The Expense of Accent Anxiety: 1 in 5 Workers Feel Judged for Their Accent, Costing American Businesses Millions in Lost Productivity Annually
Published: 15/04/2025
New workplace and language study shows:
● Top earners spend 2+ hours daily on accent anxiety, worth $25K / year
● 24% of Americans view multilingual hiring requirements as discriminatory
● 25% of workers have experienced safety risks due to language barriers
● 43% of multilingual workers earn at least $5K extra each year
New York, NY, April 15, 2025: New research from language learning platform, Babbel for Business (www.babbelforbusiness.com), uncovers how language barriers drain productivity and create safety hazards in American workplaces. The nationwide survey of 2,000 US working adults reveals accent anxiety siphons millions from businesses annually, while multilingual employees pocket substantial salary bonuses, and one-quarter of workers face genuine safety risks due to communication gaps.
Accent Anxiety Costs Top Earners Up to $25K Annually in Communication Worries
● 40% of American workers have an accent that differs from the majority of their co-workers – nearly 1 in 5 feel judged for it
● Nearly 20% of those who feel judged for their accents spend at least 2 hours a day worrying about communicating clearly
● Higher earners experience more anxiety: 24% of those making $100K+ worry for more than 2 hours per day about clear communication, compared to 23% of those earning $75k-$100K, and 10% making under $20K
● For $100K+ earners, this communication anxiety equates to approximately $25K annually in lost productivity, and $18k per year for those making $75k
1 in 4 Americans Call Multilingual Hiring Discriminatory While High Earners Support It
● 24% of Americans think requiring multilingualism is a discriminatory hiring practice in the US
● 65% of respondents who make more than $100K said they think it’s a fair practice
● Gen Z (69%) and millennials (64%) said they think it’s fair practice, while Gen X (50%) and boomers (47%) are slightly less enthusiastic
Safety at Risk as 1 in 4 Workers Face Language Barriers Yet Only One Quarter Get Workplace
Language Support
● 25% of workers have experienced safety risks because of language barriers
● 70% believe workplace language learning programs are important, but only 24% of all respondents said their workplace offers language training or resources
● Situations where a language barrier presented the most problems involved client or customer interactions (30%), team coordination (29%) and training sessions (25%)
● Safety measures have a significant amount of miscommunication when it comes to language barriers: 25% cited language barriers in emergency situations as presenting the most problems, 22% said safety protocols or evacuation procedures, and 18% said instructions for machinery
Gen Z Champions Workplace Languages for Team Bonding Over Client Calls
● Higher earners invest more: 39% of those making more than $100K annually have pursued learning another language for work
● Unique to Gen Z: they are the only generation with more people learning a new language to communicate with coworkers (32%) rather than customers and clients (28%). Boomers prioritized client communication (62%) over coworker communication (47%) by the widest margin
● A quarter of employees have received financial compensation or benefits due to their language skills
● 44% said they received a pay increase, while 27% received a promotion
● 1 in 5 Americans who received a pay increase due to their multilingual skills earned an additional $1K-$5K, while 18% received a pay boost of $5K-$15K
Maren Pauli, Head of Didactics at Babbel for Business, adds: “Language is more than just a tool for communication – it’s a bridge to safety, collaboration, and mutual understanding in the workplace. The research shows how accent anxiety and language barriers create both visible and invisible challenges, from safety risks on the factory floor to missed opportunities in the boardroom. While some may view language requirements as a barrier, we see language learning as an opportunity for inclusion. When colleagues make the effort to learn each other’s languages, even just basic phrases, it transforms workplace dynamics and builds trust. Investing in language learning isn’t about checking a box – it’s about ensuring that every employee, regardless of their native language, has the skills and support they need to work safely, communicate confidently, and thrive in an increasingly global workplace where mutual understanding is the foundation of success.”
About Babbel
Since 2007, Babbel has been dedicated to creating mutual understanding through language, developing innovative digital language learning products for both consumers and businesses. The Babbel app empowers users to connect and communicate across cultures – whether for travel, friendship, or career advancement – by focusing on effective language acquisition to make learners conversational as fast as possible. Supported by studies from esteemed institutions like Yale University, Michigan State University, and the City University of New York, Babbel’s methods have gained the trust of millions of learners worldwide. With over 60,000 lessons and 13,000 hours of content, including industry-specific courses, Babbel has positioned itself as a leader in language education. In 2017, Babbel for Business emerged as a key player in corporate language training, providing a blended learning solution that merges the flexibility of online self-study with traditional teaching methods. Babbel for Business has become the cornerstone of professional development for more than 2,000 companies globally, enhancing mutual understanding, customer communication, and workplace safety.
About the study
The nationally representative survey included 2,000 US working adults across diverse industries, age groups (18-65+), income levels, and geographic regions, with proportional representation of multilingual speakers (38% of respondents) and those who speak English as a second language (22% of respondents). It was conducted on behalf of Babbel for Business by Talker in February 2025.
More information: www.babbelforbusiness.com
