DEAR HARRIETTE: One of my co-workers is a horrible prankster. He describes himself as a jokester, and he's honestly becoming a nuisance to the office. Possibly the worst part of his pranks is that they're too small to be considered real pranks. For example, I'll try to use my stapler, only to discover that the staples have been taken out. Then, I'll hear him snickering. Once, he dropped four packets of sugar into someone's morning coffee. The "pranks" aren't funny; they just cause inconvenience around the workplace.
I'm afraid if I insult his "skills," he'll decide to take his pranking even further. Our boss laughs it off and says that this keeps the workplace lively, but I don't see anything funny about having to discover that he's taken all of the toilet paper from the bathroom and hidden it in a closet. How do I stop this? These mini-pranks are driving me nuts. -- Not Clowning Around, Seattle
DEAR NOT CLOWNING AROUND: Since your boss is complicit in your co-worker's shenanigans, you won't get the support you want from him. The next best step is to ignore this man. When he does something that is annoying, don't let him know that it bothers you. Do your best to act as if you don't even notice this guy. Without an audience, a performer often loses his drive. You can even suggest the same to your fellow co-workers. If all of you refuse to make comments or otherwise allow him to incite you, he may calm down and stop using you as his targets.
If he gets worse, go to human resources and file a complaint. It may seem petty today, but his games may become counterproductive tomorrow.