1 in 10 Britons Report Accent Anxiety at Work, With 5% Citing Career Harm
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Aug 23
1 in 10 Britons Report Accent Anxiety at Work, With 5% Citing Career Harm
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Aug 23
Summary
More than 3,300 adults surveyed across England, Scotland and Wales found 10% feel anxious or self-conscious about their accent in high-stakes workplace settings such as business meetings.
Accent-related anxiety was highest among Geordies and Cockneys at 19%, followed by Welsh speakers at 18%, while 13% of Britons said they soften their speech to sound more professional.
About 5% said their accent had cost them a promotion, pay rise or senior role; Brummies were most likely to say so at 13%, and West Country speakers most often reported mockery from colleagues at 15%.
Workers interviewed linked accent bias to assumptions about class and education, while employers and recruiters said hiring is increasingly focused on skills, though they acknowledged progress on accent bias still lags other diversity efforts.