Accent bias continues to influence how people experience work in the UK, according to a new study. One in seven people with a regional dialect report hearing negative comments about the way they speak (13%) or having their accent mimicked by a recruiter or hiring manager (13%).
The research, from insurer Zurich UK, indicates that negative experiences linked to accent are not uncommon. More than a third of people with a regional accent say they feel judged because of how they speak at work (36%), while three in ten feel pressure to change or soften their accent in order to sound “more professional” (31%).
Accent Anxiety
As a result, 16% say they experience “accent anxiety”, which stops them from speaking up in the workplace. One in seven respondents (14%) say they have taken elocution lessons to avoid judgement.
There is also evidence that accent bias can affect confidence and progression. One in five respondents believe their accent has held them back in their career (19%) and made them feel less intelligent than their peers (also 19%). Nearly a quarter feel most self-conscious about their accent at work (23%), while around a third say people have made assumptions about their character or ability to do their job based on how they sound (32%).
Attitudes towards accents appear to have changed little over time. Accent Bias Britain research shows that Received Pronunciation continues to be viewed as the most professional way of speaking, despite wider awareness of accent bias.
The Cost of Unconscious Bias
In a survey of 2,000 adults, Received Pronunciation or Standard Southern British was rated the most suitable accent for the workplace by 76% of respondents, followed by the Edinburgh accent at 61%.
Welsh accents were rated suitable by 53%, Yorkshire and Northern Irish by 49%, Manchester by 47%, West Country by 46%, Newcastle by 43%, Glasgow by 42% and Birmingham by 37%. Liverpool and London Cockney were viewed as the least professional, at 35% and 32% respectively.
Steve Collinson, Chief HR and Sustainability Officer at Zurich UK, said, “As a proud Mancunian, I wear my heritage with pride. It’s disappointing that many of those with an accent feel that they can’t bring their authentic selves to work. When people feel the need to hold back or mask who they are, you never truly see their best as they remain guarded and in survival mode, rather than able to thrive.
“Those with more traditionally accepted and ‘polished’ accents may not always realise how different colleagues with stronger regional accents experience the workplace. That’s why education matters. We need to help people recognise unconscious bias, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where every voice – whatever the accent – is respected and valued.”