The Way You Speak Could Determine Whether You Get Sent on Business Trips, According to a Survey
According to a recent survey conducted by SAP Concur, nearly one in five workers worldwide believe that they have been passed over for business trips due to the way they speak. The survey included 3,850 business travelers from 25 different markets. The results showed that 18% of men and 16% of women felt that their accents limited their opportunities for work travel, regardless of their level of seniority or the costs involved. The survey revealed that this issue was most prevalent in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in Australia/New Zealand, Taiwan, and Singapore/Malaysia.
The survey also found that more people believed their accents impacted their work travel opportunities compared to their physical appearance, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. This suggests that accent bias is a significant factor in determining who gets chosen for business trips.
One former marketing manager, known as Shan, shared her experience with . She revealed that her department at a global tech company would select speakers for events in the Asia-Pacific region based on their accents. Shan explained that they wanted speakers who were easily understandable to the audience. However, she acknowledged that this information was not explicitly communicated to the speakers.
The idea of one accent being easier to understand than another is subjective, according to Tracey Derwing, an educational psychology professor at the University of Alberta. Derwing explained that a listener’s native language influences their ability to comprehend different accents. For example, English and Dutch speakers can understand each other fairly easily due to the similarities between their languages. On the other hand, Vietnamese and English are quite different, making it challenging for Vietnamese speakers to perceive certain English sounds.
Derwing also emphasized that accent bias goes beyond communication. Some people have negative reactions to accents, and employers are aware of this. They may choose not to send someone on a business trip simply because of their accent, even if they are fully capable and easy to understand.
Regina Kim, an assistant professor of management at Fairfield University’s Dolan School of Business, explained that it is not surprising that accents play a role in determining business travel. Companies want to send representatives who can best represent the firm, and research suggests that someone with an accent might not be the ideal choice. In the United States, individuals who speak General American English or Broadcast English, which are considered accent-free, are seen as having “no accent.” Some companies even offer accent reduction classes to help individuals overcome cultural biases and boost professional opportunities.
Accent bias is even more pronounced for speakers with non-English mother tongues. Regardless of their competence levels, non-native speakers are often perceived negatively. They are viewed as less intelligent, less loyal, less trustworthy, and less competent. As a result, they are less likely to be hired, assigned lower status jobs, and earn less.
Leadership specialist Ritu Bhasin highlighted the existence of an “accent hierarchy” in today’s globalized world. Accents from certain English-speaking countries, such as Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States, are considered more prestigious. On the other hand, Asian accents, regardless of the specific country, tend to be treated less favorably due to racism and negative stereotypes.
The presence and severity of accent bias in the workplace can vary depending on the industry, location, and company culture. For example, workers with French, Italian, Spanish, or German accents may be more accepted in Europe, where these accents are common. However, they might feel more self-conscious working for companies in the United States.
The survey conducted by SAP Concur also revealed that Europeans were the least likely to feel that their accents impacted their business trip opportunities. This finding suggests that accent bias can be influenced by national stereotypes associated with different accents.
Overall, accent bias is a significant issue that affects individuals’ opportunities for work travel. Employees with accents often have to work harder to gain respect and may even invest their own money in accent reduction classes to improve their communication skills. In the second part of ‘s coverage on accent bias in the workplace, they will explore the controversy surrounding “accent reduction classes” and ways that employers can reduce accent discrimination.
