Fuh-Net-Ic Filter gets Brits sharing the right way to say their name

Mispronunciation of people's names happens every day and everywhere. But according to Race Equality Matters (REM), this can often have a negative impact on inclusivity in the workplace, particularly for those from minoritised ethnicities. So, to raise awareness of this problem and also provide a solution, REM is launching the #MyNameIs 'Fuh-Net-Ic Filter'. The campaign marks the start of UK's second ever Race Equality Week (7th to 13th February, 2022).

The Fuh-net-ic Filter is a powerful yet easy-to-use tool that allows people to get the phonetic spelling of their name and share it on social media with a fun and engaging piece of content. They simply go to the my-name-is.io website and then type their name to get a phonetic translation with the #NyNameIs hashtag. There's also an option to upload their photo.

Once this is done, they can download the image, share on social media or even drop into email signatures, business cards or any other place where people will see their name.

The phonetic spellings are sourced from NameShouts, which holds over half a million names, including multiple pronunciations of some so you can select the one that works for you. The tool also has an audio version of the name to aid pronunciation. Individuals whose names are not already in the tool can type their own name and add to this growing community and valuable source of phonetic name translations. In doing so, they'll help others who are seeking phonetic spellings of their names.

"Many in our REM community have said that their names are mispronounced at work. Some found it disrespectful or upsetting, while others said it affected their sense of belonging," said Javed Thomas, Managing Director at Collaboratory, one of the founding members of REM. "While the issue is likely to be more prevalent amongst minoritised ethnicities with non-British names, it's something most of us can understand or empathise with. As everyone's name is part of their heritage, their pride and identity. That's why this Fuh-ne-tic Filter is open to everyone. It gives a voice to those who are impacted by mispronunciation and beyond this to others who want to show allyship and support for greater inclusivity in the workplace."

Race Equality Matters membership includes thousands of organisations striving for racial equality in the workplace, which, despite continued action, remains a challenge in the country. For example, in its recent Business Leaders Index, REM founding member Green Park revealed that the top three roles of the FTSE 100 organisations have failed to improve ethnic diversity.

According to Raj Tulsiani, CEO at Green Park, "With only 11 ethnic minority Chairs, CEOs and CFOs, there is still a long road ahead for many organisations that want to create more diverse, and inclusive workplaces. But while the problem can seem quite complex, there are often simple actions that can be done to help create the culture for change. Taking a moment to understand how to correctly pronounce a colleague's name can go a long way towards this. During Race Equality Week, The Fuh-ne-tic filter will help achieve just that and point to a range or resources dedicated to those who want to improve workplace inclusivity."

A UK-wide initiative, Race Equality Week was launched by REM to turn words into meaningful action; a movement spurred on by the events of 2020, which have heightened the country's collective consciousness of the racism, inequality and injustice experienced by minoritised communities. Over 2,000 organisations participated in the inaugural Race Equality Week in 2021 with a further 1,000 set to join in 2022. 500 organisations have already adopted the MyNameIs Guide.

About Race Equality Matters

Race Equality Matters was Co-Founded by Green Park and The Collaboratory, and is supported by other organisations championing diversity, including: BT, Data & Marketing Association, HS2 AggioSergeant, Edelman, Network Rail, Diversity UK, the governance forum, Mental Health First Aid England, #Talkaboutblack, & The Diversity Digest.
For more information and to participate, visit raceequalitymatters.com