„[Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Führungserfolgs und der Zielerreichung des Teams“
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 leadership success and the achievement of team goals”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Omitting an evaluation of leadership success and team goal achievement is interpreted as eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'), signaling a lack of these skills and a 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') must address both performance and behaviour under art. 330a CO and BGE 129 III 177. When expected leadership metrics are omitted, readers infer that the qualities were absent (Verwaltungsgericht ZH VB.2019.00365). This omission constitutes a coded negative assessment for any managerial role.
How to fix it
The employee should request in writing that the missing passage be added, as eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen') serves 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 des Führungserfolgs als TeamleiterInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Führungsverhaltens und des FührungserfolgsInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des tatsächlichen FührungserfolgsInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verkaufserfolgs oder der ZielerreichungInsufficient (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 des Führungserfolgs und der Zielerreichung des Teams“