Managers may find they experience a sudden surge in popularity later this month on National Hug Your Boss day.

Online job board Tiptopjob is encouraging staff to throw caution to the wind, and get up close and personal with their boss on 21 August in a bid to boost workplace motivation and morale.

It claims: “Whatever your situation and however petty and process obsessed your greasy pole climbing, backstabbing boss may occasionally have been…it’s worth remembering that inside there is a human being bursting to get out. Hug your boss and release the office love.”

And despite how it may appear, the Employee Benefits Team has been assured that the campaign has not secretly been funded by an HR lawyer’s association aiming to boost business with more sexual harassment law suits.