Increasing competition between staff in the work place is "destroying" team spirit as people compete with their own colleagues, according to a survey by Investors in People.

The research found that many of those surveyed blamed managers for "playing" staff against one another, saying team spirit was being destroyed and replaced instead with an atmosphere of mistrust.

It found that more than one in four admit that they competed with their colleagues.

Simon Jones, acting chief executive of Investors in People, says: "There is a balance to be struck between personal progress that supports the business and excessive competition that can undermine it.

"Left unchecked, competition among employees can be divisive, damaging team spirit and breeding a culture of mistrust in the workplace.

"Managers need to be alert to the symptoms, particularly those that suggest employees only have their own interests at heart."