„[Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung der tatsächlichen Qualität der Arbeit und der Kundenzufriedenheit“
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 assessment of the actual quality of work and customer satisfaction”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Omitting work quality and customer satisfaction is interpreted as eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'), signaling 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
A full reference ('Vollzeugnis') is required by law (art. 330a CO; BGE 129 III 177) to evaluate key aspects of performance and behaviour. Omitting vital criteria leads HR to deduce that performance was unsatisfactory (Verwaltungsgericht ZH VB.2019.00365). This eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen') effectively functions as a hidden negative rating.
How to fix it
The employee should request in writing that the missing reference passage be added, as eloquent silence constitutes 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 Qualität der ArbeitInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung der tatsächlichen Kundenzufriedenheit / des Erfolgs bei der ProblemlösungInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung der tatsächlichen ArbeitsqualitätInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des tatsächlichen FührungserfolgsInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
Decode your entire reference letter
Upload your Arbeitszeugnis and get your overall Swiss grade, the number of issues found and a short legal assessment – explained in English.
Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „[Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung der tatsächlichen Qualität der Arbeit und der Kundenzufriedenheit“