I’ve worked in multiple companies—some online, and some in an office. Call centers, ad agencies, and a client-side corporate company. Through the years, I’ve experienced working with all types of people, with all sorts of personalities and behaviors that aren’t always acceptable.

Recently, something—or someone—made me think about this question: Who would you rather work with—someone who grabs credit but doesn’t tell on your mistakes, or someone who gives credit where it’s due but throws you under the bus when you make a mistake?

I mean, neither of them is an ideal co-worker or colleague, but I’m talking about choosing the lesser evil.

In my experience, knowing I’m always at the top of my game—and usually untouchable because of how diligent, hardworking, and collaborative I am—people, especially the big bosses, tend to give me the benefit of the doubt. So this isn’t really a major issue for me.

I also tend to speak up when something’s off, not working in my favor, or when someone tries to backstab me.

But I’m talking about people in general. The ones who can’t or don’t want to speak up because the person doing the credit-grabbing or blame-shifting is someone higher up—or worse, their direct supervisor.

I’d probably pick the person who steals the credit but doesn’t throw you under the bus. I can always make it known that it was a team effort or clarify who truly deserves the recognition. My reasoning is they’re probably just after looking good or trying to “belong.”

The blame-shifter, in my opinion, is worse between the two, because that’s someone I can’t and won’t trust—especially if they don’t even bother talking to you about the issue first.

Blame-shifters are usually liars, too. Or they’re the ones who act nice when you’re around, but backstab you the moment you’re gone. In short, they don’t have integrity—and I don’t want to work with people like that.

When I say blame-shifters or people who throw you under the bus, I mean those officemates who either blame you for mistakes that aren’t yours, or tell on you the moment you mess up. And we all know a simple mistake can sound like a big deal when told by someone whose goal is to bring you down—or take your place.

So that’s it. I’d rather work with the credit grabber than the backstabbing blame-shifter. How about you?