Nearly one-third (31%) of advertising and marketing executives say a colleague has tried to make them look bad on the job,according toa recent report fromThe Creative Group.

However, this number is down from 2008, when 50% of executives said a coworker had tried to sabotage them on the job.

The reportwas based on data from surveys of more than 400 U.S. advertising and marketing executives in 2015 and 250 U.S. advertising and marketing executives in 2008.

Some 41% of respondents say the best way to deal with a sabotaging coworker is to confront the person directly; 40% say notifying human resources or the individual's manager is the best approach.

About the research: The report was based on data from surveys of more than 400 U.S. advertising and marketing executives in 2015 and 250 U.S. advertising and marketing executives in 2008.