Accent, no ability: A third feel pressure to sound ‘professional’ at work

A new study from insurer Zurich UK has revealed that more than a third of people with a regional accent feel judged for it at work (36%), with three in ten saying they feel the need to change or soften their accent in the office to sound ‘more professional’ (31%).

One in seven (14%) have even gone as far as taking elocution lessons to avoid judgement.

The findings show that accent bias remains a real issue in UK workplaces. One in seven people with a regional dialect have heard negative comments about the way they speak (13%) or have had their accent mimicked by a recruiter or hiring manager (13%). As a result, 16% suffer from ‘accent anxiety’ which prevents them from speaking up at work.

Most alarmingly, 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 in the workplace (23%), while a third felt people made assumptions about their character or job capability based on how they sound (32%).

Which accents are considered ‘suitable’ for work?

Accent Bias Britain research shows attitudes to accents are largely unchanged from 50 years ago. Received Pronunciation (RP) continues to be seen as the most ‘professional’ accent, despite growing awareness of accent bias.

In a survey of 2,000 adults, Received Pronunciation or Standard Southern British was rated the most suitable for the workplace (76%), followed by the Edinburgh lilt (61%). In contrast, the Liverpool (35%) and London Cockney (32%) accents were viewed as the least professional.

The most professional or ‘suitable for the workplace’ accents, according to UK adults:

1. Received Pronunciation – 76%
2. Edinburgh – 61%
3. Welsh – 53%
4. Yorkshire – 49%
5. Northern Irish – 49%
6. Manchester – 47%
7. West Country – 46%
8. Newcastle – 43%
9. Glasgow – 42%
10. Birmingham – 37% 
11. Liverpool – 35%
12. London (Cockney) – 32% 

You can read more about the Accent Bias Britain research here.

And more about Social Mobility on Empower Up here.

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Photo by Cherrydeck on Unsplash