So far my tactics have centered around ignoring them and setting boundaries if we are forced to work together. If they try to be nice and pry into my life, I just lie. Currently I have a co-worker who is the definition of death by a thousand cuts. Ignoring his behavior results in months of that behavior. Telling him that it was funny the first two weeks, but now he needs to stop, also doesn't work. I'm not going to go to hr even though his behavior has a negative effect on productivity. my tactic with him is to repeat whatever he does to me. Put garbage on my desk every night for months? Now you get all the garbage back. Interrupt me a million times to ask stupid questions? I'm going to need to know how old your aunt is when you are in the middle of a very time sensitive project. Hr cannot help you unless you have wandered into lawsuit territory. Hr is offense, the lawyers are defense. Keep yourself out of HR as much as possible.