„[Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung der Qualität der Arbeit“
What this German phrase in your Swiss Arbeitszeugnis (employment reference letter) really says about you – and which grade it hides.
Literal translation vs. real meaning
Literal translation (what DeepL tells you)
“[Omission]: Missing evaluation of the quality of work”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Omitting a quality evaluation is interpreted as eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'), implying grade 3.5 on the Swiss 1-6 scale.
Hidden rating
Insufficient (grade 3.5)
German rating: Ungenügend (Note 3.5)
What it means in detail
Work quality is a core component of any full reference ('Vollzeugnis') under art. 330a CO and BGE 129 III 177. If quality is not mentioned, Swiss HR infers that work output was deficient (Verwaltungsgericht ZH VB.2019.00365). Because employers are bound by the principle of goodwill, omitting quality is the standard method to signal severe performance shortcomings.
How to fix it
The employee should request in writing that the missing evaluation passage be added, as eloquent silence acts as a hidden devaluation.
Suggested wording (German, for your HR department)
Der Arbeitnehmer sollte schriftlich die Ergänzung der fehlenden Zeugnispassage verlangen, da beredtes Schweigen eine versteckte Abwertung darstellt.
Hidden criticism detected (grade 3.5)
Under Art. 330a of the Swiss Code of Obligations (OR), a reference letter must be true but benevolent. Coded downgrades rarely come alone – the same letter often contains further codes or omissions.
Check your whole certificate freeTelling silence & social conduct
Verwaltungsgericht ZH VB.2019.00365 vom 9. Mai 2020, E. 2.4
The Administrative Court of the Canton of Zurich describes the practice of “telling silence” (beredtes Schweigen): if a quality that would normally be mentioned is left out, the reader concludes that it is missing. Leaving out one group of people when describing conduct (e.g. superiors) is generally read as a hint at negative behaviour.
Read the full decision (German)„Darunter gehört, wenn etwa bei der Verhaltensbeurteilung nur das Verhalten zu Mitarbeitern und Kunden erwähnt wird, nicht aber jenes zu Vorgesetzten.“
Unofficial translation: “This includes, for example, a conduct assessment that mentions behaviour towards co-workers and customers, but not towards superiors.”
Related phrases
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung der tatsächlichen Qualität der Arbeit und der KundenzufriedenheitInsufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung der ArbeitsqualitätInsufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung der Qualität, Kreativität und des Erfolgs der MarketingmassnahmenInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des FührungsverhaltensInsufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
Decode your entire reference letter
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Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „[Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung der Qualität der Arbeit“