More than 44% of managers claimed to have been bullied in the last year, according to a major survey of experiences of work among 2,300 people.

The 24-7 survey, carried out by the Work Life Balance Centre alongside Coventry University, found bullying was most likely in telecoms, IT, engineering, transport and HE, and least likely in business services, schools, manufacturing and retail.

The research found bullies are most likely to be found in the South-West, Yorkshire/Humberside and Greater London and are least likely in Wales, the South-East and West Midlands.

Employees at organisations with between 250-1,000 or over 5,000 staff claim to have been most affected and12% of people reported being bullied by other colleagues rather than by a manager.

The survey also reported that men were just as likely as women to be sexually harassed by their manager.

Denise Skinner, professor of human resource management at Coventry University, said: "In looking at the issues of bullying and racial and sexual harassment we found the vast majority of instances to go unreported, which is a situation that needs to be improved. Younger workers, and those in the industry sectors we have identified, seem especially vulnerable and more needs to be done to ensure they feel able to come forward and speak out about what has happened.

"Improvements also need to be made in the way people are treated when they ask for help with work life balance issues. Less than a third of those who asked their employer for help found it effective while a quarter found the support to be ineffective with a further 13.9% finding it made things worse."