The minute you are afraid to engage with someone at work because you feel that they will respond in a reactive way, you have a problem. Although working in a comfortable environment where you aren't belittled seems like something very basic, not everyone has that pleasure. Some people's coworkers, especially ones that are working at a company for a long time, feel like they get a free pass to be an AH. Lord knows why… We tend to make fun of HR a lot, for a number of reasons, but when they actua…