One in four have accents mocked at work - survey

Almost half of UK workers have had their accents mocked, criticised or singled out in a social setting, a survey suggests.

Researchers found 46% of workers have faced jibes about their accents, with 25% reporting jokes at work.

An entrenched "hierarchy of accent" caused social anxiety throughout some people's lives, the report concluded.

They said those with northern English or Midlands accents were more likely to worry about the way they spoke.

Many of those who were mocked for the way they spoke admitted anxiety over their future career prospects because of perceived prejudiced attitudes, said the research, which was carried out by Professor Devyani Sharma from Queen Mary University London and funded by Sutton Trust.

Concerns over accents were most pronounced in university settings, with 35% of students admitting to feeling self-conscious about the way they spoke.

Among students, another 30% of respondents said they had experienced being mocked, criticised or singled out for their manner of speaking. Such experiences were especially pronounced among students from northern England.

And 31% of university attenders indicated that they were worried that their accents could have a negative impact on their future careers.

But such concerns fell among professionals (just 8%), with the report noting that this indicated "some effort in workplaces, though less in education, to attend to the risk of accent-based bias".

The report, conducted by academics from the Accent Bias in Britain project, found that attitudes over accents remained largely unchanged over time, with respondents admitting to having a more favourable view of the traditional Received Pronunciation - or RP - sound.

Jibes and mocking - but for others a 'gift'

Jessie Aru-Phillips has a one-year-old son and says whatever accent he grows up with, she will "teach him to be proud of it"

Ben Jones, a teacher from Stockport who went to university in Oxford and Durham, tells BBC Radio 5 Live he experienced prejudice from his peers and tutors.

"I remember in my first year going to a study group where, classic Oxford, they brought out some wine as we were reading. The tutor implied I should be a waiter because I was northern and would have had experience handing wine out at events."

Chris Lumley from Yorkshire says he thinks the survey underestimated the issue of jibes. "Throughout my career, [I've] had jibes about accent and dialect. And, on top of that, many stereotypical jokes about the Yorkshireman being tight with his money".

But others say their accent has been an advantage. Marcus Bentley, the voice of reality TV show Big Brother, has a famously Geordie accent and says he was hired because of his accent.

"Channel 4 loved the way I said 'chickens'," he says, "it's a ridiculous way to get a job."

He admits having an "aversion" to "really posh voices", saying it shows everybody can "be a little bit biased".

Meanwhile, presenter and producer Jessie Aru-Phillips hails from Liverpool and says her accent sets her apart from everybody else.

"I've been mocked loads in my career," she says, but adds she "gives what she gets" back.

Broadcaster Adrian Chiles tells the BBC Radio 4's Today programme his Brummie accent was an advantage for him.

"From my point of view, it was to my advantage because people always underestimated me."

And Labour MP Jess Phillips says "one of the things that we have to do is be able to communicate with people and actually I think my accent has been my greatest gift".

Meanwhile, accents "commonly stereotyped as 'working-class accents'" like those from Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham - as well as Afro-Caribbean and Indian accents - all ranked lower.

Senior managers from working-class backgrounds were consequently far more likely to worry that their accents could be barriers to their progression, with 29% highlighting such concerns compared to 22% from a "better off background".

"It is normal for humans to have stereotypical associations with accents," the researchers said. "However, if left unchecked, these biases and stereotypes can be used to judge independent skills and abilities, leading to discriminatory behaviour."

For the research, 511 university applicants (largely 17-18 year olds) were surveyed, as well as 1,029 university students, 1,014 early-career professionals and 1,002 later career professionals.

Responding to the findings, Sir Peter Lampl, founder and chairman of the Sutton Trust, said it is "disgraceful that people are mocked, criticised or singled out" for how they spoke.

Sir Peter also warned that the prevalence of RP English "being the dominant accent of those in positions of authority" risked created a "hierarchy of accent prestige" in the UK.