What was ever wrong with the handshake? USA Today reports the fist bump, yes, that fist bump – the one made famous by domestic beer commercial characters and the Obamas, among others – has finally broken into the ranks of the business world. Most popular with young professional males, fist bumping has come to replace the handshake with increasing frequency. One company president interviewed claims he now encounters a fist bump as much as twice a month. Twice a month? Really?

While the handshake is still the norm in business dealings, I dread the day am curious to see if this fist bump trend catches on. Should I encounter it (which I inevitably will after writing this, because that’s how my world operates), social politeness and general human decency will force me to participate, I’m afraid, but I can guarantee I’ll be gritting my teeth and dying on the inside the entire time. (I prefer to hold out for the day the fist bump is replaced by the face slap, as demonstrated in this Bud Light commercial.)

For more workplace trends that actually belong in the workplace, check out Challenger, Gray & Christmas’ list of the 10 workplace trends of the future. It’s an interesting list, and we’ve already seen several of these items – such as four-day work weeks, massive outsourcing, and social networking as a recruiting tool – become common in more and more companies lately.

What do you think? Is Challenger accurate in its predictions? What other workplace trends to you foresee? And how does your stomach sit with fist bumping? Do you agree with me, or am I being a handshake snob?