Accent bias can be even more pronounced for speakers with non-English mother tongues. Research shows that non-native speakers are often perceived negatively, regardless of their competence levels, Kim said.
Accents from Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States are at the top of the hierarchy, she said. The 35-year-old worker, who moved to Singapore seven years ago, said she communicates well enough to be understood, and feels something else is at play.