That's why HR departments exist? Jeeze. And here I was thinking it was to create a line of obfuscatory defence between employees and management :P /in all se

That's why HR departments exist? Jeeze. And here I was thinking it was to create a line of obfuscatory defence between employees and management :P /in all seriousness though, approaching HR with a complaint against a workmate is just as likely to get YOU in trouble and make work for you as it is to actually work in your favour. If you're going to approach HR, please please please do it with a bit of knowledge about how it works in your company, and not just because you believed the spiel they delivered during orientation about being there to serve you. (hint: Unless you're their boss, you are not the one that HR serves).