Judging somebody on their accent and their background has long been a problem in UK society. Your accent is an important part of the way in which you are perceived by others and it can be a barrier to social mobility. In a recent survey, up to 25% of people still report discrimination due to their accent. So what is accent bias and how can we prevent it in the modern workplace?
Definition and background of accent bias
Accent bias demonstrates itself by targeting and prejudicing people, simply by the way they speak. Accents can be negatively used to signify what part of the country somebody comes from, how well off they are perceived to be, and what their background might be. They can also be closely linked to the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 such as race, sexuality or gender. Recent research by the Sutton Trust entitled ‘Speaking Up, Accents and Social Mobility‘ has shown that problems with accent bias are still very much present in the UK today.
Historically, accents that were seen as being ‘Received Pronunciation’ or speaking using ‘BBC’ or ‘Queen’s English’ was the accent to aspire to in many positions of power such as the civil service, courtrooms, corporate or business settings and politics. Having an ‘RP’ accent also meant that you were seen to belong to a more affluent socio-economic group, whereas a northern accent from areas such as Liverpool, Birmingham or Manchester was associated with being from a working-class background.
How does accent bias affect people?
As shown in the results of the Speaking Up report, accent bias can cause anxiety and distress throughout a lifetime. 35% of university students approaching the end of their degrees and facing the prospect of gaining graduate employment reported being self-conscious of their accent. Students also reported being criticised, singled out or mocked due to their accents, especially if they were from the Midlands or North of England. These students were also genuinely concerned that this accent bias could affect them gaining employment opportunities and their ability to succeed in a professional business environment.
Accent bias in the modern workplace
The Speaking Up report clearly showed that accent bias is still very much a concern. 25% of employees reported being singled out, mocked or criticised due to their accent and 21% of people in senior or management roles were worried that their accent could affect their chances of promotion or progression. A very worrying 29% of senior management from a working-class background also reported being mocked for their accent, compared to 22% of people from a more middle-class or affluent background. If an employee is discriminated against or dismissed because of their accent, this could lead to a constructive dismissal claim. You can find out more at resources such as https://www.employmentlawfriend.co.uk/constructive-dismissal and firms of this type can help and advise.
Recommendations for tackling accent bias in the workplace
Tackling accent bias should be a priority issue in the modern workplace and actions should be taken to ensure that any discrimination is dealt with quickly and effectively. In addition, training should be put in place for recruiters and employers so that they can reduce accent bias whilst interviewing and look to improve the diversity and socioeconomic range of employees in the organisation.
