Nearly a third of office workers in the UK admit to arguing with colleagues at least once a week, a new report suggests.

According to the international law firm Eversheds, around 60 per cent of office workers in the UK's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) think that workplace conflict is not good for business. Still, 30.7 per cent said they argue with co-workers on a regular basis.

However, the data also showed that over half (54 per cent) of SME workers in the country actively try to avoid conflict, perhaps by sending emails rather than confronting a colleague face to face.

"This research highlights two important issues for businesses - firstly the need to manage conflict in the workplace and also the need to address the apparent fear among workers to feedback on bad performance in case it leads to conflict," explained Martin Warren, head of employment law at Eversheds.

"Conflict that is left unchecked could lead to cases of bullying, harassment and stress, which could all result in litigation.

"Equally serious for businesses is the finding that employees, particularly junior managers, don't like challenging colleagues on their performance in case it causes conflict."

A recent study by Plantronics showed that email use in SME offices has soared in recent years, a people send messages to avoid these office conflicts.