213

Reading this while sitting in my hotel room tonight…Shelley is a few rooms down, but she might not want me to wake her for a hug at this very moment. I will just have to put on a robe and head to the front desk, that guy looks like he could use a Good Old Fashion Camden Hug…
Thanks DKO…so glad to be in this Camden Fam!
on January 18, 2012 at 7:48 pm | Reply Colin Smith

I’m thinking…”Hug Fest 2012″, “Huggapaluza”, “Hug Slam” …possible themes for a Summer Party?
on January 20, 2012 at 12:27 am | Reply Hugs and Bacon… (What it Takes to Stay on the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For List) « Simply Camden

[...] are so many reasons to love working for Camden. The dancing, the hugging, the unexpected year-end [...]
on June 1, 2012 at 2:14 pm | Reply Definitely NOT the Hatfields and McCoys « Simply Camden

[...] the people we work with are more than just coworkers – they are family members. Yes, we are huggers. Yes, we have fun together. And yes, when a Camden family member needs help we are there. [...]