'I didn't speak the Queen's English': Why people worry about their accents

Key Points:

• A recent poll by More in Common reveals that accent bias remains a significant issue in the UK workplace, with one in ten people feeling anxious about their accent in professional settings, especially in business meetings.
• The survey highlights that individuals with Geordie, Cockney, and Welsh accents experience the highest levels of accent-related anxiety, with some respondents believing their accent has hindered career advancement, particularly among Brummies.
• Accent mockery is prevalent, especially for those with West Country and Geordie accents, and many individuals admit to softening their accents to sound more professional, indicating ongoing pressure to conform linguistically in the workplace.
• Common Ground founder Lara Newman emphasizes that accents often imply class and education levels, creating barriers for people from disadvantaged backgrounds, while career experts advocate for embracing accents as part of personal identity and workplace diversity.
• Foreign accents also pose challenges in job hunting, as experienced by Czech-born Benjamin Aidomoan, underscoring the need for employers to focus on skills and attitude rather than accent, with some progress being made toward inclusivity in hiring practices.