Bullying in the workplace is a brutal form of psychological intimidation which goes on day after day in several companies, according to a charity.

People are afraid to say they are being bullied at work and use words such as ‘strong management’ and ‘personality clash’ to cover it up, the Andrea Adams Trust, which supports people bullied at work, says.

According to the charity, just over half of bullying victims said they have been attacked for over a year and nearly a quarter have been intimidated for six to 12 months.

Lyn Witheridge, chief executive of the Andrea Adams Trust, said employees are reduced to the state of a frightened child when they are victims.

"The mental and psychological torture is recognised as workplace bullying and is emerging as one of the key employment issues of the day," she added.

In response to the issue, three-quarters of people discussed it with family and friends, a third made a formal complaint and over half started looking for another job.

Women are suffering from sleepless nights due to financial worries and fears about their own and their family’s health, a survey by British United Provident Association shows.